Meet the Team

  • Jerry Angelo

    Former NFL GM

  • Louis Riddick

    Louis Riddick

    ESPN Analyst and Former NFL Personnel Executive

  • Mike Martz

    Former NFL Head Coach

  • Howard Mudd

    Former NFL OL Coach

  • Chris Palmer

    Former NFL Head Coach

  • John Peterson 2020

    John Peterson

    Former NFL College Scout, CFL Personnel Director, and CFB Head Coach

  • Mike Sullivan

    Director of Recruiting, Army West Point Football

  • Steve Fairchild

    Former NFL Offensive Coordinator and CFB Head Coach

  • Ken Flajole

    Eagles LB Coach and Former NFL Defensive Coordinator

  • Steve Loney

    Former NFL Offensive Coordinator

  • Bobby April

    Former NFL Special Teams Coordinator

  • Earnest Byner

    Former NFL Offensive Coach

  • George Catavolos

    Former NFL Defensive Coach

  • Jerald Ingram

    Former NFL RB Coach

  • Charlie Coiner

    Former NFL Offensive and ST Coach

  • Matt Sheldon

    Director of Football Research and Strategy – New York Jets

  • Dan Hatman

    Dan Hatman

    Director of Scouting Development

  • Wade Phillips

    Former NFL Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator

  • Tom Walsh

    Former NFL Offensive Coordinator

  • Ed Marynowitz

    Former NFL Director of Player Personnel and Alabama Associate AD for Recruiting

  • Mike Riley

    Former Head Coach – University of Oregon State and Nebraska

  • Drew Hughes

    Director of Player Personnel - University of South Carolina

  • Brent Blaylock

    Associate AD for Compliance – University of Arizona​

  • Scott Vestal

    Rice Linebackers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

  • Bobby Merritt

    Former Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting

  • Jeff Behrmann Union College

    Jeff Behrman

    Head Coach - Union College

  • Alex Brown

    Director of Football Recruiting/NFL Liaison

  • Phil Hedrick

    Former Associate Athletics Director for Athletic Training

  • Roger Marindino

    Former NFL Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

  • Scouting Academy Shield Logo

    Maria Peden

    Former Director of Athletic Academic Counseling

Jerry Angelo

Former NFL GM

Jerry Angelo brought a clear vision to the Bears and guided Chicago to three division championships, culminating in the team’s 2006 NFC Championship. Angelo has 41 years of football experience. He oversaw the Bears entire football staff including football operations, personnel, and coaching along with all decisions regarding the draft, free agency, trades, and the salary cap. He was instrumental in drafting five different Bears players who made the Pro Bowl. The Youngstown, Ohio, native, and former Buccaneers executive was a key member in carrying out the philosophy of Tampa’s rebuilding process. Angelo had a hand in Tampa’s 32 Pro Bowl appearances by 14 different players from 1989 to 2000. Angelo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and a master’s in secondary administration.

Louis Riddick

Louis Riddick

ESPN Analyst and Former NFL Personnel Executive

Louis Riddick has the unique perspective of being a former High School All-American, NFL player, and Executive. His philosophies are shaped by 20 years of NFL experiences and creates a focus on context in the evaluation process. The former Safety played for the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders during his career. His time in Cleveland was shaped by the coaching of both Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. His transition to personnel began with the Washington Redskins where he quickly rose to the Director of Pro Personnel. The Eagles came calling from there and once again Riddick rose quickly to Director of Pro Personnel. Riddick is currently an NFL Insider for ESPN and has a bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mike Martz

Former NFL Head Coach

Martz has 19 years of NFL coaching experience, including six as a head coach (St. Louis Rams) and six as an offensive coordinator (St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears). Martz helped lead St. Louis to five playoff appearances, four 10-win seasons, three division titles, two Super Bowl appearances, and one world championship (Super Bowl XXXIV) as the architect of the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. As a head coach, Martz compiled a 56-36 (.609) overall record including the playoffs. St. Louis became the first team in NFL history to compile at least 500 points in three-straight years. In 2000, the Rams set NFL records with 7,075 total yards and 5,232 net passing yards. From 1999-2001, under the tutelage of Martz, the Rams had three-straight players named NFL Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press: Kurt Warner (1999), Faulk (2000), and Warner (2001). Over that time period, the Rams led the NFL in total offense (20,177 net yards) and scoring (1,569 points). Prior to entering the NFL ranks, Martz spent 18 years coaching in the college ranks, including nine seasons at Arizona State as the Sun Devils quarterbacks/receivers coach (1983, ’86-87) and offensive coordinator (1984, ’88-91). Martz played collegiate football for two seasons at San Diego Mesa Community College before becoming a tight end at California-Santa Barbara (1971). When UCSB dropped their football program, Martz transferred to Fresno State where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Howard Mudd

