First off, can you let us know how you got started as a coach?
I just gave up coaching this year to become the Athletic Coordinator here in Houston for Stephen F. Austin High School.
When the Steelers released me in 1988, I had a couple of tryouts with Buffalo and Cleveland but those didn’t work out. I did a couple of Summer camps in Arkansas when Jack Crowe was the head coach and got to know him. After that I became a graduate assistant there for two years.
After that I got a job at Chatanooga under Buddy Nix – we played Clemson that year. Well, we did not win that game!
How did that impact you?
All of us were later let go at Chatanooga and I ended up getting a job at Clemson as their wide receivers/tight ends coach. After that, I went to Rice and coached there for 11 years, then became a high school coach before going on to coach at Baylor.
When Buddy Nix became the GM at Buffalo he hired me as a scout and I did that then for three years before going back to be a high school coach at Stephen F. Austin. I coached there for six years before becoming their Athletic Coordinator.
A lot of movement between roles and places there – how did all of that define your style as a coach, and was there a preference in any of those roles?
I was able to see a number of guys and learn about players. Some players thought they were better on defense than offense but I saw things that made me think otherwise. I later saw I was right about those guys.
I learned from all of those coaches I worked with as well. I saw players like Terrell Owens and other first rounders play. That helped me as a scout and coach to be able to compare players and see what I have in guys.
Stepping back, were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers? How did you find out?
I was surprised, to be honest. I was honestly just excited to be drafted by anyone – but Pittsburgh was always that team people looked up to. It was eye-opening to go to the NFL – just like it’s eye-opening to go from high school to college. The players are bigger, faster and stronger and you have to learn to adjust and pick up things quickly.
I found out when I was walking around my house and the phone rang. I picked it up and the person said “We’ve been trying to call you!” That was funny to me because I was there all day! But they asked me if I wanted to come and play for Pittsburgh and I said “Yes!”
Did any of the players help mentor you when you got there?
I knew Thomas Everett a bit from playing Baylor so it was good to see him. Merril Hoge and Dwight Stone were both good people – Dwight was from Middle Tennessee.
But I really learned from just talking to players. The first day I learned I made the team John Stallworth came up to me and said “I bet you called your mom and yelled that you made the team right?” I said “I was close to that, yeah!”
That was the strike season – how did that affect you?
It was different – I made the team, played a couple of games then you go and take a vacation because of the strike. You had to stay in shape though – I went back to Arkansas and worked out with some of the guys to stay ready to go back.
But I was the one who went with the veterans – that was just part of the game. You had to strike then.
Any fun memories of your time there?
I remember playing Kansas City and my family was there. After the game I was with Delton Hall and a few other guys outside, and my family wanted to get a picture with all of us. My sister came running in yelling “Hold up!” She had fallen and skinned her knee up, but still jumped right up and ran to get the picture in! I was like “Jackie – we would have waited for you!” We still get on her about that to this day when we watch Kansas City or Pittsburgh play!
There were always fun moments. In the locker room, I learned how to be a professional and watch what I eat – to be on top of staying in shape. Just watching and seeing what people ate and how they worked out.
Any on-field moments stand out?
Just going up against Lawrence Taylor was eye-opening and hearing all the trash-talk. Cincinnati was always a good rival too. I was more of the second or third tight end so I was focused on making the blocks and playing on special teams, which was something I really enjoyed.
What advice would you give to players now if they want to get into coaching later?
Make sure you understand how to really watch film – and don’t burn any bridges. You may cross paths with people again – and trust me, they remember everything you say. I never lied to a scout – you want them to come back to the school. You have to make sure you have a good character and tell players and scouts the truth.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
