FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL 2/14/14
NFL-NCAA COACHES ACADEMY KICKS OFF IN PHOENIX
28 Current and Former NFL Players to Participate
The NFL and NCAA are offering the fourth annual NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy that kicks off today in Phoenix. The three-day program (February 14-16), developed in 2011 by NFL Player Engagement and the NCAA, will provide 58 coaches/coaching prospects – including 18 NFL Legends and 10 current NFL players (list below) -- with tools and networking opportunities for potential careers as football coaches.
Many of the participants currently have high school or college coaching positions. The NCAA also invited football coaches who have less than eight years of college coaching experience to take part.
Arizona State University head coach TODD GRAHAM will serve as the opening night keynote speaker. Additional keynote speakers for the program include Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator TODD BOWLES and running backs coach STUMP MITCHELL, and NFL Network analyst and former Redskins and Texans general manager CHARLEY CASSERLY.
“The NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy provides both current players and NFL Legends with a unique opportunity to learn from top coaches at every level of the game,” said JAMES THRASH, manager of NFL Player Engagement. “Our goal is to develop a professional pipeline of coaches who understand the NFL standard and transfer that knowledge of coaching skills, leadership, and character to players at all levels.”
In keeping with NFL Player Engagement’s industry leading peer-to-peer model, participants will gain knowledge and insight into the world of coaching from those who have been successful on the sidelines. Sessions will include instruction from NFL, college and high school coaches, business leaders and athletic administrators. Topics include how to build a personal and professional brand; managing budgets; successful networking; health and safety; media messaging; coaching contracts; building relationships in college; effective leadership; understanding the academic landscape; and the interview process. Participants also will experience mock interview sessions.
“Continuing the education of administrators and coaches can provide a better, more complete, experience for athletes, whether on campus or in the professional arena,” said DR. BERNARD FRANKLIN, NCAA executive vice president of membership and student-athlete affairs and chief inclusion officer. “The partnership with the National Football League has a positive impact on the sport and those charged with developing the game and its participants. The exposure of aspiring coaches to a collection of the top minds in football – specifically on important topics such as financial literacy and mental health to the locker room culture – is crucial now and in the future.”’
The NFL partners with the NCAA on a number of additional initiatives including:
- The NFL-NCAA Champion Forum for those who have been identified as potential head coaches by college administrators, this program simulates the intercollegiate interview process from researching the position to their first staff meeting after becoming a head coach.
- The NFL-NCAA Future Football Coaches Academy for those who have recently completed their collegiate eligibility, and have a desire to enter the college football coaching profession.
- The NFL-NCAA Athletic Professionals Workshop shares best practices for the development of student-athletes through life skills education and professional development.
- The NFL-NCAA Life Skills Summit Round-table for Student-Athletes provides student-athletes with a forum to discuss the resources and support that they need in order to meet their personal and professional goals.
