Al Smith, a former All-Pro linebacker in the National Football League and long-time front office executive with the Tennessee Titans, serves as Vanderbilt’s Director of Player Development. Smith enters his first year on the Commodore staff.
Smith, a graduate of Utah State who played linebacker for the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Titans franchise from 1987 to 1997 then advanced into several administrative roles with the Titans after retirement, started with the Commodores on March 10.
“Al Smith is an outstanding addition to our staff,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason said. “Al has tremendous experience, and will work proactively to identify and address student-athletes’ needs and provide a platform to promote positive growth for every member of the Vanderbilt football team.”
Smith’s role will be to provide mentorship to all Commodore football student-athletes, serve as a liaison between the players for academic/campus support, oversee the program’s summer internship program, and assist newly signed recruits with the transition of becoming Vanderbilt student-athletes. He will also serve as a team liaison to NFL personnel and parents of active Commodore players.
Smith joined Mason’s staff at Vanderbilt after serving five years as Tennessee chapter president of the NFL Alumni Association. As chapter president, Smith managed annual budgets and alumni relations, grew membership, and guided marketing and promotional initiatives. He also managed relations with several Middle Tennessee non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald House and Soles4Souls.
From 2009-12, Smith served as director of Special Markets for Nashville-based School of the Legends, an internet social media outlet for fan interaction with current and former professional athletes.
Smith played and later worked for the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Titans NFL franchise over a 20-year span, starting in 1987 as a linebacker selected by the Oilers in the sixth round out of Utah State. He played 10 years with the franchise, developing into a two-time AFC Pro Bowl recipient and multi-year defensive team captain. From his middle linebacker position, Smith directed some of the NFL’s top-ranked run defenses in the 1990s.
After his playing career, Smith quickly moved into the Titans’ front office, serving in several key capacities, including Director of Player Development from 1998-2000, Director of Player Development/Pro Personnel from 2000-03, and Director of Pro Scouting from 2003-07.
Smith also worked in Nashville radio, serving as a principal co-host and NFL analyst for many years on “The Thom Abraham Show” that aired on WNSR AM-560 and 95.9 FM.
A native of Los Angeles, Smith was a distinguished player at Utah State. A multi-year captain, Smith was the PCAA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1986. He is a member of the Utah State University Athletic Hall of Fame and the State of Utah’s 1980s All-Century Team.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Utah State in 1987, and completed a Master’s of Education from Tennessee State in 2003. Smith also completed NFL-sponsored executive training courses at Stanford University Business School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School.
Smith is a current board member of the American Cancer Society Nashville chapter, and former board member of the Arts Council of Williamson County.
Smith and his wife, Katrina, are the parents of two daughters, Courtney and Coryn, and a son, Christian.
Smith’s Professional Career
2015 – Vanderbilt – Director of Player Development
2010-15 – NFL Alumni Association – President, Tennessee chapter
2009-12 – School of the Legends – Director of Special Markets
2008-14 – WNSR Sports Radio – regular co-host/analyst on The Thom Abraham Show
2003-07 – Tennessee Titans – Director of Pro Scouting
2000-03 – Tennessee Titans – Director of Player Development, Pro Personnel
1998-2000 – Tennessee Titans – Director of Player Development
1987-97 – Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans – NFL linebacker