NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Ties Record-High Number
NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Ties Record-High Number
By Cindy Mercer
This summer, a record high ninety minority coaches took part in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. The program, which was re-named this year after the man who conceived the idea – the late Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh. The fellowship exposes talented minority college coaches to the methods and philosophies of summer NFL training camps. To date the program has tutored more than 1,400 minority coaches since its inception in 1987.
The program produced Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, its fifth graduate to be named an NFL head coach! Morris interned with the New York Jets in 2001 while he was the defensive backs coach at Hofstra University. “It was a great opportunity to get in, to get involved with people who were in the NFL world, to establish myself and establish some of the relationships with the people that I met with the Jets,” says Morris. “If you’re willing to learn, become a sponge, it’s awesome. It helped my career tremendously.”
Herm Edwards (former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach),Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals), Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) are also graduates of the program who became NFL head coaches.
Former players are also benefiting from the fellowship – cornerback Cris Dishman, who spent 13 seasons (1988-2000) in the NFL and wide receiver Keenan McCardell, who played 16 years (1992-2007) in the league. Dishman previously participated in the program with the Dolphins (2006), Raiders (2007) and Chargers (2008) before landing his first full-time NFL coaching job as assistant secondary coach with San Diego this season.
It is clear from these efforts that the NFL is committed to diversity and is actively moving forward in this area.
2009 NFL COACH GRADUATES OF BILL WALSH NFL MINORITY COACHING FELLOWSHIP
CLUB COACH POSITION
Arizona Curtis Modkins Running backs
Atlanta Keith Armstrong Special teams coordinator
Buffalo Eric Studesville Running backs
Tyke Tolbert Wide receivers
Adrian White Defensive quality control
Chicago Charles London Offensive asst./assistant wide receivers
Lovie Smith Head coach
Cincinnati Jay Hayes Defensive line
Marvin Lewis Head coach
Denver Wayne Nunnely Defensive line
Detroit Shawn Jefferson Wide receivers
Houston Perry Carter Defensive assistant
Indianapolis Gene Huey Running backs
Jacksonville Johnny Cox Quality control/offense
Miami Karl Dorrell Wide receivers
James Saxon Running backs
Minnesota Eric Bienemy Running backs
Jimmie Johnson Tight ends
New England Pepper Johnson Defensive line
New Orleans Tony Oden Assistant secondary
New York Giants Thomas McGaughey Assistant special teams
New York Jets Dennis Thurman Defensive backs
Oakland Adam Henry Tight ends
Kelly Skipper Running backs
Philadelphia Juan Castillo Offensive line
Brian Stewart Special asst. to the defense
Pittsburgh James Daniel Tight ends
Mike Tomlin Head coach
Kirby Wilson Running backs
St. Louis Art Valero Assistant offensive line
Andre Curtis Defensive backs/safeties
San Diego Don Johnson Defensive line
Cris Dishman Asst. secondary
Ollie Wilson Running backs
San Francisco Johnnie Lynn Defensive backs
Seattle Robert Prince Wide receivers
Tampa Bay Raheem Morris Head coach
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The 6 major conferences of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) could use a method such as this to help prospective minority coaches get their foot in the door and rise up the coaching ranks. I was watching Miami (Fla) against Florida State last night. Miami (Fla) head coach Randy Shannon, I believe, is the only minority head coach in the 6 major FBS conferences (Big East, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Pac-10 and Big 12). It is 2009. That is deplorable. There is a succession plan at SEC school Kentucky where their Black offensive coordinator, Joker Phillips, will take over as head coach when current head coach Rich Brooks steps aside. That is a rarity in college football. The horrid hiring practices of these schools, in particular, needs to be addressed. I am rooting hard for Shannon to succeed at Miami (Fla). He is in his 3rd year, and he needs to produce better results right away. Last night was a good start.
Abdul, you forgot Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. I agree with everything you said. Great points.
Thank you for your comments– they are very thought provoking! I was impressed by the fact that the NFL is actively working to correct coaching disparities and is moving in a positive direction to correct them. The League clearly values diversity…..cindy