Former NFL OL Coach

Howard Mudd is a former NFL offensive lineman and offensive line coach with over 50 years of NFL experience. He played seven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears from 1964 to 1970 and was a three-time Pro Bowler in 1966, 1967, and 1968. He pursued a coaching career following his retirement as an NFL player. He spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of California, before moving to the NFL, and coaching for the San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs between 1974-1997. From 1998–2009, he was the offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts, with whom he won Super Bowl XLI. Peyton Manning played for the Colts for 11 of those 12 years and credits much of his success to the protection he’s received from Mudd’s front line. He was talked out of retirement to become the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons before retiring again. For his work as an assistant coach, Mudd earned the Pro Football Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chris Palmer

Former NFL Head Coach

Chris Palmer is a 40+ year coaching veteran with over 20 years of NFL experience, including serving as the head coach for the Cleveland Browns and as an offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. Palmer has spent a career developing Quarterbacks and he has aided in the development of players like Drew Bledsoe, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning. Palmer was also the quarterback coach for the New York Giants from 2007-09 earning a victory in Super Bowl XLII. Palmer has worked in a total of four professional leagues (NFL, UFL, USFL, CFL) and has 15 years of experience in the college ranks. Furthermore, Palmer held the dual role of Head Coach and General Manager for the Hartford Colonials of the UFL and is experienced in building rosters.

John Peterson 2020

John Peterson

Former NFL College Scout, CFL Personnel Director, and CFB Head Coach

John Peterson is a 47 year veteran in the football profession. He spent 18 years coaching football, along with 29 years in professional football as a General Manager, Player Personnel Director, Director of Football Operations, Area Scout, and educator. In June 2016, he retired from the NFL with 19 years of college scouting service (11 with the Seattle Seahawks and 8 with the Carolina Panthers). During this time Peterson went to Super Bowl 40 (Seattle) and Super Bowl 50 (Carolina). In 2010, he was named the co-recipient of the “Lone Star” C.O. Bracato – NFL Scout of the Year award. Prior to the NFL, Peterson spent 6 years in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with Ottawa and Toronto as Player Personnel Director and as a Scout with British Columbia. He spent 2 years in the World League of American Football as the GM of the San Antonio Riders. His 18 years of football coaching experience had stops at Highland, Indiana (HS), Northern Illinois University, Westminster College (UT), Frostburg State Univeristy (MD), Holy Cross College (MA), and Bemidji State University (MN). He was a Head Coach 11 of his 16 years in the collegiate coaching ranks. In retirement, Peterson has been an Area Scout for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Director of Football Operations for the San Antonio Commanders (Alliance of American Football) and for the New York Guardians (XFL) and on the faculty here at The Scouting Academy, teaching classes on scouting and evaluation. Peterson is a graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer HS (Ann Arbor, MI). He holds a BS degree from Eastern Michigan University (1970), MA degree from Michigan State University (1971), and a Ph.D from the University of Utah (1976). Peterson and his wife Wendy have been married for 44 years with 6 children (4 girls, 2 boys) and 12 grandchildren. Their son Blair is on the coaching staff at Brigham Young University.

Mike Sullivan

Director of Recruiting, Army West Point Football

Mike Sullivan was named the Army West Point football Director of Recruiting in March of 2020.
Sullivan, a 1989 U.S. Military Academy graduate, comes back to West Point after coaching in the NFL.

Sullivan most recently was the quarterbacks coach of the Denver Broncos and the Offensive Coordinator of the N.Y. Giants, mentoring Pro Bowl Players Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.

From 2012-14, Sullivan served as the Offensive Coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under his guidance, the Buccaneers ranked ninth in total offense (2012) with 4,065 passing yards, 1,384 yards receiving and 1,454 rushing. While in Tampa Bay, Sullivan helped coach Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin to the Pro Bowl.

Sullivan’s first stint with the Giants was as the quarterbacks coach from 2010-12. During that time, he was a Superbowl Champion coaching Manning to the Super Bowl XLVI MVP. The team set a franchise record in completions (359) and passing yards (4,933). His team also set an NFL record for the most 4th-quarter touchdown passes with 15.

He also guided the Giants wide receivers and punt returners from 2004-09, winning Super Bowl XLII in 2007.

Sullivan also coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars as the Offensive Assistant and Defensive Quality Control coach.
His NCAA experience began as a graduate assistant at Humboldt State. He then returned to West Point as a part-time coach where he helped lead the Black Knights to the 1996 Independence Bowl after earning the Commander In Chief’s Trophy that same season.

Sullivan has other collegiate coaching experience at Youngstown State and Ohio University.

