At the end of his Virginia football career, Jackson Matteo questioned what his next step would be. Originally, he wanted to try to make an NFL roster or practice squad. However, this pursuit was cut short, as Matteo sustained injuries and had to retire from the game at the end of his fifth season.

The student-athletes who give their all to a sport can become lost after they graduate because they have to find a new path. At first, coaching did not feel like an option to Matteo, until he had one more conversation with Bronco Mendenhall.

“I have seen older guys on our team finish and become a GA,” Matteo said. “When Bronco first talked to me, I hadn’t really put thought into it. … When Bronco talked to me, I was like, ‘yeah, I like the sound of that.’ I love being around the game. Really cool opportunity to stay on here and coach.”

The path that led to that moment required patience.

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