Archie McDaniel joined the SMU coaching staff as linebackers coach in December 2014 after spending three seasons at New Mexico.
In 2016, SMU's defense was statistically one of the 10 most-improved in college football. The Mustangs ranked seventh nationally in interceptions per game and forced 26 turnovers in all.
McDaniel made the switch to coaching outside linebackers in 2014 after coaching the defensive line his first two seasons at UNM.
The 2013 Lobo defensive line accounted for 65.6 percent of the team's sacks and 38.3 percent of the team's tackles for loss. All-Mountain West honorable mention Brett Bowers had nine tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles for the Lobos in 2013.
His defensive line unit in 2012 helped the Lobos improve from a No. 119 ranking among the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in rush defense in 2011 to a No. 74 ranking in 2012.
His line (including the rush outside linebacker position) produced 38 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in 2012. Defensive end Jacori Greer earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors after leading the team with eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Greer's sack total put him 10th in the conference.
McDaniel came to UNM after a two-year stay at the University of Tulsa. He coached the Hurricane's defensive tackles in 2011 and their tight ends/H-backs in 2010, when the Golden Hurricane ranked sixth in the nation in total offense.
Under McDaniel's leadership, Tulsa's Cory Dorris earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors in 2011. Golden Hurricane H-back Charles Clay was an honorable mention all-conference performer in 2010.
McDaniel came to Tulsa following one season as the linebackers coach at Texas Southern University, where the TSU defense was ranked 22nd in the nation for total defense during the 2009 campaign. He helped that defensive unit rank first in the SWAC for total defense and second for rush defense.
McDaniel spent the 2008 season as a defensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Texas A&M. He assisted with coaching the Aggies' defensive line. McDaniel spent the 2007 season coaching linebackers at Trinity Valley Community College and produced three all-conference players at linebacker that season.
He played linebacker at Texas A&M, where he was a three-year starter and team captain his senior season. McDaniel totaled 213 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions as a starter from 2003-05. He earned his degree from A&M in agricultural development in 2005.
McDaniel has also served an internship with the Houston Texans in the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Intern program.
McDaniel is married to the former LaTrenia Byrd of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and has one son, Christian.
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