Third-year Illiniois football coach Lovie Smith celebrates his 60th birthday this Tuesday.
Smith played college football at the University of Tulsa for coach John Cooper, then immediately began his coaching career at his prep alma mater, Big Sandy High School in Dallardsville, Texas.
Three years later, Smith returned to Tulsa (1983-86) to coach the Golden Hurricane linebackers. Following brief stops at Wisconsin (1987), Arizona State (1988-91), Kentucky (1992), Tennessee (1993-94) and Ohio State (1995), he joined Tony Dungy's Tampa Bay staff, coaching the Buccaneers' linebackers (1996-2000). Smith served as Mike Martz's defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams (2001-03), including a berth in Super Bowl XXXVI.