Jermaine Smith was hired in June of 2021 as Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker Coach at Fort Lewis College. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Smith will also serve as the football team's Camps Director.
Smith comes to Durango after serving as the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach at Livingstone College in 2020. He has also made success stops as the Defensive Coordinator/Player Personnel Director for the Charlotte Thunder of the American Arena Football League from 2018-2020. The Thunder defense ranked 1st in the league in overall defense, points allowed and takeaways. Smith also coached the Defensive MVP of the league Fred Williams along with 5 other All-League players.
In total, Coach Smith has over 20 years total coaching on all levels. He earned his Bachelor's degree from University of Phoenix in Communications Marketing and Sales and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration in Homeland Security.
Smith played collegiately at Northeast Oklahoma A&M at the junior college ranks, earning NJCAA All-American honors and ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the country coming out his sophomore year. He attended East Carolina University, but transferred his senior year to Central State University and helped the Marauders win the NAIA Football National Championship in 1995.
Not only was Smith a successful player on the collegiate level, he went on to play professionally from 1996-2002 in the AFL, CFL and NFL after signing a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers in 2000.
Smith is a native of Eden, North Carolina. Prior to moving to Durango, he ran a non-profit organization in Charlotte that serves at-risk youth. He is married to Cynthia Floyd-Smith and they have six children: Darius, Aaron, Gaybreel, Tamia, Jordan and Mason.
