Chris Smith was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Holy Cross football team in March 2022. Smith is in his sixth season on the Crusader coaching staff in 2022, previously serving as the offensive line coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Smith has helped guide Holy Cross to four straight Patriot League championships and NCAA football championship subdivision berths.
In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2022, Smith helped lift the Holy Cross offense to new heights as the Crusaders set a program record for wins (12) and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders ranked first in the nation in plays over 15 yards and turnovers lost (6), fumbling the ball just once. Holy Cross additionally ranked second in FCS in yards per completion (16.2), sixth in rushing offense (245.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game). Twelve Crusaders earned All-Patriot League honors on offense, and for the first time in program history, two Holy Cross players (Peter Oliver and Matthew Sluka) rushed for over 1,000 yards in one season.
In his tenure guiding the Crusaders' offensive line, Holy Cross has been widely respected as having one of the top offensive lines in all of FCS; in 2022, the Crusaders had all five of their starting offensive linemen earn All-Patriot League honors, and left tackle Luke Newman and center Nick Olsofka both earned All-America honors.
During the Spring 2021 season, delayed from the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19, Holy Cross defeated Bucknell in the first-ever Patriot League championship game; in 2019, Smith helped the Crusaders to their first Patriot League championship in 10 years, and just the third NCAA FCS berth in program history.
During his first four years, his offensive linemen have earned All-Patriot League honors seven times: James Murray in 2017, Brett Boddy in 2018 and 2019, Brian Foley in 2018, 2019 and Spring 2021, and Nick Olsofka in Spring 2021. Additionally, Foley was named an All-American by Stats Perform and AFCA during the Spring 2021 season.
Smith came to Holy Cross from the University of New Haven, where he served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for three years. He helped lead the Chargers to a 19-8 record in Northeast-10 Conference play during that time, with the team finishing either second or third in the league standings every season. Smith coached three All-Americans and eight All-Northeast-10 selections along the offensive line during his three seasons at New Haven, with the team leading the conference in yards per rush during both the 2014 (4.4) and 2015 (5.0) seasons.
Prior to his time at New Haven, Smith spent two seasons as offensive line coach at the University of Northern Colorado. In two years with the Bears, he coached an offensive line which ranked sixth (2013) and fifth (2012) in the Big Sky Conference in sacks allowed. Smith also coached four honorable mention All-Big Sky selections in his two seasons at Northern Colorado.
Smith previously spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University at Buffalo where he worked with the linebackers. He also coordinated the scout team and assisted with all scout special team units.
Smith is a 2009 graduate of Holy Cross and was a four-year starting center for the Crusaders. He earned second team All-Patriot League honors as a senior, and still holds the school record for the most consecutive games started (45). Smith was a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection and was a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to the nation’s top scholar-athlete.
Smith and his wife, Natalie, have one son (Calvin) and one daughter (Eleanor).
