Cam Rising’s football career might be done on the field, but his next chapter is already turning heads. The former Utah Utes star quarterback announced his medical retirement this week, ending a collegiate career filled with grit, leadership, and historic milestones. Yet, just as one door closed, another opened—back at home, where it all started.
Rising is returning to his alma mater, Newbury Park High School in California, not as a student-athlete, but as the team’s new offensive coordinator. In doing so, he steps into a mentorship role that could shape the next big name in college football: junior quarterback Brady Smigiel.
Smigiel, a Michigan commit and four-star prospect in the 2026 class, isn’t just any young talent. He’s already nationally ranked and widely considered one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country. And as fate would have it, Smigiel wears No. 7—Rising’s number—out of admiration for the man who will now be guiding his game.
“I literally couldn’t have a better scenario,” Smigiel told reporters. “Having my role model growing up become my offensive coordinator and quarterback coach—it’s unreal.” That connection, born from admiration and now forged into mentorship, sets the stage for a unique and powerful partnership on the gridiron.
Rising, who led Utah to back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances, is excited about the challenge and the opportunity. “I get to really coach him up and teach him the correct way to approach football,” Rising said. “That’s my goal—make sure he’s focused on getting better every day.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Rising, who starred at Newbury Park before moving on to the collegiate stage. Despite his retirement from competitive play, his passion for the game burns just as hot, and now he has a chance to pass it on directly.
Smigiel already has elite arm talent and a mature command of the offense, but working with someone who’s competed at the highest college level could sharpen his mechanics, decision-making, and preparation even further. “Getting to pick his brain every day—it’s a dream come true,” Smigiel said.
Their pairing has already drawn attention across the prep and college football worlds. Recruiting analysts are watching closely to see how this mentorship impacts Smigiel’s senior season and beyond. His current national ranking is No. 80 overall and No. 7 among quarterbacks, but that could rise—pun intended—by fall.
Beyond wins and rankings, Rising’s presence in the locker room may be even more valuable. His journey through injuries, leadership under pressure, and postseason success provides a roadmap few coaches at the high school level can match.
Newbury Park’s program, already solid, now has the kind of high-profile buzz rarely seen outside of Texas or Florida prep powerhouses. With a D-I-bound quarterback and a former Pac-12 star calling the shots, expectations are through the roof.
“It’s about more than football,” Rising said. “It’s about mindset, work ethic, and helping Brady and the whole team understand what it takes to succeed at the next level.”
As fall approaches, all eyes will be on Newbury Park—not just for what Smigiel does with his arm, but for what this quarterback-coach duo can accomplish together. A legacy has ended. Another is just beginning.