First, tell me what prompted you to want to become a coach?
I always knew I wanted to be a coach. My dad was a coach my whole life – we were a sports-oriented family. Basketball was number one and football after that. We always stayed around the game.
I watched my dad’s impact on the community. He was more than a head coach – he was a leader in the community. I knew that’s what I wanted to do, but I wanted to take it to the next level and coach in college.
How did you get your start?
My former coach Josh Reardon called me with an opportunity at Eastern Kentucky as a Quality Control Coach. Before that I was coaching with my dad in high school as a defensive backs coach and assistant defensive coordinator. Coach Reardon called and told me what the opportunity looked like. I told my mom I couldn’t pass that up.
Was it tough telling your dad you were leaving his staff?
No – that was always the plan. We didn’t know how to get to the college level but that was the plan.
It’s a lot of “Who you know” at first right?
Exactly. It was similar at Akron where I am now. I was a graduate assistant under Coach Moorhead – we knew folks in common. He felt comfortable bringing me in because he knew me.
Who were some the coaches that helped mentor and shape your coaching style?
I like to lead by example. As a defensive backs coach I know the position since I played it and have experience there. I had four defensive back and head coaches in college, so I learned a lot of football.
Terrell Buckley was a big mentor of mine His message to me was not to aim to be a defensive backs coach – but to aim bigger – to try and become a defensive coordinator or head coach. He’s living by that creed as a head coach in the XFL now.
What are you looking to pick up most as an intern in Pittsburgh through the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship Program?
I just want to learn as much football as possible – drills, techniques and schemes that I can successfully bring back to Akron. I want to find coaching points that I feel I can relate to the guys in Akron. These are college players not NFL players so I want to be sure I bring things back they can learn and relate to.
Do you know what your role will be – what you’ll cover as an intern in Pittsburgh?
I’m not sure. I told Coach Tomlin and Mitchell I’m willing to help out anywhere – special teams, offense, whatever. They are great guys. I had the chance to go to OTAs and mini-camp and it felt good being there. The environment they have is a winning culture. They are all professionals and handle their business. The coaches feel comfortable just being themselves and that allows you to do the same.
A leader like Tomlin – I watched him say hello and shake everyone’s hands. He makes an impression on everyone and leads by example and ensuring that everyone is comfortable being true to themselves.
I know you haven’t seen how the other NFL teams run their business, but could you get a since of what makes Pittsburgh’s culture exceptional, as you described it earlier?
For me, it’s the energy they have. Tomlin hired people that are teachers. I watched Grady Brown in meetings and how detailed he is. Teryl Austin too. Tomlin believes in his coaches.
It’s funny because I asked Minkah the same thing. He and I are friends from high school and he said the same thing. Tomlin believes in his staff and players. Guys play harder for people that believe in them. You can tell when you watch them practice how organized and efficient they are.
Having been there for OTAs and mini-camp, who are some of the guys that stood out to you there?
Maulet was a professional. Kazee and Sutton too. They are very smart players – they have good instincts and a good understanding of the game. They are smart and understand their jobs well. Those are some guys that flashed to me – and Pickens on offense, along with Trubisky and Pickett.
Lots of new coaches and approaches there – could you see how those coaches were implementing those new approaches to the players?
What I saw was a lot of individual coaching. They all have a different style of play – some are tall guys and some are shorter cornerbacks. I watched the coaches pull them aside individually for different points they wanted to share with them. It wasn’t just the same for every players.
Flores was a former head coach – he – and Brown and Austin too – they really know how to relate to players.
How long are you going to be there for?
July 26th though August 2nd. That way I won’t miss any time at Akron. I’m excited to work with those guys!
In terms of coaching NFL players – how do you approach those guys differently versus the guys you work with at Akron?
The NFL guys have a lot more questions. They know more and are more aware at the NFL level. They want to know a lot more. At that level there can’t be any gray areas. They need to understand what everyone on the defense does. In college they are still building that knowledge. By the time they are Seniors they may start having those questions and are closer to having that knowledge.
So the NFL players know more of what they don’t know, in a sense?
Exactly. Some guys in college may ask similar questions to the NFL guys – it depends on who they are, but the NFL players, they know what they don’t know and ask those questions more for sure.
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