Lovie Smith's Kevo

Lovie Lee Smith
(born May 8, 1958 in Gladewater, Texas) is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team.
He began his tenure in 2004, replacing Dick Jauron. Before coming to Chicago, he spent three seasons as the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator, engineering the defense's turnabout from 23rd in the NFL in 2000 to 3rd the next year. Prior to this, Lovie worked under Tony Dungy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he helped develop the Tampa 2 defense.
In Smith's first season with the Bears in 2004, the defense improved but the team suffered from an inconsistent offense. After losing starting quarterback Rex Grossman for the year in week 3, the Bears finished with a 5-11 record and in last place in the NFC North.
Smith's second year as head coach started with another injury to his starting quarterback as Grossman was injured in a pre-season game. Smith turned to rookie quarterback Kyle Orton as his starter and worked with his offensive assistants to create game plans that accommodated his new quarterback. The Bears finished with the fourth-worst offense in the NFL (in total yards). However, the Bears defense more than made up for the offensive shortcomings, ranking first in the NFL in points allowed and second in total yards, using the Tampa 2 defense that Smith helped develop. In fact, the Bears flirted with setting the NFL record for fewest points allowed in an NFL season, losing both that record and their rank as 2005's top defense in total yards in a meaningless final game with the Minnesota Vikings when they rested many of their starters.
The Bears finished the 2005 season with an 11-5 record, the NFC North division title and a first round playoff bye. With this achievement, Lovie Smith was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, finishing ahead of mentor Tony Dungy.
Smith's unusual name comes from the fact that his parents believed that they would be having a girl and wished to name her after a great-aunt Lavana.

Earlier football involvement
During high school in Big Sandy, Texas, Smith earned all-state honors for three years; he was an end and linebacker. His team won three state championships as well. He was a linebacker and safety at University of Tulsa and was a two-time All-American.
Smith began coaching at his hometown high school in 1980. By 1983, he began coaching on the college level, first at his alma mater Tulsa (1983–86), and then at University of Wisconsin (1987), Arizona State University (1988–91), University of Kentucky (1992), University of Tennessee (1993–94), and Ohio State University (1995).

Family
Smith and his wife MaryAnne have three sons and two grandsons.
Preceded by:
Dick Jauron
Chicago Bears Head Coaches
2004–present
Succeeded by:
Current coach
Preceded by:
'
St. Louis Rams Defensive Coordinator
2001-2003
Succeeded by:
Larry Marmie
Preceded by:
Marty Schottenheimer
NFL Coach of the Year Award
2005
Succeeded by:
TBA

Decatur Staleys/Chicago Bears Head Coaches
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Halas • Jones • Halas • Anderson • Johnsos • Halas • Driscoll • Halas • Dooley • Gibron • Pardee • Armstrong • Ditka • Wannstedt • Jauron • Smith
Current National Football League head coaches
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