In just two years at South Florida, Rod Smith, who had worked with up-tempo offenses at West Virginia and Clemson, helped install a no-huddle, spread offense that has proven ultra successful. Now the task at hand for Smith, who is rapidly becoming seen as a top young mind in the college ranks, is to help new quarterback Ronnie Banks assume the reins after two brilliant years from Marquel Blackwell, a four-year starter who signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets.

Over the past 22 games, USF’s offense has accumulated 5,777 passing yards, including the top two single-season passing numbers in the program’s six-year history. Nationally, the Bulls have ranked 22nd and 32nd in passing during Smith’s two seasons. Efficiency has also been a trademark of the passing game. Bulls quarterbacks threw just five interceptions in 2002, only three of which came from among Blackwell’s 403 attempts. In fact, Blackwell ranked No. 1 in the nation in interception percentage and the Bulls ranked first nationally in turnover margin.

Also a trademark for the USF offense in Smith’s two seasons is the broad array of choices in the four and five-receiver sets. In 2002, seven different players had at least 15 receptions, and 19 players caught at least one pass.

Immediately prior to joining USF in 2001, Smith had accepted the position of quarterback coach at West Virginia following a one-year stay at Clemson. But even before settling in at West Virginia, Smith opted to accept his current role with the Bulls.

Smith’s coaching career began in 1998, when he was the quarterback coach for Urbana (Ohio) University, where he helped with an offense that broke every school passing and total offense record.

Over the course of his still brief coaching career, even before joining USF, Smith had coached 20 all-conference players and two All-Americans. He coached an all-conference quarterback in five straight seasons, and ESPN.com named Blackwell the Independent Player of the Year in 2002.

A 1997 graduate of Glenville State with a degree in physical education, Smith was the offensive coordinator for Franklin (W.V.) High School between his college graduation and joining Urbana. During his tenure at Franklin, the team went from 3-7 to 7-3.

A quarterback himself at Glenville State, Smith earned All-America in 1996, when he was a team captain for the school's fourth straight conference championship team. His teams reached the national championship playoffs twice, including one runner-up finish.

Smith also received a master's degree in classroom teaching from Urbana University in 2000.