Steve Smith Leaving af2's Carolina Rhinos For NFL's New Orleans Saints
July 22, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Carolina Rhinos News Release
GREENVILLE, SC â The League office of arenafootball2 and the Carolina Rhinos have announced offensive line coach & special teams assistant Steve Smith is leaving the team to accept a position with the National Football League's New Orleans Saints. Smith will serve as an assistant to Saints offensive line coach Jack Henry during the team's upcoming training camp.
"This is a great opportunity for me especially so early in my career," said Smith who will leave the Rhinos later this week. "I have set goals for me and my family to get to the NFL, and to have the chance to gain the experience I will working for a mentor like Jack Henry is tremendous. He knows this game and what people like me need to learn to get where we want to be."
"This is a very good opportunity for Steve," said Rhinos head coach Rod Miller. "It shows what this team and this league are all about. Having someone reach the highest level in our business is great for him, the organization and the city of Greenville."
"This is a well-deserved opportunity for Steve, and we wish him the best of luck knowing he will do a great job!" said Carl Scheer, chairman and chief executive office of ScheerSports, Inc. and the Rhinos. "This is what ScheerSports, the Carolina Rhinos and af2 are all about; the opportunity to advance for those dedicated individuals who are willing to work towards it."
Smith, 25, joined the Rhinos staff in December of 2001 after serving as an assistant coach / quarterbacks coach and tutor / mentor at Virginia State University last year. Prior to Virginia State, he was an assistant coach at Southside Preparatory Academy in Chicago. Smith played for the San Antonio Matadors in NFL sponsored spring league play in 1999 and 2000 and attended training camp with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in 1999. He played for Southern Illinois University for four seasons, 1995-99, graduating with a degree in Pre-Med Studies in 1999.
The Rhinos will finish the 2002 season at home versus the Richmond Speed this Saturday July 27th at 7:30 p.m. Rhinos' tickets are on sale at the BI-LO Center box office, by calling either 864-233-2525 or 864-576-1550 and online at ticketmaster.com. Additional information is available by calling 864-467-4777 or logging on to rhinosfootball.com.
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