BUFFALO, N.Y. — Competing in lacrosse, swimming and bowling in high school wasn’t enough for Kathryn Smith.
Come fall, she would spend most Friday nights on the football sideline helping her father, Robert, track statistics for Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York.
Little did anyone envision some 15 years later that Smith’s passion for sports would lead her to become the NFL’s first full-time female assistant coach.
“That’s just her nature that whatever she’s doing, she’s certainly going to jump in head first,” Christian Brothers athletic director John Wleklinski said Thursday.
Wleklinski spoke fondly of Smith a day after coach Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills broke the league’s gender barrier by promoting the 30-year-old to be their special teams quality control coach.
“I appreciate Rex Ryan giving me this opportunity based on the merit of my work and commitment to this organization,” Smith said in a series of statements released by the team. “The amount of attention generated in the past 24 hours has been extraordinary. However, my focus remains on my job responsibilities and helping the team win.”
She has 12 seasons of NFL experience, starting in various internship roles with the New York Jets, and she got her coaching break because of Ryan, who first recognized Smith’s potential when he was hired as the Jets’ coach in 2009. Ryan brought Smith along with him to Buffalo last year, and she spent this season as an administrative assistant for the Bills assistant coaches.
“Kathryn has been a part of Rex’s staff for the past seven years and has proven that she does excellent work,” Bills co-owner Kim Pegula said in a statement. “While we understand the significance of this announcement, it’s important to understand that Kathryn earned this position because she has shown she is qualified, dedicated and puts in the work needed for this role.”
Smith’s role is not nearly the NFL’s most appealing. The quality control title is essentially a jack-of-all-trades designation in which coaches work long hours breaking down film and scouting opponents while also coaching practice.
Smith has had low-profile jobs in the past. While studying sports management at St. John’s from 2003 through 2007, Smith was a manager for the men’s basketball team.
“You knew she was going to be successful with whatever she did,” said Matt Abdelmassih, a former team manager and now assistant coach. “To get that call, to be a pioneer, is something special, and I know it’s just the start for her in terms of working up the coaching ranks. There’s no question that she’ll continue to grow.”
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