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Jonathan Smith always dreamed of being a football coach, but is there risk in coming home at Oregon State?

CORVALLIS -- For as long as he can remember, all Jonathan Smith wanted to do was coach football.

This is a somewhat unusual thought for a kid, unless that kid has coaching in the family bloodlines. Smith had none of that. Just a love of the game.

Growing up in the Southern California city of Glendora, Smith was the boy who gathered friends on the street or field to play ball, be it football, basketball or whiffle ball. An excellent athlete, Smith usually played quarterback, the guy drawing plays in the dirt.

Smith liked that.

As he neared the end of high school at Glendora, Smith charted his career path.