New York Jets Plan to Hire First Female Coach in Team History

According to the New York Daily News, the New York Jets are bringing aboard their first ever female coach. Collette Smith will spend this summer working with the team’s defensive backs during training camp.

The 44-year-old, who was a preseason intern with the Jets, currently works for the New York Sharks of the Independent Women’s Football League as a coach and marketing executive. She had played three seasons for the Sharks before a knee injury forced her out.

Following her injury, Smith was made an assistant by Sharks former coach Richard Harrigan, who said she’s a “phenomenal person.”

Smith explained that it was her practice field access with the Jets last year that led to her opportunity with them now.

“He called over all the defensive backs,” Smith said about Jets head coach Todd Bowles. “He told them who I was and that I’d be hanging around from time to time.”

Smith being brought on by the Jets comes on the heels of the Arizona Cardinals hiring Jen Welter as a preseason intern in 2015 and the Buffalo Bills making Kathryn Smith the first full-time female coach in the NFL in 2016.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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