Ryan Smith, Cornerbacks - Arizona Cardinals

Inside the Headset with the AFCA

On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, Ryan Smith, the corners coach for the Arizona Cardinals, shares the importance of coaching where your feet are, his experience coaching at many levels throughout his career, and his AFCA 35 Under 35 experience. Coach Smith, a member of the 2022 AFCA 35 Under 35 class, and the Cardinals recently knocked off the Dallas Cowboys in week 3 of the season.

Follow Coach Smith and the Arizona Cardinals on social media here:

@Coach_Smitty & @AZCardinals

Show Notes:

1:42 Introduction

2:21 When did you know that you wanted to be a football coach?

5:58 How did you get that first job at UTSA?

11:08 Opportunity to transition to become a GA at Penn State

13:43 Why do you think Penn State called you for the GA position?

16:41 Learning curves upon arriving at Penn State

19:31 Development as a young coach at Penn State

21:58 Navigating the coaching profession with a significant other

23:55 Transition to first full time job at Elon

25:25 Which of your first few stops allowed you to grow the most as a young coach?

30:58 Transition and experience at James Madison

33:26 Why were you one of the ones brought to JMU? Why transition to coaching the safeties?

37:19 Importance of continuity within a football program?

40:14 Experience with moving jobs with your wife

41:20 Transition to the job at Virigina Tech

43:40 Internal dialogue working on a big stage at Virginia Tech

44:54 What is your approach to coaching an important position like corner?

47:56 Experience serving as an Interim DC for a game during the 2020 season

53:57 Your experience navigating a job search after losing a job

55:23 Transition to the job at Northwestern

56:37 How did the Cardinals job open to you?

59:26 Eye-opening aspects of being a coach in the NFL

1:01:13 AFCA 35 Under 35 Experience

1:04:46 Conclusion