Arthur Smith enters his third season as a member of Zac Bruney's staff during the 2026 season. The 2026 season sees Smith promoted to the team's Defensive Coordinator, and will also see him take over as the position coach for the Defensive Backs. Over his first two seasons with the Cardinals, Smith served as the team's Special Teams Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach for the 2025 season, and served as a Co-Defensive Coordinator with the team during the 2024 season.
In 2025, Smith continued his work with the Special Teams Unit, helping lead punt returner Nasir Rhem to Honorable Mention All-MEC honors. As a team, the Cardinal punt returners finished with an average of 13.77 yards per return, while the kick returners added an average of 22.89 yards/return and two touchdowns. Smith also helped sophomore kicker Conor Fitzpatrick earn Honorable Mention All-MEC honors, while setting the single-game record with four field goals made against Concord. Smith has also had his hand on the defensive side of the ball throughout his time with the Cardinals, working with the team's linebackers. He helped guide Jefferson Bretanys-Desca to the team's single-season tackles record, as well as First Team All-MEC honors during the 2025 season.
In 2024, Smith led a Wheeling Special Teams Unit that made history during the season. He helped lead a kick return team that picked up the first two kick-off return touchdowns in the program's history. Both kick returns came in the Homecoming Game against Fairmont State courtesy of Tre Holloway. Under his watch, former Cardinal kick returner Tre Holloway earned Second Team All-MEC honors for his work on special teams. He also assisted in coaching First Team All-MEC Linebacker Jack Parry, whi finished with the MEC lead in tackles with 91.0.
Smith comes to Wheeling after spending a year as the Defensive Coordinator for Alvernia University in Alvernia, PA. Under his watch, Alvernia finished the season with 9.0 total sacks and 10 interceptions to go along with 35 pass breakups. He helped coach Elijah Carr to All-MAC honors during the season, helping him to become the leading tackler in the MAC with 104.0 total tackles to average 10.4 tackles per game.
Prior to Alvenia, Smith spent two seasons at Delaware State, where he would be part of a defensive staff that lead the MEAC in back-to-back #1 overall defenses during the 2021 & 2022 seasons. His coaching career also includes stops at Wesley College, where he spent four years as an Assistant and helped coach Seven All-NJAC performers, Wesley Smith, Montana State University - Northern, and Mount Union. During the course of his career, Smith has won a NCAA DIII National Championship (Mount Union, 2012) and had several All-Conference honorees on the defensive side of the ball.
As a player, Smith played in several Indoor football leagues professionally over five seasons. His stops included the Allen Wranglers, Wyoming Cavalry, Billings Wolves, Marian Blue Racers, and Amarillo Venum. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education, with a Minor in Health and Education from Mount Union in December of 2012, and added a Master of Science in Education, Instrution, and Learning from Montana State University - Northern in 2017. During his time with the Purple Raiders, Smith played for Bruney as a member of the Purple Raiders football team.
Smith lives with his wife Sade M. Smith and his two sons Arthur D. Smith IV and Carlos James.
