TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University football program and Head Coach Brant McAdams announced the promotion of Mike Smith to defensive coordinator after serving the previous three seasons as the Lutes' defensive line coach. 
 
"Coach Mike has earned this opportunity. Over the last three years, he's built a defensive line room defined by toughness, discipline, and accountability. He helped build our system, he understands our culture, and he understands the standard required to compete for championships," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.
 
"Developing coaches from within has been a critical piece of maintaining continuity for our players. I have full confidence in Mike's leadership of our defense moving forward. Our standard doesn't change. If anything, it rises."
 
Smith has spent the previous three seasons as the Lutes' defensive line coach. Under his direction, the defensive line has produced six All-Conference selections and three D3football.com All-Region honors. He helped the team rank sixth nationally in rushing defense in 2024, yielding just 57.6 rushing yards per game while also sitting ninth nationally in sacks.
 
Prior to Luteville, Smith was a defensive graduate assistant at the Division I level at Texas Christian University for three seasons under longtime head coach Gary Patterson. 
 
Smith spent six seasons at Northwest Conference rival Pacific University, first as a defensive assistant in 2014 before spending the next five seasons (2015-2019) as the defensive line coach. His time with the Boxers included winning a share of the NWC title in 2014. 
 
"First and foremost I want to thank Coach McAdams for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this defense," said Smith.
 
"I've had the pleasure of being on staff these past three years and have been a part of a dominant defense these last two seasons under Coach Ketner. I'm excited to not only continue on that path but continuing to elevate the play you see on Saturdays from this defense. We have a great core group of guys returning this year and I'm just excited to get to work with them and the rest of this team."
 
Smith replaces Ketner Kupp as defensive coordinator after Kupp accepted a position in the National Football League with the Las Vegas Raiders. 
 
 Pacific Lutheran finished third in the NWC standings in 2025, closing the year with a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play.