After graduating from the academy, Sullivan served as an infantry officer graduating from Ranger, Airborne and Air Assault schools. He was awarded the Expert Infantryman’s badge as well as the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Sullivan is married to Julie with two children Carmen and Hope. He and his family reside in Totowa, NJ. He has earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Steve Fairchild

Former NFL Offensive Coordinator and CFB Head Coach

Steve Fairchild has 35 years of coaching experience at both the NFL and collegiate levels, including 19 seasons as an offensive coordinator. He began his coaching career in 1982 as the offensive coordinator at San Diego Mesa Community College. Fairchild has worked with many dynamic players in college football and the NFL. He was a part of San Diego State’s high-octane offenses that were highlighted by running back Marshall Faulk and quarterback Dan McGwire. During Fairchild’s three seasons at San Diego State from 1990-92, the Aztecs enjoyed three straight top-10 finishes in NCAA scoring and total offense categories. Fairchild spent eight seasons in the NFL. He worked as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2006 and 2007, as quarterback J.P. Losman posted the 11th-best QB rating in the NFL in 2006 and passed for 3,051 yards. Prior to his stint with the Bills, Fairchild was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2003-05. Teaming up again with Faulk, Fairchild and the Rams enjoyed three straight top-10 finishes in total offense, including the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense in 2003. Quarterback Marc Bulger was the 2003 Pro Bowl MVP. Fairchild was the senior offensive assistant for the San Diego Chargers after a four-year stint as the head coach at Colorado State, which included the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history and a victory in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl.

Ken Flajole

Eagles LB Coach and Former NFL Defensive Coordinator

Ken Flajole brings over 38 years of coaching and defensive experience to the staff. The veteran Linebacker and Defensive Back coach was the Defensive Coordinator of the St. Louis Rams from 2009-2011. Most recently, Flajole was the Inside Linebacker coach of the Cleveland Browns. He coached Linebackers for eight years in the NFL, with the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, in addition to Cleveland. He also spent four seasons coaching Defensive Backs for Seattle and the New Orleans Saints. Before breaking into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Flajole spent 21 years coaching in the college ranks. He coordinated Nevada’s defense in 1996-97 in addition to stops at Washington, Missouri, and Hawaii.

Steve Loney

Former NFL Offensive Coordinator

Steve Loney, who has over 35 years of coaching experience at the pro and collegiate levels, presently with the Dallas Cowboys, and has enjoyed success in developing prolific offensive attacks at both the National Football League and collegiate levels. During his time with the Minnesota Vikings, he worked as their offensive line coach (2002-04) before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005. During Loney’s four seasons in Minnesota, the Vikings led the NFL in total offense in 2003 and set a team record for yardage in 2004. The Vikings led the NFL in rushing in 2002. Loney has also coached for the Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the NFL. His collegiate experience includes stops at Iowa State, Minnesota, and UCONN. After graduating from Iowa State, Loney earned a master’s degree in secondary school administration as a GA at his alma mater.

Bobby April

Former NFL Special Teams Coordinator

Bobby April was named Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers twice, in 2004 and 2008 and guided the Buffalo Bills to the No. 1 spot in the annual Dal¬las Morning News Special Teams rankings. He began his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, working as the team’s tight ends and special teams coach from 1991-93 after serving as an assistant coach at Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Arizona, USC and Ohio State in the college ranks, and two years as an assistant high school coach at Chalmette High. He then earned the role of Special Teams Coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1994-95, where he helped the Steelers earn a berth in Super Bowl XXX. April worked with the New Orleans Saints in the same posi¬tion before joining the St. Louis Rams, where he helped the team to Super Bowl XXXVI. April then moved onto the Bills, Eagles, Raiders, Jets, and Titans. April’s units have scored 21 touchdowns on kickoff returns (12) and punt returns (9) by 12 different players during his 25 seasons as a special teams coach.

Earnest Byner

Former NFL Offensive Coach

Earnest Byner brings 30 years of NFL experience to the Titans as a player, coach and front office executive. He was originally a 10th round selection in the 1984 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Browns (1984-88, 94-95), Washington (1989-93) and Baltimore Ravens (1996-97) and finished with 8,261 career rushing yards and 56 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, his career yardage total ranked 16th in NFL history. After leaving the game as a player, he joined the Ravens front office in 1998 as the team’s director of player development, also aiding the personnel and coaching departments. He left Baltimore in 2004 to join Washington as their running back coach. He has also coached running backs for the Titans, Jaguars, and Buccaneers in his tenure and has improved backs like Clinton Portis, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Doug Martin.

