FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/30/16
http://twitter.com/NFL345
BILL WALSH NFL DIVERSITY COACHING FELLOWSHIP
ATTRACTS RECORD 137 TRAINING CAMP PARTICIPANTS
- PROGRAM INCLUDES 69 FORMER NFL PLAYERS A record 137 minority coaches took part in this year’s BILL WALSH NFL DIVERSITY COACHING
FELLOWSHIP, the NFL announced today.
Established in 1987, the program provides NFL coaching experience to a diverse group of coaches every year.
The program, which was named after the man who conceived the idea – late Pro Football Hall of Fame head
coach BILL WALSH – exposes talented minority college coaches, high school coaches, and former players to the
methods and philosophies of NFL coaching staffs. Walsh introduced the concept to the league in 1987 when he
brought a group of minority coaches into his San Francisco 49ers’ training camp.
The program has tutored more than 1,800 minority coaches through the years and has grown to the point that
now every NFL team participates during offseason workout programs, minicamps and training camp.
In 2016, the program included its second female participant, KATIE SOWERS, who was one of seven coaching
interns hired by the Atlanta Falcons for training camp.
Carolina Panthers head coach RON RIVERA knows the value of the program and serves on the Bill Walsh NFL
Diversity Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council. The council is comprised of club presidents, general managers,
head coaches and assistant coaches, who focus on developing a pipeline of minority coaches, including former
NFL players pursuing opportunities in the coaching profession.
“The Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship is essential in creating opportunities,” says Rivera. “You can
see the benefits of the fellowship program on virtually every coaching staff in the league and the education
provided through the program has been invaluable in the development of many young coaches who may not have
received exposure to the NFL without it.”
Former NFL cornerback NATHAN VASHER (2004-10) was among the participants. Vasher spent the summer
with the Chicago Bears as he pursues a career in coaching.
“The experience was great,” says Vasher. “The NFL provides a great opportunity with the minority internship
where you can get more guys into coaching and you can get an up close look at it; see the daily operations, see
teams at an early stage as they are working towards a championship, so I'm really excited about the opportunity.”
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach MIKE TOMLIN, who became the youngest head coach (36) in NFL history to win
a Super Bowl when he led Pittsburgh to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII, is one of 59 full-time coaches on NFL staffs
in 2016 who previously participated in the fellowship program. Tomlin interned with the Cleveland Browns in the
summer of 2000 when he was the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati.
“I learned so much from being able to participate in the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship,” says
Tomlin. “At the time, I was a young college coach, and I was given the opportunity to attend training camp and
learn from NFL coaches. It was special. The fellowship gave me my first exposure to coaching in the NFL, and it
solidified my dedication to wanting to become a coach in the National Football League.”
Tomlin is one of three current NFL head coaches – MARVIN LEWIS (Cincinnati) and HUE JACKSON
(Cleveland) being the others – who are graduates of the program.
Active NFL head coaches who are graduates of the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship:
HEAD COACH
Hue Jackson
Marvin Lewis
Mike Tomlin
TEAM
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
INTERNSHIP(S)
1990 with LA Rams; 1992 with Arizona, 1995 with Washington
1988 with San Francisco; 1991 with Kansas City
2000 with Cleveland
2016 NFL COACHES WHO ARE GRADUATES OF
BILL WALSH NFL DIVERSITY COACHING FELLOWSHIP
CLUB
Arizona
Atlanta
Baltimore
Buffalo
Carolina
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
COACH
Anthony Blevins
Brentson Buckner
Kevin Ross
Keith Armstrong
Raheem Morris
Richard Angulo
Clarence Brooks
Bobby Engram
Chris Hewitt
Todd Washington
Dennis Thurman
Curtis Fuller
Al Holcomb
Thomas McGaughey Jr.
