Minnesota West football coach Smith takes job in Mississippi

Mississippi Delta Community College has named Jermaine Smith its next head football coach, bringing in a leader credited with what a press release lauded as one of the strongest two-year stretches in Minnesota West Community & Technical College history.

Smith was hired as head coach of the Bluejays in 2024. Minnesota West spent several weeks inside the NJCAA Division 3 top five and earned recognition for both offensive efficiency and defensive toughness. Smith was named MCAC Conference Coach of the Year during his tenure.

Before joining Mississippi Delta Community College, Smith also coached at multiple NCAA programs, including Campbell University as a defensive assistant, Livingstone College as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant, and Fort Lewis College as defensive coordinator.

He began his collegiate career at Northeast Oklahoma A&M College, later moved to East Carolina University, and finished at Central State University, where he was part of the school’s 1995 NAIA national championship team. His professional career included time with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Arena Football League’s Carolina Cobras, Greensboro Prowlers and Portland Prowlers.

He also previously served as a compliance associate at the NJCAA National Office, managing eligibility reviews, hardship rulings, institutional audits and bylaw interpretations.

Minnesota West has posted an opening for the position of Student-Athlete Academic Support Specialist and Head Football Coach on its webpage. The application deadline is Feb. 8.