George Catavolos

Former NFL Defensive Coach

George Catavolos began coaching at his alma mater Purdue in 1967 and spent 17 years in college coaching with stops at Middle Tennessee State, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Kentucky and Tennessee and coaching stints for Lee Corso (Louisville), Fran Curci (Kentucky) and Johnny Majors (Tennessee). From there Catavolos spent 28 seasons coaching Defensive Backs with the Indianapolis Colts, the Carolina Panthers, the Washington Redskins, and the Buffalo Bills. He has tutored players like Champ Bailey, Eric Davis, Dre’ Bly, Nate Clements, Donte Whitner, and Jarius Byrd during his career.

Jerald Ingram

Former NFL RB Coach

Jerald Ingram is a 30-year coaching veteran of the college and NFL ranks, with 20 years in the NFL and 2 Super Bowl victories under his belt. Ingram became a football coach after his playing career at Michigan. He began as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 1984 and then held assistant coaching positions at Ball State University (tight ends, 1985; running backs, 1986–1990) and Boston College (running backs, 1991–1993). In 1995, when Tom Coughlin moved from Boston College to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ingram followed Coughlin and became the Jaguars’ running backs coach from 1995 to 2003. When Coughlin joined the New York Giants in 2004, Ingram again followed and became the Giants’ running backs coach from 2004 to 2013. In three seasons under Ingram’s tutelage, Tiki Barber emerged as a dominant running back in the NFL, gaining over 5,000 rushing yards through the 2004 and 2006 seasons. In 2008, the Giants led the NFL with 2,518 rushing yards and won Super Bowl XLII in 2008 over the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

Charlie Coiner

Former NFL Offensive and ST Coach

Charlie Coiner spent nine seasons of his 28 year career on NFL coaching staffs with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills coaching Tight Ends and Special Teams. Coiner has a diverse background and has coached everything from Defensive Line, to Wide Receivers, to Linebackers as well. His collegiate experience includes stops at LSU, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Louisville. Coiner oversaw an increase in production from the tight end position while with Buffalo, including a touchdown reception by a tight end in three consecutive games for the first time for the franchise since 1963. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Catawba College and his master’s degree from Appalachian State.

Matt Sheldon

Director of Football Research and Strategy – New York Jets

Matt Sheldon brings 11 years of coaching experience in the NFL along with superior knowledge of sports technology and elite athlete performance. Sheldon recently coached the Safeties with the Minnesota Vikings, tutoring late round picks and undrafted free agents into starting players. Previously, Sheldon coached Linebackers for the Buffalo Bills where his charges were instrumental to the team ranking second in the NFL in pass defense and second in the NFL with 28 interceptions, including key years from Paul Posluszny and London Fletcher. Sheldon also brings Special Teams coaching experience from his time with the St. Louis Rams and was a member of the 2001 team that played in Super Bowl XXXVI. He holds a bachelor’s in Marketing and his master’s in Human Resources focusing on Data Analysis and Decision Making.

Dan Hatman

Dan Hatman

Director of Scouting Development

A former college coach and NFL scout, Dan Hatman is dedicated to the professional development of the evaluation community. Drawing from lessons from each of the three NFL teams he worked with as well as each of the college programs he has coached at or consulted with, Hatman has blended best practices from the core of the evaluation process. Those have been combined with techniques leveraged by the military, business, data science, exercise physiology, psychology, and other disciplines to reduce opportunities for human error and to maximize the objective assessment of subjectively collected information. These processes have trained 34 NFL scouts as well as dozens of coaches and recruiting staff across the college football landscape. Hatman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and two masters; one in Business Administration and one in Sports Administration.

Wade Phillips

Former NFL Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator

Wade Phillips will bring the unparalleled experience of being an NFL Head Coach for six franchises during his 37 years of coaching experience. He has spent the last 31 years as a defensive coordinator or head coach. Phillips has helped orchestrate 14 top-10 defensive performances and has helped lead teams to 13 playoff appearances, all of which have come since 1988, as a head coach or defensive coordinator. He has reached the playoffs in his first season with each of the last eight teams he has taken over as head coach or defensive coordinator, including the Houston Texans in 2011, and has been a part of 10 Division Champions during his NFL tenure. He has coached defensive line and linebackers earlier in his career. Phillips graduated from the University of Houston.

Tom Walsh

Former NFL Offensive Coordinator

Tom Walsh is a veteran NFL Offensive coach who has coached Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and Quarterbacks in his career in addition to coordinating the Raider offense on two separate occasions. During his first tenure with the Raiders, their record including the postseason was 124-88. The club won the AFC West four times, qualified for the playoffs following six seasons, and won Super Bowl XVIII. Walsh is a skilled teacher in things such as blocking protection, especially blitz pick-ups, and is dedicated to development. The former NCAA Head Coach has experience building and shaping rosters along with the perspective that only comes from decades in the game.

