First off, what are you up to now – coaching at the high school level correct?
Last year I was coaching for St. Vincents – I was there for a year and we had some All-Conference players there. I tried to become a head coach – applied to a couple of different schools but they wanted more experience. Now I’m coaching 7-on-7 football with the PA Goblins– we’re a nationally ranked 7-on-7 team.
Any coaching influences/mentors affect you most – how would you describe your style?
Brian Mihalik was the Linebackers Coach at Pitt when I was there and he taught me how to coach from the player’s perspective – I watched what he did and how to work with players. Mike Tomlin too – he was a player’s coach, but he’d get on your butt to force greatness on you. He’d keep it fun but made sure you got at it.
Tell us about the benefits of kids playing with the Goblins in the 7-on-7 format and about the team/league?
The NFL and college are passing leagues – we help players by giving them exotic looks. Showing them how to read coverages and learn formations. We also do Bible study and a lot of chalk talk on the side and teach real 11-on-11 football too. We’re trying to bring Pittsburgh back to the glory days of having big-time recruits make it to the NFL.
How has coaching and what you see in kids changed in the area since you played?
Well in high school when I played we didn’t get paid to go to college! Now parents are seeing the benefits for their sons to play football and getting them development earlier. We’re trying to help them by giving back to the kids. Football changed our lives and we want to do the same for them.
As a linebackers coach how do you help these linebackers adapt to the ebb and flow of having to be really good now in coverage but still stout versus the run?
It’s a lot of repetition. I’m a visual learner – so it takes a lot of mental reps and learning great footwork. There’s one football – if you do your job well they won’t throw it at you. We show them how to get on the receiver – to get your hands on them to re-route them. We want to bring back legal physicality to the game. A lot of players don’t like to be physical these days – we want to bring that physicality back to the ‘Burgh.
You played for Pitt of course – what benefit was it for you to share the building with Steelers players – did you get to meet/work with them? Learn anything from them?
I watched Minkah and wanted to emulate him. He was first in last out and took care of his body. I’d see those cars the players had too and that motivated me! Now, kids drive those cars in college – I worry that money takes the motivation away for them to ty and be great.
How do you work around that?
The parents need to show them that everyone wants their hands in your pockets when you have money. I also work with an NIL group to financially advise kids. They should be saving 20-30% of that NIL money – not to spend it unwisely. Mike McGlennon – another former Pitt guy – he is showing me and others the ropes on how to be financially literate as a player. Then I’ll be able to teach kids to do the same. I’ve signed a number of kids in the city to help them find NIL money.
How did you get in camp with the Steelers – what prompted that and what was that experience like for you – any good experiences there to share?
I was invited to camp – I was one of the guys the team was interested in after the draft. 2021 they were trying to figure out the linebacker room – I went there with another Pitt guy, Tre Tipton. We’d hang out with Calvin Austin, Pickett, Pickens….it put a chip on my shoulder to see those drafted guys when I wasn’t drafted.
My last rep was a one-on-one versus Jaylen Warren actually. Tomlin yelled out that the guy who won the rep would make the team. And you can see who’s there and who isn’t!
What happened?
It was a pass rep and I undercut the route but the ball went through my hands and Warren caught it and ran up the sidelines. That was it!
What’s next for you – what do you hope to do next?
My ultimate goal is to coach for a D1 team. That’s the goal. I’m talking to schools but they all want experience…