First, can you let me know how you got involved in coaching?
At the end of my career I went to Seattle to rehab my knees. But that took a lot longer than expected – for three years I couldn’t work. So I decided to give back to the community in the meantime – to do something with my time.
In my eagerness to stay busy I applied for a job at a local high school and they ended up hiring me as their baseball coach. Through the job I got involved with kids in the community – many had needs and lacked support so I dove into helping them out. I had a good relationship with the athletic director there. He left a year later to Mt. Ranier High School to coach his son then left. That left a job a opening that I applied for and I got the job. I became the football, baseball and basketball coach there.
What coaches influenced your coaching style, and how?
The coaches that influenced me were the ones that cared about the individual outside of what they could do on the field or on the court. Coaches who took interest in kids’ lives.
Dana LeDuc was the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Miami – he and Chuck Pagano were big influences – they got to know us and what made us tick.
Were you surprised to get drafted by the Bengals to start your NFL career?
I was thankful to get the opportunity to do something I dreamed of since I was three. I wasn’t surprised that Cincinnati drafted me – I just thought I’d go higher. But it was a nice surprise they drafted me as one of my best friends in high school was a Bengals fan. So he was ecstatic – I had a good conversation afterwards with him!
What made you such a terrific return man in the NFL?
For me it was about the people around me – I trusted them and they trusted me. I knew what I was going to give them and what they’d give me in return.
My right-hand man was Eric Bienemy – he was there with me and taught me. He was an elder statesman and took me under his wing and allowed me to blossom. He was unselfish – he was back there with me and blocked for me – it was great to have him there as a level-headed mentor for a younger guy like me. He helped me flourish.
I tell returners here now to trust your blockers. That it’s not about you. That if you run at the opponent as fast as you can as they are running at you then they won’t have enough time to break down and tackle you.
What were some of your first impressions of the Steelers-Bengals rivalry?
My first impression started with Jerome Bettis. Playing safety, seeing this guy run at you who weighed 260 pounds but moved like he weighted 195 pounds – it was an awesome experience. You wanted to make a statement for your team playing against guys like that. But I respected him and that era and their team and environment. You wanted to compete against them – I loved playing in front of the Terrible Towels and that other stuff. I loved being in that hostile environment.
Any moments stand out most to you in those games?
I remember returns against the Steelers and Baltimore most of all because those were the teams that hit you the hardest. The Steelers had a big guy…
Orpheus Roye?
Yes! He was over 300 pounds but ran down the middle of the field – he was incredible. I respected him.
Some of the behind-the-scenes stuff was what I remember most. The fans were so engaged. Many of the Steelers players I knew and we were friends with, but you forgot about those friendships on game days! The hatred – and I put hatred in quotes – was really just during games. Behind the scenes was respect and friendships. It just all went out the window on game days.
What about the rivalry today? Any thoughts on where it’s at today?
I haven’t watched much but when I do I still get that feeling like I got when it was right before the game. It brings me back to game days a bit. I have such respect for the teams today. I adore the Steelers coach and respect the team and system they have there.
And Mark Bruener is a good friend of mine – we do camps together here. With those kinds of relationships you want to see the team do well except when they are playing the Bengals!
Any last thoughts to share?
I’d just like to share that when people understand why they are doing things and the effort they have to give – they understand that putting others first means they’ll receive two-fold what they give out.
I try to give kids a platform to be great members of the community. To give them that foundation. The best thing for me is when a kid comes back and tells me that great things are happening for them and that they appreciate anything I did to help assist them in that. That’s what makes me happy.