Tag: coach

Jan 2, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Delaware State names DeSean Jackson next head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Longtime NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson is the new head coach at Delaware State, the school announced Friday.

It is the first coaching job for Jackson, 38.

“DeSean Jackson is a perfect fit for our institution — incredibly competitive, optimistic about the prospects for our collective future, and focused on the fundamentals of the institution: students first,” athletic director Tony Tucker said in a statement.

Jackson’s hiring comes just 10 days after his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate, Michael Vick, was named head coach at Norfolk State. Both teams play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

In a statement Friday, Jackson said his priority is to create a new “culture” at Delaware State.

“The opportunity for me to help write another chapter here at DSU is a once-in-a-lifetime moment consistent with my journey as a young boy finding his way to manhood through mentorship, accountability, achievement, and discipline,” Jackson said. “If we build that kind of culture at Delaware State University, we will attract the right talent and radically change the trajectory of this program. I cannot wait to get started.”

The Hornets finished 1-11 in 2024 (0-5 MEAC) and fired coach Lee Hull after the season. The program has not had a winning season since going 6-5 in 2012.

Jackson last played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He is best known for two stints with the Eagles (2008-13, 2019-20) and played for a total of six teams in a 15-year NFL career that featured three Pro Bowl selections. Jackson caught 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns, adding four rushing touchdowns and four punt return touchdowns in 183 career games.

He played his college football at Cal.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (R) talks with former player Michael Vick (L) before a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Report: Michael Vick agrees to become Norfolk State coach

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Norfolk State and Michael Vick have an agreement in place to make the former NFL star the next head coach of the Spartans’ FCS football program, the Virginian-Pilot reported on Tuesday.

Vick, 44, emerged as a candidate for the opening on Monday, and ESPN followed with a report claiming that Sacramento State was also in the running for Vick.

A native of Newport News, Va., less than 30 miles from the campus in Norfolk, Vick opted to stay close to home. This will be his first coaching job of any kind.

“I know how to lead and I know what it takes,” he told the Pilot on Monday.

Vick replaces Dawson Odums, fired by the school on Nov. 26. Odums led the MEAC school to a 15-31 mark in four seasons. Norfolk State went 4-8 in 2024.

Vick threw for 22,464 yards, 133 touchdowns and 88 interceptions in 143 career NFL games (115 starts) with four teams, most notably the Atlanta Falcons (2001-06) and Philadelphia Eagles (2009-13). He rushed for another 6,109 yards and 36 TDs.

He was suspended from football in 2007 and 2008 for his role in an illegal dog-fighting ring, which landed him in federal prison for 21 months. He won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2010.

Vick starred at Virginia Tech for two seasons, passing for 3,074 yards and rushing for 1,202. He combined for 36 TDs. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Falcons in the 2001 draft.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee head coach Bill Battle, center, is asking an official what going on as his team battles against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 29, 1973. The Vols comeback bid fell short as Texas Tech won 28-19 before 62,109. Standout freshman Stanley Morgan (21), left, looks on.

Former Vols football coach Bill Battle dies at 82

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Bill Battle, former Tennessee football coach and Alabama athletic director, has died at the age of 82.

The University of Alabama, where Battle played for Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1960-62 and served as AD from 2013-17, confirmed his passing on Thursday.

Battle compiled a 59-22-2 record over seven seasons with the Volunteers from 1970-76 and went 4-1 in bowl games before being replaced by Johnny Majors.

The Birmingham native won a national championship in 1961, playing as an end for Bryant’s Crimson Tide.

Before returning to Tuscaloosa in 2013 to lead the athletic department, he founded the Collegiate Licensing Company in 1981 and served as its president and CEO until 2002.

“Bill Battle’s legacy at The University of Alabama is profound and enduring,” university president Stuart R. Bell said. “His generosity and visionary leadership elevated our institution and enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues. His dedication to excellence and steadfast devotion to UA will inspire generations to come. We are forever grateful for his friendship and his lasting impact on our community.”

Former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban also released a statement.

“Bill Battle was first class in every way. He represented The University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity,” Saban said. “He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics. I got to know him best when he returned to direct the Alabama athletics department where his vision and leadership were driving factors in the Crimson Tide’s success that resulted in our 2015 national championship. Terry and I are saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary and their entire family. He will be deeply missed.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA names former RB DeShaun Foster head coach

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UCLA named former Bruins running back DeShaun Foster as the program’s 19th head coach on Monday.

Foster, 44, replaces Chip Kelly, who departed last week to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

Foster has 11 years of coaching experience following a six-season playing career in the NFL from 2003-08.

He has spent the past 10 seasons at his alma mater, including the past seven as running backs coach. He was the Bruins’ associate head coach in 2023.

