Northwestern soccer is choosing former Virginia Tech assistant Ryan Smith as the team’s subsequent cornerbacks mentor, according to a report Sunday by Pete Thamel. Smith was envisioned to remain on at Virginia Tech but has now jumped ship to the Wildcats.

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Prior to Virginia Tech, as the cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator from 2020-21, Smith was a graduate assistant at Penn Condition and also had stops at Elon and JMU just before his time in Blacksburg.

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“I am honored to take this opportunity to mentor at a area like Virginia Tech,” Smith stated upon being introduced Jan. 14, 2020. “I grew up admiring the Hokies participating in really hard-hitting defense and being opportunistic on distinctive groups. To have an chance to support have on that custom under coach (Justin) Fuente is certainly a blessing. I can not wait around to be on the sideline at Lane Stadium and come to feel the enthusiasm of the supporters as Hokie Nation starts leaping.”

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In 2020, Smith was just one of only two ACC staffers to be named to the 30 Underneath 30 checklist of mounting school football stars compiled by 247Sporting activities.

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“Smith joins the Virginia Tech workers just after a effective a person-year stint at James Madison,” wrote 247Sports’ Chris Hummer Sept. 18, 2020. “A safeties mentor with the Dukes, Smith coached a pair of All-American options (Adam Smith, D’Angelo Adams). The two a long time prior, he was the secondary coach at Elon exactly where he coached a pair of all-meeting DBs (Greg Liggs, Tyler Campbell). Soon after setting up in Blacksburg, Smith served land 4-star CB DJ Harvey, the prime-rated participant in the Hokies’ 2021 class. Smith can take around a deep situation place even with Caleb Farley opting out of the year.”

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Virginia Tech has due to the fact parted strategies with Fuente and hired previous Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry.

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“Clearly, there were being stops along the way that make you feel, ‘Boy, you’d like to be the head mentor in this article if you could, this is a exclusive place,'” Pry claimed Dec. 2. “And as I stated, Virginia Tech is just one of those people destinations. It is a aspiration for me to be the head coach below. It truly is surreal. I learned at an early age that you keep your nose to the grindstone and you just be the very best mentor that you…