Smith previously served as the running backs coach for the New York Giants and at Texas Tech from 2019 to 2021.
He has coached other college football teams such as Indiana, Northern Illinois, New Mexico and Utah State.
Smith was the quarterback of a very potent triple-option offense for Missouri State football teams of the Bears' I-AA era.
Smith led the Bears to the Gateway Football Conference championship and the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA and 1990 playoffs under coach Jesse Branch.
He set MSU career records for plays run (1,106), total yards (6,356), points (242), touchdowns (40), completion percentage (.570) and consecutive games scoring a TD (10).
During his time in Northern Illinois he won his first bowl game with the team's victory over the Troy with the final score (34–21).
[2] He helped develop Michael Turner who led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in rushing twice (2002–2003) On January 21, 2005, Smith was hired as their running backs coach and running game coordinator under head coach Shane Montgomery.
[9] Wells was fired in the middle of the 2021 season, with offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie being named interim head coach.