“This is a dream come true,” Foster said. “I always envisioned being a Bruin ever since I was young, and now being the head coach at my alma mater is such a surreal feeling, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. The foundation of this program will be built on discipline, respect and enthusiasm. These are phenomenal young men, and I’m excited to hit the ground running.”

Foster played at UCLA from 1998-2001, rushing for 3,194 yards and 44 touchdowns and earning second-team All-American honors as a senior.

Drafted in the second round by Carolina in 2002, he rushed for 3,570 yards and 11 touchdowns in 79 games (42 starts) with the Panthers (2003-07) and San Francisco 49ers (2008).

“While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “We are looking for a coach with integrity, energy and passion; someone who is a great teacher, who develops young men, is a great recruiter and fully embraces the NIL landscape to help our student-athletes. DeShaun checks all of those boxes and then some. He is a leader of men and a true Bruin. I am excited to partner with him as we usher UCLA Football into an exciting new era.”

Foster takes over a program that finished 8-5 last season under Kelly, including 4-5 in the Pac-12. The Bruins move into the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Aug 10, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive line coach Marcus Dixon (L) talks with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero (R) during training camp at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero has 2nd interview with Falcons

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Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has completed a second interview for Atlanta’s head coaching position, the Falcons announced Wednesday.

Evero, 43, joined the Panthers in 2023 after holding the same position with the Denver Broncos in 2022.

The Falcons have also conducted second in-person interviews with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

Evero broke into the NFL coaching community as a quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007-09). He joined the San Francisco 49ers in a similar role in 2011, moving to offensive assistant (2012-13) and defensive assistant (2014-15) there before joining the Green Bay Packers as a defensive assistant in 2016.

Evero spent the next five seasons on Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams, coaching the safeties (2017-20) before serving as secondary coach and passing game coordinator in 2021.

Also on Atlanta’s list of reported candidates to replace Arthur Smith are Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and two candidates from the Detroit Lions, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce on field against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Not leaving Las Vegas: Raiders hiring Antonio Pierce as head coach

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Interim head coach Antonio Pierce isn’t leaving Las Vegas just yet.

The Raiders are reportedly in agreement with Pierce to make him the 23rd head coach in franchise history following a trial run as Josh McDaniels’ in-season replacement. According to multiple reports, a four- or five-year deal between Pierce and the Raiders is expected to be formally announced as soon as Friday night.

Pierce was 5-4 and the Raiders finished with a record of 8-9, tied for their second-best win total since relocating to Las Vegas in 2020. The Raiders were 10-7 in 2021, but interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, who replaced Jon Gruden, wasn’t retained. McDaniels was hired in advance of the 2022 season.

Pierce wasn’t exactly holding a dominant hand most of the season.

The Raiders switched quarterbacks, elevating untested Aidan O’Connell over Jimmy Garoppolo, and players instantly responded to Pierce with a 30-6 win over the New York Giants.

Three of Pierce’s four losses as interim coach were by one possession, including a 23-20 loss at Indianapolis in Week 17 and a 3-0 home defeat against the Vikings.

Players endorsed Pierce as the fulltime coach when the season ended, and the Tennessee Titans interviewed him for their opening after firing Mike Vrabel.

Defensive end Maxx Crosby said he would look into trade options if the Raiders didn’t keep Pierce, who also had the vote of former All-Pro Davante Adams.

“That’s my vote,” Adams said. “I’ve been vocal about that, and that’s basically how the whole locker room feels with good reason. He’s come in and done a great job and it’s continued to win us over. It’s not just the comfortable thing, I think having AP here would be good for this organization.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll with GM John Schneider pre game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks’ coaching search ‘wide open’; hire will report to GM

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John Schneider’s partnership with Pete Carroll resulted in one Lombardi Trophy and another Super Bowl appearance. Now, Schneider said he must “look forward” as he helps lead the Seattle Seahawks’ search for a new head coach.

Schneider met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since the Seahawks announced Carroll would not remain their head coach after 14 seasons.

Carroll, 72, will assume an advisory role within the organization instead.

“Pretty emotional press conference the other day,” Schneider said. “When I say your emotions are all over the place, it’s moving on from a very, very historic partnership and amazing, amazing level of success and achievement that Pete and myself are extremely proud of.

“I look forward to being able to call Pete and text him. He’s already texting me like crazy all the time like, ‘Hey Johnny, what’s going on with this and that?’”

It marks Schneider’s first search for a head coach. He and Carroll joined Seattle in the same offseason in 2010. Schneider joked that he was prepared to lead that head-coaching search but found out the franchise had already decided on Carroll.

