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Rampage Hire Defensive Coordinator/Director of Player Personnel Robert Smith

January 5, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - The Grand Rapids Rampage announced today that a coach from their 2001 ArenaBowl championship team will return to guide their defense for the 2007 season.

Robert Smith, a Rampage coach from 2001-03, will take on the role as the team's defensive coordinator and director of player personnel. Smith served as the director of player personnel and the fullbacks/linebackers coach for the Arena Football League's Kansas City Brigade during the 2006 season.

Smith originally joined the Rampage coaching staff in 2001, the team's championship season. During his first stint with the Rampage, Smith helped guide the team to a 37-17 regular-season record and playoff appearances in each of his three years.

"It's always great to come back home," said Smith. "We're going to assess our personnel and see if we can make any upgrades to form the best possible defense. Our goal is simply to win one game at a time."

"Robert is returning to us with the reputation of doing really good things in the personnel department," said Sparky McEwen, Grand Rapids' head coach and director of football operations. "The Rampage team that won an ArenaBowl and the teams that made the playoffs while he was here were all really strong up front defensively. Robert is going to help our ability to recruit and develop defensive linemen."

Following his first stretch with the Rampage, Smith used his talent evaluation and recruiting skills to help develop two expansion franchises - the Philadelphia Soul (2004-05) and the Kansas City Brigade (2006). The Brigade allowed the second fewest yards per game last year and their fullbacks helped put Kansas City in the top half of the AFL in rushing yards per game in the team's first season.

In addition to his AFL coaching experience, Smith served as the defensive line coach at Mississippi Valley State University for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He began his coaching career at Grambling State University working under legendary coach Eddie Robinson from 1993-98.

Smith enjoyed great success as a player in the AFL as well, capturing two ArenaBowl titles (1991 and 1992) as an offensive/defensive lineman. He also spent three years in the NFL playing under legendary coaches Tom Landry in Dallas, Bud Grant in Minnesota and Ray Perkins in Tampa Bay. He was a four-year starter (1980-83) on Grambling State's football team and was an All-American defensive end his senior year. Smith later earned his master's degree from the school in sports administration.

Grand Rapids' 10th Anniversary Season will kick off on the road on March 4 against its Central Division rival, the Colorado Crush. The Rampage will open their home schedule on March 8 when they welcome the Las Vegas Gladiators to Van Andel Arena.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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