Northern California High School Football Program Adds NFL Star Power to Coaching Staff

Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, is adding two former San Francisco 49ers stars to its high school football coaching staff. Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young and longtime NFL quarterback Alex Smith are joining the Lancers, winners of 17 overall section championships, for the 2026 season. Both players have children who attend the private school.

Young enjoyed a legendary 14-year career, all with the 49ers. The defensive tackle was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He was a cornerstone of the team’s defense, earning Pro Bowl honors, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1999 and a Super Bowl ring as a rookie in 1994. He recorded 89.5 career sacks and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Scholastically, Young played at Bloom High School in Chicago. He also has prior coaching experience at the college and NFL levels, including stints as a defensive line coach at San Jose State, the University of Florida and with the Atlanta Falcons.

Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Utah, spent eight seasons with the 49ers as part of a 16-year pro career that also included time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington. Known for his football IQ, accuracy and resilience — most notably his remarkable recovery from a gruesome leg injury in 2018 — Smith brings quarterback-specific expertise and leadership to the Lancers’ staff.

Smith played at Helix High School outside of San Diego, California. Alongside future Heisman Trophy winner and NFL running back Reggie Bush, Smith helped lead the school to back-to-back San Diego Section championships and a 25-1 record.