Richard Rodgers
Eric Washington
Sam Garnes
Marvin Lewis
Rock Cartwright
Hue Jackson
Gary Brown
Leon Lett
Samson Brown
Tony Coaxum
Eric Studesville
Tyke Tolbert
Teryl Austin
Robert Prince
Ron Prince
Charles London
Anthony Pleasant
Gary Emanuel
Ron Middleton
Kelly Skipper
DeWayne Walker
David Culley
Al Harris
Clyde Simmons
Terrell Williams
Dwayne Stukes
Tim Walton
Lunda Wells
POSITION
Coaching Assistant/Special Teams
Defensive Line
Cornerbacks
Special Teams Coordinator
Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Sr. Defensive Assistant
Wide Receivers
Defensive Backs
Asst. Offensive Line
Defensive Coordinator
Asst. Defensive Backs/Nickels
Linebackers
Special Teams Coordinator
Asst. Defensive Backs/Safeties
Defensive Line
Asst. Defensive Backs
Head Coach
Offensive Quality Control/Asst. Running Backs
Head Coach
Running Backs
Defensive Tackles
Asst. Defensive Backs
Asst. Special Teams
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Defensive Coordinator
Wide Receivers
Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line
Running Backs
Defensive Assistant
Defensive Line
Tight Ends/Asst. Special Teams
Running Backs
Defensive Backs
Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers
Secondary/Cornerbacks
Asst. Defensive Line
Defensive Line
Asst. Special Teams
Secondary/Cornerbacks
Asst. Offensive Line
New York Jets
Oakland
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Tampa Bay
Tennessee
David Diaz-Infante
Karl Dorrell
Pepper Johnson
Daylon McCutcheon
Jethro Franklin
Rod Woodson
Duce Staley
James Daniel
Carnell Lake
Mike Tomlin
Marquice Williams
Ollie Wilson
Joe Bowden
Curtis Modkins
Derius Swinton
Michael Barrow
Jay Hayes
Nick Eason
Asst. Offensive Line
Wide Receivers
Defensive Line
Asst. Defensive Backs
Defensive Line
Asst. Defensive Backs
Running Backs
Tight Ends
Defensive Backs
Head Coach
Asst. Special Teams
Running Backs
Inside Linebackers
Offensive Coordinator
Special Teams Coordinator
Linebackers
Defensive Line
Defensive Line
2016 BILL WALSH NFL DIVERSITY COACHING FELLOWSHIP PARTICIPANTS
CLUB
Arizona Cardinals
#
8
Atlanta Falcons
7
Baltimore Ravens
2
Buffalo Bills
8
Carolina Panthers
3
Chicago Bears
4
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
2
4
Dallas Cowboys
4
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
2
4
Green Bay Packers
3
Houston Texans
4
Indianapolis Colts
5
PARTICIPANTS (BACKGROUND & PRESENT AFFILIATION)
Myron Bell (Former Player; North Carolina Elite Prep), Mike Grant (Mars Hill),
Roderick Hood (Former Player), Mike Leach (Former Player), Byron Leftwich
(Former Player), Isaac Redman, Jonathan Scott, Willie Williams (Former Player)
Andre Coleman (Former Player; Kansas State), Kennard Cox (Former Player),
Aden Durde (Former Player), Mike Pelton (Former Player; Georgia Tech), Joe
Salavea (Washington State), Katie Sowers (KC Titans), Bryant Young (Former
Player)
Atif Austin (North Dakota State), Desmond Kitchings (Former Player; North
Carolina State)
Louie Aguiar (Former Player), Michael Bankston (Former Player), Timmy Chang
(Former Player; Emory and Henry College), David Clowney (Former Player),
Drew Coleman (Former Player), Jeremy Gold (Oracle Charter HS), Jordan
Hogan (Buffalo State), Seth Joyner (Former Player)
Jacques Cesaire (Former Player; San Diego), Tyrone Prothro (Alabama), Lance
Smith (Former Player)
Thabiti Davis (Former Player; Winston-Salem State), Reggie Howard (Former
Player; Lane College), Kevin Mawae (Former Player), Nathan Vasher (Former
Player)
Chris Crocker (Former Player), Kenneth Ray-Gardner (Webb University)
Brian Braswell (Former NFL Quality Control Coach), Chris Clayborn (Former
Player), Victor Hall (Former Player; Webber International University), Marlon
McCree (Former Player)
Tashard Choice (Former Player), Cleo Lemon (Former Player; Pearl River CC),
Otis Smith (Former Player), Michael Spurlock (Former Player; Coahoma CC)
Gerald Chatman (Elon University), Mike Locksley (University of Alabama)
Steve Fifita (Former Player; Idaho State University), Darren Garrigan (Texas
A&M-Commerce), Sherrone Moore (University of Central Michigan), Anthony
Parker (Former Player; Norfolk State University)
Ken Amato (Former Player), Reggie Moore (Prairie View A&M University),
