Army West Point Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Wide Receivers
Aaron Smith enters his fifth season at West Point as the wide receivers coach for the Black Knights in 2026, having initially joined the coaching staff in March 2022.
During the 2025 campaign, Smith engineered a breakout sophomore season for wideout Brady Anderson, who hauled in 14 receptions for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Showcasing elite big-play ability, Anderson averaged an incredible 27.2 yards per reception, finishing just shy of the program's single-season record of 30.9 yards per catch set by Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins in 1958 (minimum 15 receptions). Additionally, Anderson registered three separate games with 60 or more receiving yards, joining Casey Reynolds (2024) and Edgar Poe (2015) as the only Army players to achieve that feat in a single season under Head Coach Jeff Monken.
In 2024, Smith successfully mentored a veteran receiving corps spearheaded by a breakout senior year from Casey Reynolds. Reynolds posted career and team-high marks with 20 receptions for 457 yards (22.9 avg.) and three touchdowns. He became the first Army receiver since Edgar Poe in 2015 to log three games with 80 or more receiving yards in a single season. Senior Cam Schurr also heavily impacted the passing game, contributing seven catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Smith’s developmental success was also evident during the 2023 season, when three separate wideouts surpassed the 200-yard receiving threshold. His position group accounted for 1,014 of the team’s 1,234 total receiving yards, led by sophomore Noah Short. After transitioning from defensive back to wide receiver under Smith's guidance, Short paced the team with 18 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns, including scores in back-to-back weeks against UTSA and Syracuse. Reynolds also emerged as a primary threat that season, bringing in 16 receptions for 237 yards, which included a pivotal three-catch, 32-yard performance to help secure a victory over Navy.
In his first year at Army in 2022, Smith helped sophomore receiver Isaiah Alston log a season-best seven receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown at Wake Forest. It marked Alston’s second career 100-yard receiving game, making him one of 13 Army receivers with multiple 100-yard games. Alston finished with a team-high 16 receptions for 269 yards and a score.
Smith, who played for head coach Randy Edsall at UConn from 2004-06, spent the four seasons before joining Army as the wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator for the UConn Huskies (2017-21).
In 2019, he led a group of Wide Receivers that had six players 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 among true freshman wide receivers for catches, yards, and touchdowns.
In 2017, Smith’s unit helped the UConn offense 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.
Before UConn Smith spent four seasons on the University at Albany football staff (2013-16), serving as recruiting coordinator, pass game coordinator, and wide receiver 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.
Aaron spent the 2012 season as the Wide Receivers coach 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 as 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 began his coaching career at the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2006.
A native of Richmond Hill, Ga., and Washington, D.C., 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.
Smith resides at West Point with his wife, Kristin, and their four children: Mia, Cash, Briana, and Simone.
