Indiana HS football team makes coaching change, tabs former Pro Bowler as interim

An Indiana high school football team has already made a coaching change. After multiple changes at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., former NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith has been elevated to interim head coach of the Legends. The news was first reported by WANE 15 on Monday, Aug. 25

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What is the story about?

An Indiana high school football team has already made a coaching change.

After multiple changes at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., former NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith has been elevated to interim head coach of the Legends. The news was first reported by WANE 15 on Monday, Aug. 25.

Following a 19-0 loss to East Noble (IN) in Week 1, former head coach Ben Johnson is no longer with the program.

Oct 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Temple Owls head coach Matt Rhule shakes hands with Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) after a game at Lincoln Financial Field. Notre Dame won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Enter Smith, who was a five-star recruit out of high school and a Consensus All-American at Notre Dame in 2015, winning the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. He posted 115 tackles (9 for loss), 5 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and a sack.

Smith was selected 34th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, where he made

a Pro Bowl appearance in 2019. In his NFL career, Smith ended with 626 tackles, 21 pass breakups, 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries and had a pair of defensive scores.

North Side went 6-5 last season under Johnson, and are ranked 170th in the state, per MaxPreps.

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana HS football team makes coaching change, tabs former Pro Bowler as interim