Former NFL running back Jahvid Best named St. Mary’s head coach
BERKELEY, Calif. (BVM) – St. Mary’s College High School of Berkeley might’ve just gotten its prayers answered in the form of an old foe.
Former NFL running back Jahvid Best — who starred at the Panthers’ archrival, Salesian High School, and later at Cal – was announced as the school’s next head football coach Monday. It’ll be Best’s first opportunity in a head role, but the former collegiate star already has some coaching experience under his belt. After retiring from the NFL, Best returned to Cal and spent three years as a student assistant before coaching Salesian’s running backs and defense last season.
Best was considered one of the best running backs in the country during his high school playing days and had a record-setting career at Salesian. The four-star, top-100 recruit ran for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns as a high school senior, setting Bay Area single-season records. His 6,379 career rushing yards were a Bay Area record that stood until Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (Antioch High School) broke it in 2016.
Following a wildly successful career at Cal where he earned two first-team All-Pac-10 selections, Best was the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in every game for the Lions as a rookie, but injuries, specifically concussions, cut Best’s playing career short and ultimately forced him to retire in 2013.
Best stayed active, however, focusing on track and field and even qualifying for the 2016 Brazil Summer Olympics in the 100-meter dash as a representative of St. Lucia.
The new St. Mary’s head football coach inherits a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2015 and has gone a combined 18-28 since then.
