Az-Zahir Smith was named the Cornerbacks Coach with the Glenville State Football program in January of 2026. He is entering his first season with the Pioneers in 2026.
Smith previously worked as a Defensive Assistant at West Virginia under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez. With the Mountaineers, Smith worked primarily with the linebackers.
“We are excited to welcome Az-Zahir to Glenville State. He is a hard worker and will bring a lot of knowledge to our defense and the corner room,” noted Casteel.
Prior to WVU, he spent the 2024 season at FCS Wofford as a Defensive Quality Control Coach. He was tasked with assisting the inside linebackers and special teams at Wofford, as the Terriers ’24 season was highlighted by their 26-19 upset victory at No. 14 Richmond.
Before Wofford, Smith was a graduate assistant at Shepherd during the 2023 season. While at SU, the Rams went (9-3) and secured an NCAA DII Playoff appearance.
“I’m excited to get things rolling here in Glenville,” said Smith. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in Coach Casteel and Glenville State football. I’m excited to be a Pioneer!”
Smith played collegiately at Erskine, where he was a tight end with the Flying Fleet. He earned his way onto a college roster after a successful high school career at Ashley Ridge HS in Summerville, S.C.
