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St. M Welcomes NFL Player as New Coach
Meet Kevin McDermott and learn about his passion for football in this Meet the Coach Q&A.
How did you first get started in football?
I was born in Nashville, so you know, football is big in the South. I played flag football, which was a good start, in 3rd and 4th grade. I started playing tackle football in 5th grade and didn't stop until I was 30.
Was there a memory or person who stood out during your youth?
I attend Ensworth Middle School. We were the Tigers. My 7th-grade year was a really special season because we had 14 kids on the team, and we went undefeated. We ended the season 10-0. That season we didn't have a long snapper, so I had to step up.
When did football become something you dreamed of doing in college?
I played through High School but didn't get any offers when I was a senior. I went to UCLA to study Political Science with a minor in Film and Television. I walked onto the football team as a tight end, which meant I had no scholarship. I played as a walk-on in my freshman, sophomore, and junior year, then my senior year, I became the team's long-snapper, and I earned a scholarship for my 4th & 5th years (red shirt).
Being an athlete who was not on a scholarship was not always easy. Back then, there were different rules than there are today. So as a walk-on, I wasn't allowed to have the same kind of meals, protein shakes, or access to things as my teammates on scholarship. That was hard, but honestly, I was just happy to be there.
What happened next? How did you make the move from college to NFL?
I went undrafted but signed the same day with the San Francisco 49ers. I won the spot as the long-snapper during my rookie season. That was 2013, and we had a great season and headed to the NFC Championship. We ended up losing that game to the Seattle Seahawks, who then went on to win the Super Bowl.
In my second season, I joined the Baltimore Ravens. It was just for one season. I was filling in for Morgan Cox, one of the best long snappers, while he was injured.
I then joined the Minnesota Vikings and played there for five years. That felt like home. My wife and I owned our first house in Minneapolis. Our daughter was born there. It is definitely a special place.
Who made the most significant impact on your football career overall?
There are many people who have impacted my career. Of course, the coach at Ensworth, Robbie Sinks, who turned me on to long snapping. Then I had coaches in high school who pulled me aside and said, "You know, you're good enough to do this in college." Then in college, the same thing happened concerning moving on to the NFL, which encouraged me to keep going.
Then, of course, my wife, Lauren. We met in college at UCLA, and she really was the one that kept me going. I actually used my first NFL paycheck to buy her engagement ring. I would have been a basket case and a total mess without her.
What lessons did you learn in the NFL that might reflect St. Mary's Athletic Philosophy & Values?
All the way up to the NFL, the teams that do amazing, that really succeed, have chemistry. They are focused on each other rather than the wins and losses. Many times in youth sports, it's about the result rather than the process. In just my first few weeks here at St. Mary's, it's clear that the chemistry exists and that the team and the coaching staff are looking at it from a process perspective. So I am excited to join that and keep it going.
What role will you be playing with St. Mary's Football?
I will be an assistant coach for special teams. You know, normally, the defense is on the field, and they have their job, then the offense is on the field, and they do their job, but for special teams, it's the one time they are working together to either score points or prevent the other team from scoring points.
What are your goals for our student-athletes on and off the field?
Ensworth High School in Nashville was a lot like St. Mary's. It was a small private school with the same emphasis on learning. So I also grew up as an athlete, knowing school came first but that the lessons on the field were important too.
Connections to southern Oregon? Why did you make this your home?
Lauren grew up in Medford, and we would come out to southern Oregon to visit a lot, and we just felt like this was where we were supposed to be. We decided to be done with playing professionally and moved out here with our daughter. I actually work for my father-in-law now.
What do you do now?
I got my MBA from Indiana University while I was still in the NFL and became a financial advisor. I work with clients here in the valley, like local doctors, lawyers, business owners, and retirees. I also work with NFL athletes in wealth management and my experience helps me relate to what they are going through. It's actually kinda cool because I wanted to be a coach, which has happened. I am coaching people in their wealth management, and I am now coaching at St. Mary's.
When you're not coaching, in one way or another, what are you up to?
Lauren and I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son, so they keep us pretty busy. I actually have my pilot's license, so I like to fly, and I love to fish, all kinds of fishing.
