One of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school history, Alex Smith serves as an assistant coach working with the Red Dragon wide receivers. Smith began his playing career as a starter during his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2004 and 2005. He also started the first six games of the 2006 season before suffering a season-ending injury. He returned in 2007, but was injured in the season opener.
Smith worked as a volunteer assistant coach in 2008 and also started the 2009 season as an assistant. After an injury to Cortland’s starting quarterback early in the 2009 season, however, Smith appealed to the NCAA to restore his final season of eligibility and played the final seven games of the season. He threw for 1,041 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native concluded his career tied for first at Cortland with 48 touchdown passes. He also ranks second with 448 completions and third with 5,461 passing yards. As a freshman, Smith was an honorable mention All-New Jersey Athletic Conference selection and tied a school single-game record with five touchdown passes in a win over Kean. As a sophomore in 2005, he passed for 230 yards and rushed for 100 yards in Cortland’s NCAA playoff opener at Hobart.
A 2004 graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School, Smith played football, ice hockey and baseball on the scholastic level.
