Will Stein is juggling a unique double duty right now - preparing Oregon’s offense for a College Football Playoff showdown while simultaneously assembling his first staff as Kentucky’s head coach. And now, he’s closing in on a key hire that brings both familiarity and experience to Lexington.
Kolby Smith is expected to join Stein’s staff as Kentucky’s new running backs coach, and for fans who’ve followed college football over the past two decades - especially in the Bluegrass State - the name should ring a bell. Smith is a former Louisville running back and longtime assistant under Bobby Petrino, bringing with him a résumé that stretches across college football and the NFL, including stints in the SEC and AFC East. Let’s break down what Kentucky is getting in Smith - and why this hire makes a lot of sense for what Stein is trying to build.
From Cardinal to Coach: Kolby Smith’s Football Journey
Smith’s roots trace back to Tallahassee, Florida, where he starred at Rickards High before heading to Louisville in 2003. A three-star recruit, he carved out a solid role in Bobby Petrino’s pro-style offense.
While he was never the featured back - thanks in part to sharing the backfield with Michael Bush - Smith was a steady contributor. He rushed for at least 300 yards in each of his final three seasons, and when Bush went down with an injury in 2006, Smith stepped up in a big way.
That year, he posted 862 rushing yards and hauled in 24 passes, showcasing his versatility out of the backfield.
By the end of his college career, Smith had racked up 1,863 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. That production earned him a fifth-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
He spent three seasons in the league, primarily with Kansas City, before brief stints with the Broncos and Jaguars. His playing days wrapped up just before the 2010 regular season - and that’s when his coaching chapter began.
Coaching Roots: A Long Ride with Bobby Petrino
Smith’s coaching career has been deeply intertwined with Bobby Petrino. It started in 2012 when he joined Arkansas as a graduate assistant - right as Petrino’s tenure with the Razorbacks came to a controversial end. Despite the upheaval, Smith remained in the coaching game, reuniting with Petrino at Western Kentucky in 2013, where he landed his first full-time role as a running backs coach.
From there, Smith followed Petrino back to Louisville in 2014. That’s where things really started to take off.
Smith was on staff during the Lamar Jackson era, a run that included a Heisman Trophy in 2016 and back-to-back nine-win seasons. Smith helped guide a dynamic offense, and his work with the running backs was a key part of that success.
But when Petrino’s second stint at Louisville unraveled in 2018, Smith had to pivot. He spent a year at Rutgers in 2019 before making the leap to the NFL, joining the Miami Dolphins’ staff from 2020 to 2023. That four-year run gave him valuable experience at the highest level - and, as we’ll get into, it also gave him a deep understanding of a scheme that aligns perfectly with what Stein wants to do at Kentucky.
Smith returned to the college ranks in 2023 when Petrino resurfaced at Arkansas as offensive coordinator under Sam Pittman. Smith spent two seasons with the Razorbacks before the staff was let go following Pittman’s departure. Now, for just the second time in his coaching career, Smith will work for a head coach not named Bobby Petrino.
Scheme Fit: Wide Zone Familiarity
One of the most intriguing aspects of this hire is how seamlessly Smith’s background fits with Stein’s offensive vision. At Oregon, Stein leaned heavily on the wide zone running scheme - a system that stretches defenses horizontally and creates cutback lanes for explosive plays. It’s also a scheme that pairs beautifully with play-action, giving quarterbacks clean looks off bootlegs and rollouts.
Smith knows that system well. During his time with the Dolphins, he spent two seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel, a disciple of the Shanahan coaching tree.
McDaniel brought the wide zone philosophy from San Francisco to Miami, and Smith got a front-row seat to how it works at the NFL level. That experience should prove invaluable as Kentucky transitions to Stein’s offense.
There’s also a bit of shared history between Stein and Smith. Back in 2014, when Smith joined the Louisville staff under Petrino, Stein was working as a quality control assistant. That familiarity - even if brief - adds another layer of trust and continuity as Stein builds his first staff.
What This Means for Kentucky
This hire checks a lot of boxes. Smith brings SEC and NFL experience, a proven track record of developing running backs, and a deep understanding of the wide zone scheme that Stein plans to implement. He’s coached in high-pressure environments, worked with elite talent, and knows what it takes to win at the collegiate level.
For a Kentucky program entering a new era under Stein, Smith offers a steady hand and a scheme fit that makes sense. And while his Louisville ties might raise some eyebrows in the Bluegrass, his coaching acumen and experience speak for themselves.
As Stein continues to round out his staff, this addition feels like a smart, strategic move - one that blends familiarity, philosophy, and football IQ. Kentucky’s offense is getting a new look, and Kolby Smith is poised to play a key role in shaping it.