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Lovie Smith’s Son Hired By IMG Worldwide; Brings Chicago Bears Coaches As Clients

Oct 22, 2012; Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE
Oct 22, 2012; Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

He has experience working as an intern with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Priority Sports & Entertainment.  Now, the son of Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith has a full-time gig with IMG Worldwide.

Matthew Smith (Lovie’s son) is off to a stronger start than most 26-year-old agents.  He represents his father, two other Chicago Bears coaches (older brother Mikal Smith and offensive assistant Andrew Hayes-Stoker) and University of Toledo associate head coach Louis Ayeni.  IMG senior corporate vice president, Sandy Montag, is understandably excited about the hire.

“He was recommended to us and we interviewed him, we thought Matt was a really smart guy,” Montag said. “He has a lot to offer our company, especially in terms of coaches. We see a lot of upside in him. We really think he can grow and build our business.”

Without a doubt, Smith will benefit from his bloodline.  But it is not as if he has a blank slate on his resume.  As stated, he has a wealth of experience in the sports agency industry at a very young age.  Additionally, his educational background is nothing to scoff at – Northwestern undergrad and Loyola Chicago School of Law.

But do not expect Matthew Smith to get involved in the representation of football players.  IMG Worldwide has not represented American team-sport players with regards to their contractual negotiations with professional clubs for many years.  In fact, many of the company’s former team-sport player agents are now employees at a company where Matthew Smith previously interned – CAA.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.