Army West Point Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Wide Receivers
Aaron Smith enters his fourth season at West Point as the wide receivers coach for the Black Knights in 2025.
He joined the coaching staff in March of 2022.
In 2024, Smith mentored a group of receivers led by the breakout senior campaign of Casey Reynolds. Reynolds recorded career and team season highs with 20 receptions for 457 yards (22.9 avg.) and three receiving touchdowns. He logged three games with 80 or more receiving yards, becoming the first Army receiver to do so in a single season since Edgar Poe in 2015. Senior Cam Schurr added seven receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown.
In 2023, Smith’s group enjoyed success as three separate wideouts totaled over 200 receiving yards. His receivers accounted for 1,014 of the team’s 1,234 total receiving yards. Sophomore Noah Short, who transitioned to receiver from defensive back, led the team in receptions with 18. He totaled 252 yards and two touchdowns. Short recorded touchdowns in back-to-back weeks vs. UTSA and Syracuse. Junior Casey Reynolds also emerged, hauling in 16 passes for 237 yards. He played a pivotal role in the Army-Navy Game, catching three passes for 32 yards.
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.
