NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Shevin Smith Jr. didn’t play football until his senior year of high school.
Seven years later, he met Bemidji State head coach Brent Bolte in a hotel room in Lincoln, Nebraska for an impromptu interview to be the Beavers’ new cornerbacks coach.
Smith was clued in about a job opening at Bemidji State by a trainer in California who had connections with Brandon Brooks, the Beavers’ former defensive backs coach. Smith told the trainer he was interested in the position, and the following morning, he received a call from defensive coordinator Joe Ford.
Less than 24 hours later, Smith found himself in a hotel room interviewing with Bolte
“I liked it because it was the most non-interview interview ever,” Smith said. “Bolte is such a chill, kind of old-school guy, so he was like “So what do you think about all this NIL?” and stuff like that. We just started having a conversation, not even like, ‘What do you like to teach, this, this, that,’ we were just talking about NIL, recruiting, football.”
As it turned out, Bolte was already in Lincoln, attending the Rimington Trophy ceremony alongside center Jake Gannon. Ford told Smith that, if he was interested in the position, he could meet Bolte in his hotel room before the award ceremony.
Smith obliged. The two met up and talked for about 30 minutes, discussing coaching experience and the current state of college football.
“I could tell that he was really aligned in the way that we thought about the overall philosophy of football and the football world,” Smith said.
The feeling was mutual.
“I think the big thing for me, I let coach Ford do a lot of the dirty work with who he feels comfortable with, the X’s and Os,” Bolte said. “I just want good people, that’s who I look for. (Smith and I)…
Source link : https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/sports/college/shevin-smith-jr-takes-unconventional-path-to-lead-bemidji-states-cornerback-room
Author :
Publish date : 2025-03-21 15:17:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
