DeAndre Smith Hired as UNC Running Backs Coach

The UNC football team announced yet another major staff change on Thursday, after having to replace three coaches already in the offseason.

Head coach Larry Fedora has brought in DeAndre Smith to be the Tar Heels’ new running backs coach this season–making him the first new staff member to join the offensive side of the ball.

Previous running backs coach Larry Porter left Chapel Hill in mid-February to take the same job at Auburn.

In Smith, Fedora and UNC will be receiving a man with 17 years of coaching experience. He has coached running backs at Purdue (2016) Syracuse (2013-15) , New Mexico (2012, 2008), Illinois (2010-11), UNLV (2009) , Miami (Ohio) (2005-07) and Northern Illinois (2001-04)–helping mold NFL players like Michael Turner and Mikel LeShoure along the way.

Four All-Americans and nine 1,000 yard rushers have been produced under Smith, who played his own collegiate ball at Southwest Missouri State with current UNC offensive coordinator Chris Kapilovic.

Smith’s first challenge with the Tar Heels will be replacing Elijah Hood and TJ Logan, the team’s top two rushers from 2016 who are each eligible for the NFL Draft in April.

“I’m excited to have DeAndre join our staff and be here for spring practice,” Fedora said, in a statement released by the university. “DeAndre and Coach Kap played together in college, so they have some familiarity, and I’m impressed with his coaching skills and his ability to relate to players.”