Go ahead and add Robert Steeples to your fastest-rising coaches list.
Steeples has left his job as the head coach at De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis to become the assistant special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
“I am blessed and humbled to have been the leader of such great young men and to have had the opportunity to work alongside the best coaches and faculty here at De Smet Jesuit,” Steeples said. “I will carry this team with me into the NFL, and I will smile watching the Spartans continue to earn success together at De Smet Jesuit.”
Steeples spent five seasons at De Smet Jesuit, going 32-21 -- 3-17 in his first two seasons and 29-4 in his last three. A 2008 De Smet graduate, he led his alma mater to a 2019 state title and a 2020 state final appearance, where the Spartans' 20-game winning streak was snapped.
“Obviously, the Vikings helped me realize a childhood dream being an NFL player and so it’s awesome to see it come full circle and them helping me realize an adulthood dream of me becoming an NFL coach,” Steeples told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “So, it’s an exciting opportunity for me and my family and I just really want to help them build and do the best I can to help that organization reach their aspirations and goals.”
The 31-year-old played at Missouri and Memphis, then spent three years as a defensive back and special teams journeyman. He appeared in two games for the Vikings in 2013, then kicked around with the Rams, Chiefs and Cowboys in 2014-15 before entering coaching.
Steeples told the Pioneer-Press he'll use his experience as an NFL player to help his new players. "I was hungry for a spot as a player back then and now I’m hungry just to help the guys on the roster make their case for a spot and build them up and coach the man first and the player second," he said.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.