Ed Marynowitz

Former NFL Director of Player Personnel and Alabama Associate AD for Recruiting

Ed Marynowitz returned to The University of Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s associate athletics director for football in June of 2016. In his role, Marynowitz worked with the Crimson Tide’s player personnel department and football operations while assisting with athletic administration. Marynowitz served as the Philadelphia Eagles’ vice president of player personnel in 2015. In that role he oversaw the Eagles player personnel department, ran their pro and college scouting office and handled the preparation for the NFL Draft and free agency. Marynowitz joined Philadelphia in 2012 as the team’s assistant director of pro scouting and was later elevated to assistant director of player personnel. Marynowitz originally joined the Alabama staff in December of 2008 as the director of player personnel. During his tenure with the Crimson Tide, Marynowitz was instrumental in helping construct three No. 1 recruiting classes with all four classes ranking in the top five nationally. The recruiting classes during his tenure produced nine players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and Alabama posted a 36-4 record during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa. With the Dolphins, Marynowitz worked under general manager Jeff Ireland and executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells. He worked in both the pro and college scouting departments where he assisted with the advance scouting of opponents, evaluation of both draft-eligible college prospects and NFL free-agents, the execution of free-agent workouts, the monitoring of daily league transactions, and the maintenance of Miami’s scouting databases. Marynowitz spent two years on staff at the University of Central Florida under George O’Leary. He served as a graduate assistant during the 2006 season, working primarily with football operations before joining the staff on a full-time basis for the 2007 season as the Knights’ recruiting administrator. In that role for UCF, Marynowitz directed the on-campus recruiting efforts in addition to assisting with day-to-day operations of the program. He began his collegiate playing career as a two-year starter at La Salle University in Philadelphia where he threw for 4,896 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman and sophomore. Marynowitz earned honorable mention All-America honors in 2003 as a sophomore and held a number of the school’s passing records when he left La Salle. He finished his playing career at UCF as a reserve quarterback on the 2005 Hawaii Bowl team. Marynowitz completed his bachelor of arts degree in business management in the spring of 2006 at the University of Central Florida. He finished his master’s in business administration in December of 2007 and then a second master’s degree in sports business management from UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program in May of 2008. He is married to the former Codie Davis and the couple has two children, Ward and Whit.

Mike Riley

Former Head Coach – University of Oregon State and Nebraska

In 2014, after 14 seasons with Oregon State, Riley was hired as the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska, leading the Huskers to a victory in the Foster Farms Bowl in his first season at the helm, followed by a 9 win season in 2015 that had the Huskers ranked as high as #7 in the AP poll. After his tenure in Lincoln, he returned to Corvallis to support his former player and assistant coach, Jonathan Smith, as the Assistant Head Coach for Smith who took over as the Head Coach of Oregon State. He remained in that position until June 2018 when he was hired as the Head Coach of the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football. He owns the most wins ever at Oregon State with 93, the team has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 28 weeks, has coached players who have earned 32 All-American honors, and has had 32 NFL Draft picks (thru 2014 draft), including First Round selections Steven Jackson (2004) and Brandin Cooks (2014). He was the 2008 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Pac-10 Conference and State of Oregon Coach of the Year, and his teams have appeared in the final Associated Press top-25 rankings in three of the last seven seasons. In 2012 he was selected the AFCA Region Coach of the Year. When he took control of the program in the winter of 1997, Oregon State was mired in a streak of 26 consecutive losing seasons. While his first two teams did not post winning marks, the competitiveness of the program increased dramatically and the foundation was laid for teams that would play in bowl games in 11 of the next 15 years. He has also led his team to outstanding success in the classroom, where over the last six years Beavers have been honored by the league for academic achievements 70 times. Riley left Oregon State after the 1998 season to pursue a unique opportunity to become the head coach of the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers. He spent four years in the NFL, returning to Oregon State after a one-year stint as an assistant with the New Orleans Saints. Riley, who already had coaching in his blood at a young age, made the decision to continue playing the sport in college at the University of Alabama for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He played cornerback from 1971-74, helping the Tide to four Southeastern Conference titles and the 1973 national championship. Riley immediately launched a successful coaching career following his graduation from Alabama. His first stop was as a defensive graduate assistant coach for Mike White at the University of California in 1975. He helped the Bears to an 8-3 record and a share of the Pacific-8 Conference title, the first and only for the program since the Pac-8/10/12 Conference was formed in 1968. He continued his education and his coaching in 1976 at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash. He finished his master’s degree in physical education in 1977 while working for the popular Pacific Northwest coach and future Canadian Football League legend Hugh Campbell. Riley’s first full-time appointment came at NAIA powerhouse Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. From 1977-82 he served as the program’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach, as well as assistant athletic director. Riley assisted head coach Ad Rutschman’s Wildcats to a six-year record of 52-7-1, which included five conference titles and the 1982 undefeated NAIA title team. An opportunity to coach in the professional ranks presented itself following the ’82 season, and Riley was on his way to the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the secondary coach. During his three-years as an assistant, Winnipeg produced a 32-15-1 mark and won the 1984 Grey Cup title. Riley returned to the college level in 1986 as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado, before being named the youngest coach in CFL history in 1987 with Winnipeg at 33-years of age. Riley guided the Bombers to two Grey Cup titles (1988, ’90) and was named the CFL’s Coach of the Year in those seasons. He was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame June 13, 2007. In 1991 Riley took over the San Antonio Riders of the World Football League, spending two seasons before the league suspended its North American operations. He returned to the college ranks in 1993 when then-USC head coach John Robinson offered him the position of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach – he later became assistant head coach. The Mesa (Ariz.) Tribune named him the league’s top assistant coach in 1993 after leading the Trojans’ offense to record setting numbers. Then USC quarterback Rob Johnson earned numerous Pac-10 and NCAA records, and would later become a first-round draft pick. Riley remained at USC through the 1997 season, helping the Trojans to victories in the Rose, Cotton, and Freedom Bowls. USC won one outright league title, shared another and finished second one time.

