Coach Sherman Smith Was Deland McCullough’s Father

Imagine searching for your biological parents and discovering that the man you looked up to for guidance, the coach who shaped your athletic journey, is actually your father. This incredible story belongs to former NFL player Deland McCullough, who recently shared the profound revelation that his college coach, Sherman Smith, is his biological father.

A Coach’s Guidance, A Father’s Love

The connection between McCullough and Smith began when Smith was the running backs coach at Miami University of Ohio. McCullough, then just 16 years old and being recruited to play, found an immediate mentor in Smith. Unbeknownst to both, a deeper familial bond already existed.

Smith, an alumnus of Miami of Ohio himself and an eight-season NFL veteran with the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers, treated his players like family. He famously told his players, ‘You may not be looking for a father, but I treat you like you’re my son.’ Little did he know how literal those words would become.

The Search for Identity

After his own playing career was cut short by a knee injury, McCullough transitioned into coaching. This path fueled his desire to learn more about his origins. Through adoption records, he first located his birth mother, who lived just minutes away. During their meeting, he bravely asked about his paternal parent.

The answer stunned him: his father was Sherman Smith. McCullough also learned that Smith had been unaware of the child’s existence. When Smith discovered that the young athlete he had been mentoring was, in fact, his own son, the reunion was deeply emotional. ‘He opened the door, and he just opened his arms. He said, ‘My son,’’ McCullough recounted.

A Story for the Ages

This remarkable father-son story has captured hearts and is now being adapted into a book, with potential plans for a movie adaptation. Sherman Smith even has a dream casting in mind, humorously stating, ‘I want Denzel Washington to play my part. I’m putting it out there, Denzel. I want you to know that.’

The journey of Deland McCullough and Sherman Smith is a powerful reminder of the unexpected ways family connections can be found and the profound impact of mentorship and love, transcending even the boundaries of biology.