Lovie Smith - Head Coach of the Chicago Bears

Lovie Lee Smith

May 8, 1958 in Gladewater, Texas

Lovie Smith and his wife, MaryAnne have three sons - Mikal, Matthew, and Miles. They also have twin grandsons, Malachi and Noah.

Lovie Smith has described himself as a Christian. He does not smoke, drink, or use curse words. Lovie also does not dance, because he feels it conflicts with his religious beliefs. Smith is also a big supporter of the American Diabetes Association. He donated ten tickets to every Chicago Bears' game to children with diabetes. He and his wife also founded the Lovie and MaryAnne Smith Foundation which helps provide funds for college to children in need.

Lovie Smith grew up in Big Sandy, Texas, playing defensive end and linebacker in high school. During this time his team won three state championships and he won all-state honors all three of those years. Smith left Big Sandy to play linebacker and safety at the University of Tulsa, becoming a two-time All American.

In 1980 Lovie Smith began coaching the high school team at his alma mater, Big Sandy High School. He then moved on to Cascia Hall Prep in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, in 1983 he was asked to coach at the University of Tulsa where he remained until 1987 when he went to the University of Wisconsin. In 1988 he began coaching the Sun Devils at Arizona State University until he went to the University of Kentucky in 1992. In 1993 he coached at the University of Tennessee and in 1995 he coached at the Ohio State University.

After a number of years coaching college teams, Lovie Smith began his NFL career as the linebacker coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996, working with his good friend Tony Dungy. He remained with the Buccaneers until he was offered the Defensive Coordinator position with the St. Louis Rams in 2001. Smith's hard work and level-headedness did not go unnoticed, and in 2004 he was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, where he is currently coaching.