Vernon Smith Jr. begins his third season coaching cornerbacks at Portland State.
In 2015, he guided both of his starting corners to All-Big Sky Conference honors. Xavier Coleman was named second team and Aaron Sibley earned third team. The tandem combined for 89 tackles, 20 pass breakups and six interceptions. That was a huge factor in PSU improving its overall defense by allowing 12 fewer points and 90 fewer passing yards per game over 2014.
Coleman earned first team All-Big Sky honors and a third team All-American nod from the Associated Press in 2016.
Coleman has graduated by Chris Seisay returns to lead the position group, which includes veterans Artuz Manning, Malik Cyphers and Montre Brown.
BACKGROUND
Smith worked at College of the Redwoods in 2014 as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. Previously, he spent two seasons at Arizona Western and two seasons at Palomar College as a secondary coach.
Smith is a native of San Diego where he attended Mission Bay High School. He then played four years of football at Montana, graduating with a degree in Sociology. Smith was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection and a second-team All-American in 2002. He was a member of the Griz’ National Championship team in 2001.
He also has a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education from Central Washington University.
THE VERNON SMITH JR. FILE
3rd year at Portland State
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Alma Mater: Montana, 2005, Sociology; Central Washington, 2010, Masters in Health and Physical Education
Playing Career: Montana, 2000-04, cornerback
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2015-17 Portland State, cornerbacks
2014 College of Redwoods, wide receivers
2012-13 Arizona Western, secondary
2010-12 Palomar College, secondary
2008-10 Central Washington, graduate assistant
2007 Southern Oregon
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE VIKINGS UNDER VERNON SMITH
2015
2nd team: Xavier Coleman, CB
3rd team: Aaron Sibley, CB
2016
1st team: Xavier Coleman, CB
