Genius is Common - Collette V. Smith NFL's 1st African American female Coach NYJets 2017
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Published on Dec 14, 2023
For Bookings: cvsmith@believenyouinc.com www.believenyouinc.com
Collette V. Smith is the Founder and President of Believe N You, Inc. and the NFL’s 1st African American Female Coach in the History of the National Football League by way of being the 1st Female Coach in NY Jets Franchise History, Coaching the Defensive Backs in 2017 during Training Camp.
Smith is a former Women’s Professional Football Player (DB), Defensive Backs Coach and was the Director of Marketing, PR, Promotions, and Events for the New York Sharks in two Women’s Professional Football Leagues, the WFA, and IWFL. She didn’t start playing football until the age of 42. The Sharks recently won the National Championship in July of 2018 in Atlanta, GA.
Smith is currently affiliated with the WFLA (Women’s Football League Association), the only Women’s Professional Football League that pays its players and fosters an environment for female athletes to sustain healthy lifestyles through playing, coaching, and participating in American Football at the Highest Level for Women. The League’s purpose, principals, and plans are rooted in creating the development of the most pristine women’s football product in the world.
Collette today is an entrepreneur specializing in motivational speaking engagements and has been invited to speak at Fortune 100 Companies, Corporations, and Ivy League Institutions including Columbia University to speak on disparities women in sports face and the empowerment of black youth, girls, and women to see their greatness and excellence through adversity. She was recently Honored and Keynoted The Islip Town Branch NAACP’s Legacy Gala on January 19th, 2019, and the guest speaker at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s “House Of Justice” for their YOUTH HUDDLE program’s live video broadcast and visits Juvenile Detention Centers to bring hope and inspiration through her own struggles of Hard Knocks to Triumphs to those that need a second chance at life.
She is a true Change Agent and has dedicated her life to empower our youth, in particular girls and women to know that Any and Everything we desire IS Possible if we Believe In Ourselves. Her cultural and gender-specific loyalty is very important to her. She emphasizes the importance of building positive self-esteem through team sports to at-risk teens and women in low-income, underserved and marginalized communities.
She believes in Black Excellence working towards giving our youth a fighting chance at winning and empowering them with the right tools to succeed in life both on and off the field. Her mission is to have a positive impact on the development of our young sisters, brothers, and women, who Will and Can become the strong, effective leaders of tomorrow.
Smith was recently featured in a Docu-Series on the Nationally Acclaimed Network BETHer for their show “Exceptional Black Women” alongside MC Lyte, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Meagan Good, and Terri J. Vaughn and is currently in production for her own Full-Length Documentary and working on two books, “Unapologetically Collette… stories from the NFL’s 1st African American Female Coach in History” and “Get Off The Bench”.
Collette has been invited to Cameroon, Africa, Germany, and Turkey to coach girls and women there to play American Football, Conduct Lectures, and hold Round-Table Forums on essential life skills including learning to value ourselves and have a “never give up attitude” taking her mission and company, Believe N You, Inc. global.
Smith was the Grand Marshall at the 50th Annual African American Day Parade in Harlem, NY September 15th, 2019 as an honored individual that has made key contributions to furthering the dignity, determination, and excellence of the African American Community by way of using her platforms to contribute to the success of this community and the country.
She was recently Honored at the Power of Influence Awards for the “Year Of The Woman” Award on February 1st, 2019 in Atlanta, GA with Jermaine Dupri, Singing Sensation “Monica”, T.I., Ray Lewis, and Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms.
She is the only woman to have ever spoken on the “Chalk Talk” Panel for the NFL Alumni’s Official Superbowl Game Day Brunch alongside Legendary NFL Hall of Famers at Superbowl LIII and LIV in ATL, GA., and Miami, FL.
She was also Honored by Danny Glover’s Power of Dreams Award on March 22nd, 2019 at the United Nations in NYC.
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