Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, what’s gong on with you now – what’s next for you?

Well I’m a full-time dad right now – I have a one-and-a-half year old so I’m chasing him around a lot. I was playing in the XFL when it folded due to Covid. Now it has a new owner so I’m not sure what’s going on with that. I’m staying ready for the NFL – staying in shape.

I’d really like to go back to the NFL. The XFL was great – it was great competition and a lot of fun. It made me like football again. But these new leagues are tricky – they are tough. I played for the AAF before it folded too – it didn’t make it either. I don’t want to get caught up in another thing that doesn’t work out.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Johnny Maxey, 2016”

First, let’s talk about how it all started. 15 years coaching one team is a long time – how did it all start?

When I was finishing college at the University of Tulsa, I had just played four years of football. But I was a realist – I wasn’t going to be an NFL player. I sent my resume out to Tom Donohoe in Pittsburgh for a scouting internship. I was supposed to be there for one year, but I ended up staying for 15 years!

Rooney and the staff were awesome. It was great to work with Donohoe and Cowher on those successful draft classes and on evaluating players. And Tomlin after that.

What made the team so special, from your perspective?

It all started with the ownership. It was run as a business and they worked on things as a team effort. Everyone had to be on the same page. We all had the same goals.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Assistant Coach Lou Spanos, 1995-2009”

First, tell me how you got into coaching and some of the lessons you’ve taken away from some of the coaches you played for and worked with?

I got into coaching back in 2001 at the collegiate level, My old coach  Paul Schudel at Michigan became the head coach at Central Connecticut State and called and asked if I’d be interested in coaching with him, and I took that opportunity. Ever since I’ve been involved in college coaching.

Coach Noll – he was one of the guys actually that I learned a lot from. His presence was s0 cool, calm and collected. I don’t get visibly upset either- I can give that look and people kind of know. But I don’t get too angry.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback David Arnold, 1989”

First, can you tell me about your coaching career – what got you into coaching and who some of your biggest influences were?

It’s easy – when I was in high school in Tacoma, Washington I graduated early. This was back in 1978. My high school coach asked what I was going to do for the rest of the eight months before college started. I told him I didn’t know and he said he’d try to get me into college early.

Well, I ended up going early to the University of Washington – eight months early And if you can imagine, I was the only one there that early – no orientation. I was on my own. It was sink or swim.

When I attended the football meetings it was the same way – sink or swim. Chick Harris was the coach then and he told me it was up to me – I was in meeting rooms with guys who had been there for one or more years – I needed to learn the system. It was sink or swim.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Secondary Coach Ray Horton, 2004-2010”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, I own 12 Dunkin’ Donuts franchises now – eight in Oklahoma and four in Kansas City, Missouri. I opened them up in 2012 – the first one in Kansas City and later the first in Omaha in 2013. At the time Dunkin’ Donuts was expanding rapidly Westward – they had an aggressive growth strategy. I was able to got those territories then.

What got you started in that business?

I knew nothing about it really when I got into it. I got started on the operations side and got operational training to understand how to assess what makes a store successful. The only way to understand that was to get my hands dirty. I had a few partners and we decided I’d take on that operational role.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Kicker Kris Brown,1999-2001”

First, let mc know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your NFL days?

Basically, I’ve been teaching and coaching high school since I retired from playing. I recently retired from coaching. I’m still in the classroom though teaching health, PE, and driver’s ed. But I don’t go out on the road – I just teach them the law!

Why teaching – and what influences affected how you coached?

I went to school, for a degree. The thing is, when  I left high school, I had no desire or inclination to pay pro football. It just happened for me. By the grace of God I had a good eduction at East Carolina and always wanted to be an educator. As a player, you emulate your coaches, and my coaches were like teachers too. You take some of those things you learn and transfer those to what you do in life.I went into sales first before finding a job in teaching, and have been teaching now for almost 25 years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Linebacker Zack Valentine, 1979-1981”