Drew Hughes

Director of Player Personnel - University of South Carolina

Drew Hughes joins Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee staff as the Director of Player Personnel following four years in a similar role at Florida. He will manage the recruiting department for the Vols, including on and off-campus recruiting, talent evaluation and high school relations. Hughes helped the Gators’ recruiting efforts as their Director of Player Personnel from 2014 to 2017 in addition to leading the personnel department at NC State. Since 2012, Hughes has helped his teams bring in 30 NFL draft picks, including 12 in the 2018 draft, headlined by first-round picks Bradley Chubb and Taven Bryan. At Florida, Hughes helped the Gators reel in three Top 12 recruiting classes, including the nation’s No. 9 class in 2014, No. 11 in 2017 and No. 12 in 2016. The native of Montgomery, Ala., worked as the Director of Player Personnel at NC State in 2013 and UCF in 2012. At NC State he was responsible for the class that landed Chubb, an All-American, while at UCF he helped the Knights land stars Shaquill Griffin and Shaquem Griffin. He broke into the SEC as a recruiting specialist at Alabama from 2007 to 2011, assisting with player evaluation breakdowns and daily operations for Nick Saban’s summer camps. In this role, Hughes worked closely with Pruitt, who served as the Director of Player Development at Alabama from 2007 to 2009 before being promoted to defensive backs coach in 2010. Hughes graduated from Alabama in 2011. He is married to the former Rebekah Anne Hough of Lakeland, Fla., and the couple has a newborn son, Rhett.

Brent Blaylock

Associate AD for Compliance – University of Arizona​

Brent Blaylock was named Associate Athletics Director for Compliance in July 2017. Blaylock came to Tucson after serving as the Assistant A.D. for Compliance at Kansas since December 2014. At KU, Blaylock was responsible for rules education, governance, and the KU elite student-athlete program, while also serving as the primary contact for the men’s basketball and football programs. Prior to his time at Kansas, Blaylock worked with the compliance staff at Temple University, as a scout for the Cleveland Browns (2013-14), marketing & media relations coordinator for Penske Racing (2012-13), assistant director of football operations at the University of Miami (2008-11), and in football operations for the Miami Dolphins (2007). A Durham, N.C. native, Blaylock worked in the UNC football operations office while he earned a bachelor of arts in management from the University of North Carolina in 2005. He secured a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Texas in 2007.

Scott Vestal

Rice Linebackers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Texas native Scott Vestal was named Rice’s new safeties coach on January 18, 2017, after spending the 2016 season at Maryland where he was a Defensive Assistant/Quality Control and worked with the Terrapin safeties as Maryland advanced to the Quick Lane Bowl against Boston College. Prior to joining the staff at Maryland, he spent three seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks , the last two as the safeties coach. Vestal, who also worked closely with the Jayhawk special teams, spent the 2012 season as the assistant director of football operations for KU. Under Vestal’s guidance, KU safety Isaiah Johnson was named the 2013 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after finishing his sophomore season with five interceptions, which ranked second in the conference. Johnson also finished second on the KU defense with 73 tackles. Additionally, Johnson picked up honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches. Vestal joined the Kansas program from the University of Florida. He was the quality control coach for defense for the Gators in 2011 and served in the same role at Texas during the 2010 season. Prior to his work with the Longhorns, Vestal was a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech, North Texas and SMU. Overall, Vestal spent four years at SMU, including a year as an assistant to the Director of Football Operations in 2003 before becoming the video graduate assistant in 2004. He also spent one year coaching in the Texas high school ranks, serving as an assistant coach at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. He played safety at Arlington Lamar High School. Vestal earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in history from Texas A&M in 2003 and a master’s degree in liberal arts at SMU.

