LA Tech Football announces pair of coaching additions

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz has announced two additions to his staff with Brock Hays and Dennis Smith set to join the Bulldog Family as assistant coaches for the 2019 season.

Brock Hays comes to Louisiana Tech from fellow Conference USA school Southern Miss and will serve as the running backs coach for the Bulldogs, while Dennis Smith will take over as Tech’s special teams coordinator.

“These are two young, energetic, aggressive additions to our coaching staff,” Holtz said of the hires. “These two coaches have great recruiting ties to the state of Louisiana with a history of success and we are excited to have them as part of our team.”

Hays joins the Louisiana Tech staff with more than a decade of coaching experience under his belt and a successful background when it comes to recruiting in the state of Louisiana and surrounding areas.

Prior to Louisiana Tech, Hays spent one season on the Southern Miss staff in 2018 as the tight ends coach after spending the previous two seasons as the running backs coach for Nicholls State.

In his only season with the Golden Eagles, Hays was also responsible for recruiting southeastern and central Louisiana, the Mississippi coast, southern Georgia and Chicago. Hays also organized practice sessions, coordinated the run scheme and evaluated game film.

During his time at Nicholls State, Hays helped lead the Colonels to the 2017 FCS Playoffs, just its fourth in program history and first since 2005. That same season, Nicholls ranked 19th nationally among FCS programs with an average of 200.3 rushing yards per game.

In 2016, Hays enjoyed much success in his first campaign as running backs coach for the Colonels, despite his group totaling only 10 career carries heading into the season. Led by a converted defensive back, C.J. Okpalobi, and two freshmen – Dontrell Taylor and Kyran Irvin, the Colonels averaged 162.9 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. The trio combined for five 100-yard games that season under Hays’ guidance.

Hays joined the staff at Nicholls after coaching one season at Louisiana College as the defensive line coach, pro scouting liaison and academic liaison for the Wildcats. Hays was also responsible for recruiting the New Orleans area while on staff at Louisiana College.

Prior to coaching in the college ranks, Hays served as the assistant head coach, assistant defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Edna Karr High School in his hometown of New Orleans from 2014-2015.

Hays also acted in a similar role at Edna Karr from 2010-2013 before taking the defensive coordinator position at Miller McCoy Academy in New Orleans for the 2013-2014 school year. Prior to his first stint at Edna Karr, Hays started his coaching career in 2004 as an offensive line coach at Helen Cox High School in Harvey, Louisiana, before switching over to the defensive side of the ball in 2007 when he accepted a job as the defensive line coach at New Iberia Senior High School.

In 2008, Hays returned to his college stomping ground for a stint as the defensive line coach and assistant defensive coordinator at Grambling High School. In addition to more than a decade of coaching experience, Hays also served as a recruiting coordinator for New Orleans and California area high schools.

Hays is a 2009 graduate of Grambling State University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. He and his wife, the former Lekeshia Williams, have a daughter, Lilah.

Smith joins the Louisiana Tech staff with more than 10 years of college football experience as both an assistant coach and the operational side.

Most recently, Smith spent the previous three seasons at McNeese State where he served as the special teams coordinator, running backs coach and academic coordinator for the Cowboys.

Last season, Smith’s special teams unit at McNeese finished ranked No. 1 nationally in four major phases of special teams, while the Cowboys also finished ranked first in the Southland Conference in net punting, kickoff defense and kick returns this past season.

Prior to his time in Lake Charles, Smith spent the 2015 season at Florida A&M working with the tight ends and directing the FAMU special teams unit. In his one season with the Rattlers, Smith also served as the recruiting coordinator and compliance liaison, while his tight ends group finished first on the team in overall GPA.

Previously, Smith coached two seasons as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, where his receiving group ranked second among Mississippi junior colleges in total receptions with 227. His special teams unit also led the Mississippi junior college league in net punting.

From 2007 to 2012, Smith served several different roles while working for the FIU football program. He joined the FIU staff in 2007 as an assistant director of football operations before becoming a graduate assistant coach on offense for the Panthers the next two seasons. In 2011, Smith served as FIU’s director of player personnel and quality control before spending the 2012 season as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. In his time at FIU, Smith was instrumental in helping the Panthers secure the top recruiting classes in the Sun Belt in 2011 and 2012.

A 2005 graduate of the University of Miami, Smith worked as assistant director of football operations at The U in 2006 before spending the next six seasons at FIU. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Miami, Smith later earned his master’s in sports science from FIU in 2010.

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