NFL's Lovie Smith, son Miles, to coach Desert Ridge High football

On paper, it looks like an offseason hire that might be hard for any Arizona high school to top.

Mesa Desert Ridge has reached into the NFL to bring in its next football coaches after a dismal season.

Miles Smith is being joined by his dad, Lovie Smith, who led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006, to help recharge a struggling Jaguars program that has lacked continuity since Jeremy Hathcock left in 2020.

Desert Ridge went 0-10 under first-year coach Jeremy Beamon last season.

Athletic Director Kevin Swann confirmed with The Republic on Tuesday, Dec. 16, that Miles Smith and his dad have been hired as a tandem to lead the program.

Lovie Smith, 67, was also head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. He was the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator in 2001 when they reached the Super Bowl.

He was an All-Texas defensive end/linebacker in the 1970s at Big Sandy High.

Miles Smith coached with his dad in 2022 with the Houston Texans and at the University of Illinois, where he was linebackers coach under Lovie.

They will speak to the parents and share their vision in the Desert Ridge gym at 6 p.m, on Dec. 18.

"We hired a tandem — Miles Smith and his dad, Lovie Smith," Swann told The Republic in an email.

"Both Miles and Lovie share the knowledge, commitment, values and faith necessary to mentor our boys and build them into fine young men and quality football players," Swann said.

"Throughout the interview process and our many conversations, Miles' knowledge, his vision and his values were impressive to everyone he came in contact with. We are excited to have him join the staff in January as a teacher, as well."

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL's Lovie Smith, son Miles, to coach Desert Ridge High footbal