Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Charles Smith (born January 18, 1979) is an American college football coach. He was most recently the head football coach at Michigan State University, serving from 2024 to 2025. He was previously the head football coach for six seasons, from 2018 to 2023, at his alma mater, Oregon State University. As a player, Smith was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Oregon State Beavers under head coaches Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson.

Early years Born in Pasadena, California, Smith graduated from Glendora High School in east Los Angeles County in 1997. He went north to play college football at Oregon State, and was originally a walk-on under head coach Mike Riley.

Smith was a four-year starter for the Beavers at quarterback, taking over midway through his redshirt freshman season in 1998 and maintaining the job through his senior season in 2001. As a junior in 2000 under Dennis Erickson, he led the Beavers to their greatest season in school history. The Beavers finished , a school record for wins, and won a share of their first conference title in 36 years, and finished the season ranked fourth in the country. His wide receivers on the team included future NFL players Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh. Smith was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl.

College statistics Passing Rushing Year Team GP Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Yds TD 1998 Oregon State 6 81 181 44.8 1,427 6 5 -56 0 1999 Oregon State 12 207 425 48.7 3,053 15 7 -96 3 2000 Oregon State 12 170 338 50.3 2,773 20 7 -165 0 2001 Oregon State 11 180 317 56.8 2,427 14 10 -141 1 College totals 41 638 1,261 50.6 9,680 55 29 -458 4

Coaching career Assistant coach Smith was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2002 and 2003 under Erickson and Riley. He was the quarterbacks coach for six seasons (2004–2009) at the University of Idaho under three head coaches: Nick Holt, Erickson, and Robb Akey, then the offensive coordinator for two seasons at the University of Montana. Smith was the quarterbacks coach for two seasons at Boise State University under Chris Petersen, then went with him to the University of Washington and stayed for four seasons.

Oregon State Smith at a press conference with University President Edward J. Ray soon after being hired as Oregon State's head coach in 2017. Smith was named Oregon State's head coach on November 29, 2017. Oregon State was in the four seasons before Smith's arrival.

Smith broke through in his fourth season in 2021, posting his first winning record at 7–6 and receiving an invite to the LA Bowl. The Beavers improved in 2022, posting the third ten-win season in program history after soundly defeating Florida 30–3 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Smith's initial five-year deal in 2017 paid him $1.9 million annually and automatically extended by one year after every six-win season. On January 7, 2020, Smith received a three-year extension through the 2025 season. After his first winning season in 2021, Smith's contract was rewritten, keeping him signed through the 2027 season and calling for him to make $3.25 million beginning in the 2022 season. After a historic season for the program in 2022, including a win over rival Oregon, Smith received a new deal with another significant pay increase; the new six-year deal raised his salary to $4.85 million beginning in 2023. Smith's new deal reportedly placed him at fifth in the Pac-12 in compensation, including ahead of his in-state counterpart Dan Lanning.

Michigan State Smith was officially named Michigan State's head coach on November 25, 2023. On November 30, 2025, Michigan State fired Smith, after going 4–15 over his two years with the program.

Head coaching record College