Smith, Ruth

Character's past

Ruth Smith is from a family of soldiers, from her great-grandfather, to grandfather, parents, and siblings. There is no prouder day among the Smith than the one when they enlist, and Ruth had that day. She was in training for six days exactly, at which time her medical exam revealed she had a 'weak heart' and wasn't suitable for the army. Her father did his best to be supportive of his daughter as she tried to adjust, but her mother was merciless in her beratement of what she saw as a failure of character in her daughter. As far as her mother was concerned, Ruth had a weak heart because she was a weak person.   Unable to be a soldier, she drifted from job to job, until she landed a job as a janitor at a high school in a small Illinois town. By them, she was a chain smoker, overweight, and just waiting to die. Then, the football coach found her berating a few students with the ardor of a drill sergeant and he saw potential in her. Within a year she was his assistant coach, and where he got to play understanding father figure to every one of his players, she was the no-nonsense, hard-assed, bitch who didn't take crap from anyone.   The partnership proved to be a good one, and together they took the team to a handful of regional championships.   Ruth has tried a few times to take over the position of coach, but she lacks the patience needed to deal with the more difficult players. she works better as the bad cop to a coach's good cop.   When the coach at the school retired, he recommended her to a friend teaching at another school, and she moved there. Over the next twenty years, she drifted from one coach to another. Doing what she could to improve her life and health, but a lot of the damage was done. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025; the procedure cost her one, which she hides by using a padded bra. She is tested every year, and as of today, the cancer has not returned.  

Character's personality

Ruth is not a particularly likable women. She is on the crass side, and is often reprimanded by Coach Kelly for it being innapropriate around students. She keeps to herself when not on the football field or actively training students. She has a small circle of friends within the academy and outside of it. If she isn't at the academy, one of her friends can usualy find out where she is at.  

why are you attenting Harker Academy

Ruth has been hired as assistant coach for the football team.