Two More Join Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Clark Lea, Vanderbilt’s E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football, announced a pair of additions to his staff on Tuesday. Jeff Nady joins the Commodores as assistant offensive line coach, while Will Smart will be pass rush specialist.

Nady will support Chris Klenakis in working with the Vandy offensive line. Nady played collegiately at Nevada, including his first two seasons on the team when Klenakis was the Wolf Pack offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Smart will serve as pass rush specialist, working alongside defensive run game coordinator Larry Black and defensive ends coach Jovan Haye on coordinator Steve Gregory’s staff. Smart joins Vanderbilt from Wake Forest, where he played as a defensive tackle and nose guard before serving as a student assistant and graduate assistant.

Nady was a two-time all-conference selection at Nevada, including first-team All-Mountain West as a senior. His graduating class in 2012 departed Nevada as the program’s all-time winningest class. The Minden, Nevada, product went on to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons before playing for a trio of Arena Football League teams.

Following his playing career, he returned to Reno, first as a strength and conditioning intern, then a graduate assistant on offense. He became offensive coordinator at Division II Fort Lewis (Colo.) College before another stint at his alma mater as offensive line coach in 2022. He spent his two most recent seasons as offensive line coach at South Dakota.

He helped the Coyotes reach double-digit wins and the FCS playoffs in both seasons, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2023 and semifinals in 2024. The 2023 team ranked second in FCS in tackles for loss allowed and 11th in sacks allowed. In 2024, the Coyotes ranked sixth in FCS in rushing offense, second in tackles for loss allowed and ninth in sacks allowed.

Smart was a three-star prospect out of high school who played at Wake Forest from 2019-21, appearing in five career games with five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack before injuries forced him to medically retire. During his time as a player, the Milford, New Jersey, native was a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection and was named to the Dean’s List four times during his undergraduate career.

He spent two seasons with the Demon Deacons as a student assistant before becoming a graduate assistant in 2024. Smith helped the Deacs to a Gasparilla Bowl title in 2022, working closely with NFL Draft pick and All-American Kobie Turner.

The Commodores are underway with spring practice leading up to the 2025 edition of the Black and Gold Spring Game on April 12 (1 p.m. at FirstBank Stadium).

Vandy opens its 2025 season on Aug. 30, hosting Charleston Southern. Season tickets are available now and limited premium seating remains in the new south end zone facility debuting this fall.