Norries Wilson (Rutgers University; Former Interim HC)
Marcus Freeman (Former Player; Purdue University), Jon Shelton (Southern
Connecticut University), Keith Wagner (Former Player; Fayetteville State
University), Norries Wilson (Rutgers University; Former Interim HC)
Keary Colbert (Former Player), Taver Johnson (Purdue University), Deland
McCullough (Former Player; Indiana University), Vince Reynolds (Syracuse),
Joel Taylor (Citadel University)
Jacksonville Jaguars
5
Shawn Bryson (Former Player), Bo Davis (Alabama University), Dexter Jackson
(Former Player), Chad Lucas (Former Player), Leon Washington (Former Player)
Kansas City Chiefs
6 Nick Akaunaki (University of Utah), Chirs Naeole (Former Player; University of
Hawaii), Jody Owens (UNLV), Samie Parker (Former Player), Cory Peoples
(Former Player; South Carolina State University), Mikal Smith (Tampa Bay
University)
Los Angeles
2 Tyrone McKenzie (Former Player; University of Colorado), John Rushing
(Former Green Bay Quality Control Coach)
Miami Dolphins
4 Jason Brooks (Florida International University), Chris Chambers (Former
Player), Patrick Cobbs (Former Player; Good Shepherd Episcopal HS), Tyrone
Knott (De Pere HS)
Minnesota Vikings
4 Matthew Middleton (University of South Dakota), Singor Mobley (Former Player;
College of the Desert), A.C. Patterson (Portland State University), Jake Zweig
(University of Findlay)
New England Patriots
2 Troy Brown (Former Player), Sammy Morris (Former Player)
New Orleans Saints
3 Zack Dibenedetto (University of South Dakota), Leigh Torrence (Former Player),
Marc Yellock (East Carolina University)
New York Giants
5 Henry Baker (Former Player; University of Delaware), Joe Dailey (Liberty
University), Raasaan Haralson (Texas A&M University), Kenyatta McCoy (North
Carolina Central University), Jason Swepson (Former Elon University HC)
New York Jets
5 Corey Ivy (Former Player), Donovan Jackson (Laredo Lobos, Chicago Rush),
Marvin Jones (Former Player; Director of Pro Personnel, SoCal Coyotes), Erik
McMillan (Former Player; Eastside High School) Kade Rannings (Former
Participant)
Oakland Raiders
4 Benny Boyd (Central Washington University), Hurlie Brown (Former Player;
University of Miami), Joshua Oglesby (Oregon State University), Nicholas
Williams (Jacksonville State)
Philadelphia Eagles
5 Kiel McDonald (Eastern Washington University), Olitan Oguntodu (University of
Northern Iowa), James Padgett (St. Augustine HS), Ryan Remiedio (Mercyhurst
University), Wil Robinson (Samford University)
Pittsburgh Steelers
5 Terrence Austin (Former Player), Alan Faneca (Former Player), Shaun King
(Former Player; University of South Florida), Jesse Thompson (Virginia Union
University), Diamond Weaver (University of Rhode Island)
San Diego Chargers
4 Tremaine Jackson (University of Sioux Falls), Darrell McDonald (Iowa State
University), Pisa Tinoisamoa (Former Player), Jamal Williams (Former Player)
San Francisco 49ers
5 Kenny Basset (University of Central Florida), Andre Carter (Former Player),
Rashad Golpashin (University of Oregon), Romie Graham (Allegheny College),
Anthony White (San Diego State University)
Seattle Seahawks
4 Ryan Crawford (Harvard University), Rashad Jackson (East Carolina University),
Aristotle Thompson (Cal Poly), Rodrique Wright (Former Player; Sam Houston
State University)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 Gerald Alexander (Former Player; Montana State University), Keith Bhonapha
(University of Washington), Antonio Bradford (Tennessee State University),
Slyler Fulton (Grossmont College), Tony Gilbert (Former Player; University of
North Carolina), Anthony Perkins (Ohio University), Mike Sims-Walker (Former
Player)
Tennessee Titans
4 Israel Abraham (External NFL Scout (CLV)), Chad Brown (Former Player), Al
Poree (De La Salle HS), Brent Pradie (Del Rio HS)
Washington Redskins
4 Jonathan Bradley (North Carolina Central University), William Henry (Siegal HS),
Robb Johnson (Morgan State University), Clint Sintim (Former Player; University
of Richmond)
* Norries Wilson (Green Bay and Houston) participated in the fellowship with multiple teams during offseason
workout programs and training camp.
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