by Todd Pheifer

Created on: September 13, 2009

Lovie Smith is currently the head football coach for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). The 2009 season will be Lovie's sixth as the Bear coach and he has compiled a 45-35 record during that time. Here are a few other details about the playing and coaching career of Lovie Lee Smith.

Playing career

Smith was born May 8, 1958 in Gladewater, Texas. He went to high school in Big Sandy, Texas, and he played defensive end and linebacker. After high school, Lovie went on to the University of Tulsa, where he was an All-American linebacker and safety. Despite a solid college career, Lovie did not playing professional football in the National Football League.

High school and college coaching career

Instead of playing professional football, Lovie immediately went into coaching. His first job was with his own high school, where he was the defensive coordinator. That position lasted for one year, after which he coached Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, Smith moved to college ranks by coaching the linebackers at the University of Tulsa. Over the next eight years, Lovie coached at a number of schools, including Wisconsin (linebackers coach), Arizona State (linebackers coach), Kentucky (linebackers coach), Tennessee (defensive backs coach), and Ohio State (defensive backs coach).

Professional coaching career

Lovie's professional coaching career began in 1996, when he was hired to coach the linebackers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This position was under the legendary head coach, Tony Dungy. Smith spent four years with the Buccaneers before being hired as the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams in 2001. During that season the St. Louis defense improved dramatically and the team went to Super Bowl XXXVI. In 2004, Lovie Smith was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Smith had a tough first season, but his second season was a vast improvement as his system started to take hold. His best season was 2006 when the Bears went 13-3 and eventually lost in the Super Bowl to the Indianapolis Colts.

Future prospects

The Chicago Bears defense is still good, and now Lovie Smith has a potential star in Jay Cutler at quarterback. Nothing is guaranteed in the National Football League, but for now, Lovie Smith's tenure with the Chicago Bears is looking good going into the 2009 season. However, fans can be very fickle, and in Chicago Lovie will have to continue his winning ways if he wants to remain the coach of the Bears.

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