Influential Coaches 

Paul Bear Bryant 

 

Bryant’s philosophy on football has helped me shape many of the things I do as a coach today. I read about him all the time and only wish that I could have met him.

 Eddie Robinson

 

 No coaching list would be complete without the man that was the first coach to reach 400 wins. If it was not for strong black figures like himself I would have never gotten a chance to become a coach.

 

Tony Dungy 

 

Coach Dungy is a person that I would like to meet some day, he was also the first black head NFL coach to win a Super Bowl. Dungy is known for being a man of God and build strong relationships with his players. Dungy is another coach that I spend a lot of time reading about, and have learned to be firm with my players without abusing them. Reading about Dungy and how he does things as a coach has helped me to mature in my coaching career.

 

 Bill KireLavach 

 

I will never forget the day that I met Coach Kirelavach, this is a man that came in, changed me as a person and believed in me when no one else would. Coach Kirelavach was my recruiter from WVU when I was in High School, he offered me a full scholarship to school and there was no turning him down. After receiving this scholarship he became a father figure in my life and taught me how to be a leader and stand on my own two feet in coaching. Coach taught me to be intense and how to out work my opponent. He also taught me how to build relationships with my players by the relationship that we still have to this day. Coach has put several guys into the NFL and in my eyes is the greatest defensive line coach ever.

 

Rick Trickett 

 

Now here is a guy who I never played for directly, but I had the pleasure to be around him for about a half of a season. Trickett was the offensive line coach while I was at WVU. This man had the type of personality that could rub off on any player and he demanded respect. Trickett never asked a player to do anything instead, he demanded that the athlete did it his way. Trickett was the type of guy who spoke his mind and just from watching him from a far he helped me to develop some great coaching strategies when it comes to coaching offensive linemen.

 

Frank Cignetti 

 

For those of you that have checked my website out fully, you already know that I finished my football career at IUP. Coach Cignetti who is now retired, had built a great program and losing was not an option! I have to say that he taught to win and at almost any cost. I remember his exact words when I spoke to him for the first time “if you want to win then you will transfer here”.  Winning is very important but it is also just one component of coaching, I have learned and taken many things from all these coaches. Lastly, Coach Cignetti gave me my first job as a Graduate assistant for one semester so that I could finish my degree and learn more about coaching.

 

 

Bill Owens

Last but never forgotten, Coach Owens helped to shape me as a player when I was in High School. So many lessons were learned and will never be for gotton, thing like discipline, respect and a love for the game that will never be lost. Coach believed in me when many did not and really helped to mold the person that I have become today. As I spoke about in my philosophy these are just a few of the people that have helped me to bear fruit and multiply.

Thank You All  !