Tesfa Smith - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Tesfa Smith

Title:
Defensive Line Coach
Phone:
@CoachTesfa (X)
Year at CMU:
2nd year at CMU
Hometown:
Sunrise, Fla.
Alma Mater/Year:
Lakeland (Ill.)/1998
Experience:
29th year

With 29 years of collegiate coaching experience, Tesfa Smith begins his second season on head coach Matt Drinkall’s staff as defensive line coach.

In his first season at Central Michigan in 2025, Smith helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years, posting a 7-6 overall record and their highest win total since 2021. Under his leadership, the defensive line recorded 18.5 sacks, 32 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hurries, while also forcing five fumbles and recovering three. Michael Heldman earned First Team All-MAC and All-American honors, ranking among national leaders in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (16.5). Jonathan Decker, Korver Demma, JJ Douglas, and Quavion Bird made significant contributions as key playmakers.

Smith joined CMU after 10 years at Ferris State as defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach for Tony Annese. During his tenure, Ferris State won three NCAA Division II national championships (2021, 2022, and 2024) and six Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. The Bulldogs also recorded five unbeaten regular seasons, six regional titles, six appearances in the national quarterfinals, and a 122-14 overall record. Notably, Ferris State is one of just four college teams at any level to win least 11 games each season for eight consecutive years.

Since 2015, Smith’s Ferris State defensive linemen earned two Gene Upshaw NCAA Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year awards, one Ted Hendricks Award, achieved one Harlan Hill finalist honor, and secured eight Academic All-America honors. Furthermore, at the conference level, his players earned one GLIAC Player of the Year award (Caleb Murphy, 2022), four GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year awards, 11 First Team All-GLIAC honors, eight Second Team All-GLIAC honors, and nine honorable mention recognitions. In addition, his players have earned nearly $50 million from National Football League teams.

In 2024, the Bulldogs claimed the national championship, finished 14-1 overall and 7-0 in the GLIAC. They ended the year on a 14-game win streak. As defensive run game coordinator/defensive line coach, Smith’s defense allowed just 101.5 rushing yards per game and only nine touchdowns all season.

Smith started at Ferris State in 2014. In 2015, he helped the Bulldogs win a second straight GLIAC title and go undefeated during the regular season. The team posted its first playoff win in 19 years and stretched its regular season win streak to 25 games.

Ferris State reached new heights in 2016, advancing to the NCAA Division II semifinals for only the second time in school history. During the postseason run, FSU won the Super Region Four Championship by defeating archrival Grand Valley State. The Bulldogs broke their record for most consecutive regular season wins, reaching 28 in a row. Ferris State made the NCAA Division II playoffs for a fourth straight year in 2017, finishing 11-2 record and earning another quarterfinal appearance.

With Smith on staff, Ferris State won national championships in 2021 and 2022. In the past decade, the school was recognized as the top active NCAA Division II football program.

Before Ferris State, Smith spent 14 years at Saginaw Valley State, including seven consecutive seasons from 2007-13 as assistant coach. In his first run (1999-04), he coached linebackers, running backs, and tight ends. The Cardinals won a GLIAC title in 2003.

Smith was the defensive coordinator at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. Afterward, he returned to Saginaw Valley State in 2007, coaching running backs for four seasons, before moving to coach the defensive line for head coach Jim Collins.

Smith is from Sunrise, Fla. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and international business with a minor in Spanish from Lakeland College (Ill.). He later earned a master’s in business administration from Saginaw Valley State University in 2001.

Smith was inducted into Lakeland College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. He was a four-year starter and two-time Illini-Badger Football Conference defensive player of the year. He totaled 286 tackles (164 solo, 122 assists), 24 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and five fumble recoveries in his college career.

Smith and his wife, Brooke, have twin daughters Adalie and Amarie and a son, Shiloe.

THE SMITH FILE

Birthdate: April 6, 1975
Hometown: Sunrise, Fla.
Family: Wife Brooke, twins Adalie, Amarie, and son Shiloe

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Marketing and International Business, Lakeland College (Ill.), 1998
Master of Business Administration, Saginaw Valley State University, 2001

Coaching Career
Defensive Line Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, Ferris State University, 2014-24
Defensive Line Coach, Saginaw Valley State University, 2007-13
Defensive Coordinator, MacMurray College (Ill.), 2005-06
Linebackers Coach, Running Backs Coach, Tight Ends Coach, Saginaw Valley State University, 1999-2004

Coaching Accomplishments
Three NCAA Division II national championships at Ferris State (2021, 2022, 2024) … Seven GLIAC championships (2003 at SVSU; 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024 at Ferris State) …

Playing Career
Inducted into the Lakeland College Hall of Fame in 2018 … Two-time Illini-Badger Football Conference Player of the Year and All-IBFC First Team honoree … Amassed 286 tackles (164 solo, 122 assists), 24 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and five fumble recoveries in his career.