Desert Ridge Coach Miles Smith Reportedly Resigns

Overview

• A parent and multiple media outlets reported Monday that head coach Miles Smith has resigned and that volunteer assistant Lovie Smith is leaving the staff, while Gilbert Public Schools said it had not received any official resignation as of Monday evening.
• The dispute began when Smith dismissed starting quarterback Gunner Brewer for changing a play during the Oct. 2 game, a decision Brewer said led to his removal from the roster on Oct. 5.
• Twelve players walked out of an Oct. 7 team meeting in support of Brewer and were suspended for the remainder of the season, with five of those players identified as seniors.
• The program has limited public access and strained booster relations after the school denied media entry to an Oct. 8 home game and Lovie Smith had a heated confrontation with a booster on Oct. 9.
• Desert Ridge is 2-6 and faces a scheduled Oct. 23 game with coaching leadership, the suspended players' status, and possible district action unresolved, raising risks to team morale and the final weeks of the season.