Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with your time since working for the Steelers?

Since I left the Steelers I spent 16 years as a financial planner then the last seven as a table games dealer at the Meadows in Washington, PA.

How and when did you get started working for the Steelers organization?

I was a trainer in high school for three years, then I worked for Don Lowe at Kent State, one of the best college trainers at the time in the US. That was in ’74 – Lambert’s last year there. Don James was the head coach and Lou Saban was the assistant there – so I got a lot of good contacts and worked with a lot of good players.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Assistant Trainer Gary Stragar, 1981-1985”

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I had so many injuries when I played. Unfortunately, my career wasn’t what I wanted it to be because of the injuries.

So after football, I took a liking to training kids and helping them. That’s what I’ve been up to – training kids on their football speed and conditioning. Helping them from that standpoint.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Damon Mays, 2005”

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I’m the business development manager for a company that sells insurance and brokers it for the Alabama and Mississippi area. I work with retail and broker agencies to sell insurance.

How was that transition for you?

I struggled after football – I can’t remember the last time I picked up a football. After Pittsburgh I played in the CFL then the Arena League. I tore my PCL in the Arena League – it all went the opposite direction of my dream.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Steven Black, 2009”

First off, can you let us know what you’re up to now?

Right now I’m consulting. In the Spring I work with the UFL – I go to camps and evaluate players – the offensive linemen. I try to help them get placed in the NFL. Especially during training camp, NFL teams would often rather have an experienced lineman in camp than a college free agent that’s still green.

Then afterwards I work for Boise State – I go to camp and help them evaluate their offensive linemen and do some advanced scouting of their opponents’ front sevens and give them ideas on run schemes. Most of it is remote – with the multiple surgeries I’ve had on my spine that’s been beneficial to me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Sean Kugler, 2010-2012”

First, what made you decide to become a college football coach?

I really didn’t think I’d want to become a coach. I decided to go to Butler, my old school, and see some practices and games. Coach Vignery there told me then that he had a running back job open on his coaching staff if I wanted it. I went back home and thought about it. I knew the time it took to be a college coach, but I decided to go do it.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Dreamius Smith, 2015-2016”

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your football days?

I’m a police officer here in Tracy, California. I’ve been a cop here for two years. Before that I was in the San Diego police department for six years.

A number of people in my family were in law enforcement so I’ve always been around it, and I got a Criminal Justice Degree in college. I started at a crappy time with everyone hating the police now, but I love the job.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Mitchell Van Dyk, 2015”

First – can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your time playing football?

I’m still engaged in the sport – I have a 9-5 job in sales but also do a lot of training kids to help them learn how to play football. A lot of speed and agility and other football drills.

Do you lean on some of the lessons you learned as a player?

A lot of them yes. I do pull from a lot of the college and NFL wright and strength training programs I experienced, Garrett Giemont in Pittsburgh – I stole a lot from him – his focus on backpedaling, lunges – his work on hamstrings. I incorporate a lot of that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Jayson Foster, 2010”