University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Wide Receivers
- Email:
- aaron.l.smith@uconn.edu
Aaron Smith, who played for head coach Randy Edsall at UConn from 2004-06, enters his fourth season as the wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator for the Huskies.
2019 saw six different Wide Receivers account for touchdowns. Led by true freshman Cameron Ross who totaled 60 catches for 723 yards both record breaking performances for a freshman WR at UConn. Ross’ breakout year ranked him top five in the nation amongst true freshman wide receivers for catches, yards and touchdowns.
2017 Wide Receiver unit helped the UConn Offense make the jump from 122nd to 49th in the nation in total offense and from 94th to 34th in passing offense. Led by Hergy Mayala who totaled 43 catches, 615 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games. After the 2018 season Mayala was selected with the 8th pick in the CFL draft by the Calgary Stampeders. 2017 also saw the emergence of Aaron McLean who totaled 31 catches, 472 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith completed his fourth season on the University at Albany football staff in 2016, serving as recruiting coordinator, pass game coordinator, and wide receivers coach. Under Smith’s direction in 2014, Josh Gontarek was named the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, boasting the best freshman receiving numbers in program history with 58 receptions, 687 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns. Â
Smith a native of West Point, N.Y. and son of a retired Army Colonel, spent the 2012 season leading the Wide Receivers at Boston College. He helped junior Alex Amidon develop into one of the top pass catchers in the ACC. The First Team All ACC WR, ranked 11th in the country and 2nd in the ACC with 100.8 yards per game. Amidon also broke two Boston College single season records with 78 catches and 1,210 yards; while tying the single season record for 100 yard games with six. He was selected the 2012 Boston College Football MVP (William J. Flynn Award)
Smith spent the five seasons prior (2007-11) as the receivers coach at Columbia University, coaching two All-Ivy League honorees, including Austin Knowlin, Columbia’s all-time leader in receptions (210) and receiving yards (2,484). Smith also served as the Lions’ recruiting coordinator in 2011.
Smith started his coaching career at the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2006.
As an undergraduate, Smith played football at both the University of Maryland and the University of Connecticut, helping his teams to appearances in the Peach, Orange, and Motor City Bowls. While competing at UConn, he was presented with two Scholar Athlete Awards, and graduated with a degree in political science in 2006.Â
Smith and his wife Kristin have three children; Mia, Cash and Briana.