Carroll reported directly to owner Jody Allen, who has controlled the team since her brother Paul Allen passed away in 2018. But now, the structure will change and the eventual hire and his staff will report to Schneider.

“Our setup earlier was … the coaching staff did not fall under my umbrella, and now it will,” Schneider said. “It’s not necessarily a Jody Allen decision or choosing this person or that person, it’s just a contractual situation.”

Schneider said the team has not decided whether to consider candidates from the college ranks. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh — Carroll’s old rival in both the Pac-12 and the NFC West — is testing the NFL waters again, having interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It’s wide open still,” Schneider said. “There’s so much movement in college football already.”

The Seahawks have requested interviews with at least eight candidates, per multiple reports:

–Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
–Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham
–Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
–New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
–Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
–Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
–Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
–Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith

Schneider said Jody Allen has been “concise” in describing what she wants the Seahawks’ next head coach to bring.

“We want to keep our positive culture, everything that’s been created here … ” Schneider said.

“There’s so many special people in this building. It’s amazing to be on the phone with all these agents and the people that are interested in this position and to be able to explain to them, ‘Hey, there’s a foundation here that’s incredible.’”

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; iNew England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reacts in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons interview Bill Belichick for HC vacancy

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The Atlanta Falcons interviewed six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick for their vacant position on Monday.

It is the first known interview for Belichick since he and the Patriots parted ways last week. Belichick had coached New England since 2000.

Belichick, 71, ranks second in NFL history in head-coaching wins (regular season and playoffs) with 333. He trails only Don Shula’s 347 in that category while ranking third in regular-season wins (302), behind Shula (328) and George Halas (318).

He spent five seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) before making history with Tom Brady in New England. They won Super Bowls in the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons. Belichick also won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

After the Patriots’ 4-13 season in 2023, Belichick hit the market, and BetMGM on Monday pegged the Falcons as the +200 favorites to be his next team.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders may also show interest in Belichick, and after the Dallas Cowboys’ unceremonious playoff exit on Sunday, the coaching legend was linked to America’s team, though the job is not yet open.

Atlanta has interviewed six candidates for its job, four of whom have yet to hold a head-coaching role: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. The Falcons also interviewed San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 and Carolina’s interim coach for 12 games in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Troy Trojans head coach Jon Sumrall on the sidelines against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Tulane hires Troy’s Jon Sumrall as head coach

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Tulane hired Troy’s Jon Sumrall to be its next head football coach on Friday.

Sumrall was an assistant coach for the Green Wave from 2012-14, and he guided Troy to a 23-4 record in his two seasons as the Trojans’ head coach.

Tulane needed a replacement for Willie Fritz, now the head coach at Houston after going 54-47 in eight seasons — including 11-2 in 2023.

Sumrall was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2022 and won his second straight conference championship this season. The Trojans (11-2) will play Duke in the Birmingham Bowl Dec. 23.

Sumrall, 41, was a linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04 before working as an assistant coach at San Diego, Tulane, Troy, Ole Miss and his alma mater. He was Kentucky’s co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before taking the job at Troy.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; UAB Blazers interim head coach Bryant Vincent talks to the side judge against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Louisiana Monroe names Bryant Vincent head coach

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Former New Mexico offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent was named head coach at Louisiana Monroe on Tuesday.

Vincent, 48, compiled a 7-6 record as the interim coach at UAB during the 2022 season.

He replaces Terry Bowden, fired last month after going 10-26 in three seasons with the Warhawks — 2-10 in 2023.

“We are fired up to welcome Coach Bryant Vincent to our Warhawk family and lead ULM football,” athletic director John Hartwell said in a news release. “Coach Vincent is bringing passion, positivity and a proven plan to guide our football program to levels of success we have not seen since becoming an FBS program.

“He is a relationship guy, and that will resonate with our student-athletes, prospective recruits, his coaching staff, the University, Northeast Louisiana and all of Warhawk Nation.”

Vincent’s New Mexico offense finished in the top 20 nationally in red-zone offense (14th) and rushing (19th) in his first season with the Lobos in 2023.

ULM will introduce Vincent at a news conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. CT.

“I am beyond excited and honored to be the Head Football Coach at ULM,” Vincent said in a release. “I am confident with the leadership and vision of President Dr. Ron Berry and Athletic Director John Hartwell that we will build a championship program.

“Now is the time for the Warhawk family to all come together as one.”

With Vincent as the interim coach, UAB averaged 30.1 points and 438.2 yards per game and won the Bahamas Bowl in 2022. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Blazers from 2018-21.

He also coached in the Sun Belt Conference in two separate stints at South Alabama (2011-13, 2015-17), the latter as the offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media