Following is a list of participants in the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy:
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First Name
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Team Affiliation
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Current Coaching Title/Institution
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Derrick Alexander
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Former (CLE, BAL, KC, MIN)
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Kevin Bolis
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Associate Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator/Off. Line - Sacred Heart University
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Richard Brown
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Receivers Coach - Occidental College
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Daniel Bullocks
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Former (DET)
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Assistant Coach – University of Northern Iowa
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James Casey
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PHI
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|
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Christopher Castillo
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Defensive Line Coach - Johns Hopkins University
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Kirk Chambers
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Former (ATL, CIN, BUF, CLE)
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Head Coach – Spanish Fork High School (Spanish Fork, UT)
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Christopher Collins
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Defensive Backs/Co-Special Teams Coordinator -- Catawba College
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Jim Cordle
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NYG
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Adam Cushing
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Offensive Line Coach -- Northwestern University
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Sammy Davis
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Former (TB, SF, SD)
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Curtis Enis
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Former (CHI)
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Head Coach - Bradford High School (Bradford, OH)
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Mark Garalczyk
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Former (IND, NYJ, ARI, Houston Oilers)
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Derrick Gardner
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Former (ATL)
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Benjamin Garland
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DEN
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Jordan Gigli
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Defensive Line Coach - California State University, Sacramento
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Lukkes Gilgan
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Special Teams Coordinator / Wide Receivers - Willamette University
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Polo Gutierrez
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Running Backs Coach - University of Texas at San Antonio
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Conrad Hamilton
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Former (NYG, ATL)
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Matthew Hanhold
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Defensive Line Coach - Colby College
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Neil Herman
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Assistant Coach - Buffalo State (SUNY)
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Patrick Hill
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Defensive Line Coach - Adrian College
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Glenn Holt
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Former (CIN)
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Student Assistant Coach – University of Kentucky
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Alex Jackson
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Assistant Coach/Offensive Line - Mississippi Valley State University
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Rashad Jennings
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OAK
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Akeem Jordan
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KC
|
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Andrew Jordan
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Former (MIN, TB, PHI)
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Wide Receivers Coach – Earlham College
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Burl Jordan
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Defensive Line Coach - Houston Baptist University
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Piotr Kalinowski
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Tight Ends Coach - Wofford College
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Matthew MacPherson
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Running Backs Coach - Northwestern University
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Mark Maddox
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Former (BUF, ARI)
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Ikaika Malloe
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Special Teams Coordinator - Portland State University
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Pete Mayberry
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Wide Receiver’s Coach - Kentucky State University
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Patrick McCoy
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Former (PHI, ATL)
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Matthew McDonnell
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Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference
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Norval McKenzie
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Running Backs - Furman University
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Keith Migliorino
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Defensive Coordinator - Kean University
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Rod Milstead
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Former (CLE, SF, WAS)
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Assistant Offensive Line Coach – North Carolina Central University
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Mark Moehring
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Cornerbacks/Safeties Coach - Furman University
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Brandon Moore
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Former (SF, NE, SD)
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Cory Peoples
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Former (PHI)
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Secondary Coach – Saint Augustine’s University
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Jeff Podzimek
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Assistant Coach/Tight Ends Coach - University of Mary
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Nathan Poole
|
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Running Backs Coach - Whittier College
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Albert Poree
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Offensive Quality Control Coach - Dartmouth College
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Tanner Purdum
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NYJ
|
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Edward Raby
|
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Graduate Assistant Coach - Alfred University
|
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Marcel Reece
|
OAK
|
|
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Michael Ridings
|
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Tight Ends/H-Backs Coach - University of Indianapolis
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O.J. Santiago
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Former (ATL, CLE, OAK)
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Tony Simmons
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Former (NE, CLE, IND, NYG)
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Head Coach - Kouvola Indians (Kouvola, Finland)
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Ryan Sims
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Former (KC, TB)
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Michael Smith
|
TB
|
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Jesse Thompson
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Defensive Coordinator - Oklahoma Panhandle State University
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Aaron Vlcko
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Defensive Coordinator - University of Wisconsin- Steven's Point
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Kevin Wallace
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Offensive Coordinator - Greensboro College
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Darrin Walls
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NYJ
|
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Ryan Wendell
|
NE
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Marquice Williams
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Defensive Line - University of South Dakota
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NFL Player Engagement assists players in reaching their highest potential on and off-the-field with guidance, support, and resources provided before, during, and after their NFL experiences. NFL Player Engagement works with three core audiences: Prep, Life, and Next. NFL Life (current players) and NFL Next (former players) reach more than 2,000 NFL players and spouses each year through a variety of programs and services focused on career development, financial and continuing education, as well as personal, psychological, and physical wellness. NFL Prep provides high-school and college student-athletes of all sports with tools to help them succeed in life, focused on awareness, prevention, and education. More information can be found at www.nflplayerengagement.com.
# # #
Contact:
Joanna Hunter
NFL
212/450-2449
Joanna.hunter@nfl.com