Bobby Merritt

Former Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting

While currently a National Scout for the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club, Bobby Merritt was the Director of Player Personnel for the University of Houston. He spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons as Director of Recruiting at the University of Tennessee. Merritt served as the Texans’ college scout for the Midwest region from 2007-14. The Texans won two AFC South Division titles during that time. Prior to his time with the Texans, Merrit began his NFL career with the Detroit Lions spending 4 season with them in various capacities, ending his tenure there as a college area scout.

Jeff Behrmann Union College

Jeff Behrman

Head Coach - Union College

Jeff Behrman was named the 36th head coach of the Union College football team on January 15, 2016 and finished his third season as head coach of the football program in 2018, as he continues to rebuild the proud football tradition at the College. In three short years, Behrman has completely rebuilt the football program, taking a team that went 0-10 in the year before his arrival to a 14-6 record over the last two seasons. In his third year, Union won seven games for the second straight season and knocked off a pair of nationally ranked teams by a combined score of 79-20. The team received votes in four of the 11 weeks of the D3football.com national poll in 2018, including coming just 13 points short of a national ranking in the fourth poll of the season. Under his watch, 37 players have earned All-Liberty League recognition in just three years, including 2018 Rookie of the Year Andre Ross, Jr. In addition, two Dutchmen earned All-Region first-team honors and senior Jack Reilly was named the program’s 26th All-America selection in 2018 as well. Behrman came to Schenectady after 10 seasons at Stony Brook University, serving as the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach by the end of his tenure. Prior to Stony Brook, Behrman was the offensive coordinator at Trinity College for four seasons during two stints at the school. Behrman was the offensive coordinator at Trinity from 2000-01 before moving on to coach wide receivers at Hofstra for two seasons. He then returned to Trinity as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two more seasons, helping lead the Bantams to a perfect 16-0 mark during that stretch. In 2005, Trinity’s offense led the NESCAC in scoring, averaging 34.5 points per game. Behrman’s offense also led the league in rushing (218.6 ypg) and total offense (407.5 ypg). The Bantams posted back-to-back undefeated seasons (8-0) in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Behrman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant wide receivers and tight ends coach at Clarion University in July 1996. Seven months later he left Clarion to become the receivers and tight ends coach at Glenville State College. While at Glenville State, Behrman served as the football program’s recruiting, academic and compliance coordinator, twice coaching two all-conference receivers including an All-American receiver who led NCAA Division II in 1997. In July 1999, Behrman accepted the position of offensive coordinator while directing the quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and running backs at Blackburn College. Although he was there only one season, the Beavers set 14 individual offensive records and 27 team offensive marks during the season. Behrman earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from John Carroll University in 1995 where he was a quarterback and captain of the football squad. He also earned a master’s degree in community health promotion in 1998 from West Virginia University.

Alex Brown

Director of Football Recruiting/NFL Liaison

Alex Brown joined the Owls in the spring of 2019 as their Director of Football Recruiting.  He also serves as the Owls’ NFL Liaison.

Brown joined Mike Bloomgren’s staff after spending the last four years recruiting for the University of Houston, most recently as Recruiting Coordinator after three seasons as Assistant Director of Player Personnel and Pro Liaison and one season as a football recruiting assistant.

Brown also has stints with NFL Network (NFL Draft research assistant), USA Football (national team writer), Bleacher Report (NFL Draft Featured Columnist) and Grace Prep Academy (Assistant Football Coach).

Phil Hedrick

Former Associate Athletics Director for Athletic Training

A 30-year veteran certified athletics trainer including 24 years in the collegiate environment, spent most of the last decade as the Texas A&M associate athletics director for athletic training Aggie Director of Athletics. He oversaw all 20 intercollegiate sports at Texas A&M, leading all athletic training efforts and worked with the medical staff to provide the very best care available.

Hedrick came to Texas A&M from North Carolina State where he worked as the head athletic trainer for football while managing the Murphy Center Athletic Training Room since 2009. His duties also included supervision of the training staff, assisting with implementation of NCAA and department drug testing procedures and assisting with insurance coordination and verifications.

