Ryan Smith's been a coach, an off-the-field assistant and worked in recruiting capacities at the NCAA Division II level, as well as in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12.
Now Smith is getting a chance to help chart the direction of the roster at Auburn University.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Smith is Bryan Harsin's new director of player personnel for the Tigers.
Harsin's preparing for his first spring camp atop the Tigers' program after being hired earlier this year to replace the fired Gus Malzahn.
Smith's returning to Auburn in charge of player personnel after serving in an assistant capacity the past two years within Mack Brown's North Carolina program.
A Baylor graduate, Smith's formal title with the Tar Heels was as a recruiting analyst; however, his expertise in player evaluations and roster construction found him in more of an assistant director role for UNC.
Prior to his Power 5 posts off the field, Smith worked with quarterbacks in an offensive quality control coaching role at Angelo State.
Harsin's staff now is again on the verge of being complete, and Smith's arrival helps fill the void created earlier this week when Ross Newton left his director of high school relations post on The Plains to rejoin Gus Malzahn at UCF. [Editor's note: Smith will serve as director of player personnel, not director of high school relations.]
As always stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching news.
Update> In addition to the hire of Smith, sources tell FootballScoop Ryan Trichel has been promoted to director of recruiting operations.