ESPN College Football

Former Michigan State and Louisville head coach John L. Smith has been hired as an assistant coach at Arkansas, the school confirmed Friday after it was reported by ESPN's Pat Forde.

Smith will work will be special teams coordinator.

"We are extremely fortunate to add John L. Smith to our coaching staff," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "His experience and knowledge of the collegiate game will be a tremendous asset to our student-athletes and our program. I have had the privilege to work with him on a number of occasions previously. He is an outstanding football coach and an outstanding person."

Smith was the coach at Utah State during the 1990s and had Petrino on his staff.

Smith attempted to land several jobs in the past and turned down some programs that pursued him.

Smith's last job in college football was at Michigan State, which fired him after the 2006 season. He was 22-26 in four seasons; his last Spartans team was 4-8 and won only one of eight Big Ten games.

Kirk Botkin, last year's special teams coach, will remain on the staff at Arkansas, coaching defensive ends. The Razorbacks had a spot to fill when secondary coach Lorenzo Ward left this week to join the staff at South Carolina.

ESPN.com senior writer Pat Forde and The Associated Press contributed to this report.