Prior to his service at North Carolina State, Hedrick served as head athletic trainer at Furman University from 2002-09 and was an assistant athletic trainer at South Carolina from July 2000 until July 2002. While at South Carolina, he was also an approved clinical instructor for the undergraduate athletic training education program.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Hedrick worked three years (1997-2000) in the Greenwood School District in South Carolina as a teacher and athletic trainer. He began his professional career as a staff athletic trainer at Greenwood Sports and Industrial Rehab from 1994-97.

Hedrick received his bachelor’s of science degree in exercise science with a concentration in sports medicine from Appalachian State University in 1990. Hedrick began his career as a student trainer under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer Rod Walters as well as Andy Massey at Appalachian State.

Roger Marindino

Former NFL Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Roger Marandino holds 26 years of experience in athletic strength and conditioning, including five years at the NFL level. He is currently working as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the New York/New Jersey XFL team as well as being the Liaison for GPS Player tracking for the new XFL. Roger is also working with Catapult Sports as a Sr. Sports Performance Manager. His North America coverage is the Pac 12 , Big 10 and Big 12 conference.

Marandino spent four years as the head strength and conditioning coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The team recorded a 41-23 record during that time, including three consecutive 11-5 seasons from 2012-14 and three playoff appearances. In 2014, Indianapolis reached the AFC Championship Game, falling one win shy of an appearance in the Super Bowl. He was part of a staff that produced an NFL record ,16 straight Divisonal Wins.

Upon arrival in Indianapolis, Marandino revamped the team’s strength and conditioning program and introduced the use of fitness technology with Catapult. The system focuses on the overall well being of athletes and pinpoints strengths and weaknesses by providing real time data during practices and other activities. Marandino also implemented specialized workout routines for all individuals of the team as well as tailoring workouts for rehabbing players.

Marandino came to Indianapolis from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach for the 2011 season.

From 1995-2011, Marandino served as the director of strength and conditioning for Brown University, which holds the third-largest athletic program in the country. He was responsible for developing and implementing all components of the school’s classic Olympic-style program with an emphasis on proper training and technique. Marandino also holds two years of experience as the graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Connecticut from 1993-95. His focus was mainly on the school’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer and baseball teams. During his stay, Marandino was a Health, Fitness and Weight Training Instructor at UConn for the Department of Exercise, Sport and Leisure. He instructed undergraduate and graduate students during a 16-week credit course that included nutrition, cardiovascular, weight training and fundamental principles of health and wellness.

Following his graduation from Kean University of New Jersey, Marandino held strength and conditioning internship at the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif. He also earned his master’s degree from UConn with a concentration on biomechanics and motor control.

In 2000, Marandino was named the National Strength and Conditioning Association Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year. He holds a Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association CSSS Certification as well as being a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the NSCA. Marandino also holds the Master Strength Coach Distinction, which he was honored with in May of 2012 from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association. He has also been an NSCA National Conference speaker, giving 10 presentations at NSCA conferences.

A former drug-free power lifting competitor, Marandino has won three national championships. Marandino and his wife, Caroline, have two daughters, Annabella and Susanna. He is a native of Vineland, N.J.

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Maria Peden

Former Director of Athletic Academic Counseling

Maria Peden was the Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services for the University of Houston. She joined the Academic Center for Excellence/Student-Athlete Services staff in September 1996.

Her responsibilities include coordinating all aspects of the Academic Center for Excellence for Student-Athletes including new student-athlete orientations, tutoring, and career/lifeskills events.

She also participates in recruiting visits and works with the coaching staff to ensure that all of UH’s athletics teams reach out to the community. Each year, student-athletes participate in public speaking and volunteer activities at local elementary schools, hospitals, libraries and centers for the disabled.

Peden also coordinates the admissions process for all incoming student-athletes as well as housing requests and academic reports. She calculates and submits to the NCAA all Academic Progress Rates (APR) and graduation rate data. Peden’s office nominates UH student-athletes for Conference USA and national awards and assists with the annual UH All-Sports Banquet and annual SAAC Holiday Dinner.

She serves as the principal academic advisor for men’s golf but continues to work closely with the football and men’s and women’s basketball teams and has served as academic counselor for baseball, volleyball, softball and swimming and diving teams in previous years.

In 2007, Peden was selected to serve as the administrative liaison to the Athletics Advisory Committee and also serves on the UH Substance Abuse Prevention Committee and the UH Advisors’ Coordinating Team.

She began work with student-athletes as a tutor at the University of North Carolina before returning to her hometown of Washington, D.C., where she was appointed the University Teaching Fellow at George Washington University and began work on her doctorate.

She came to UH in 1996 and worked as the lead counselor for the football team from 1997-99. Peden left to travel and live in Ireland but rejoined the student-athlete services staff in December 2000 when she was appointed the academic counselor for men’s basketball.

Peden earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., in 1986, and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina.

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