Players grab coaching opportunities on offer in NFL Europe
Published on February 20, 2006 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
Former and current NFL players are getting a taste for a new career in football as part of the NFL Europe League's Coaching Intern program.
Each team in the NFLEL has four such men on their training camp coaching staffs in Tampa Bay, Florida, with two per team remaining with their club throughout the entire season. The success of the program, which is entering its fourth season, is evident in the number of ex-interns who are now coaching at the high school, collegiate or professional level.
Former Pro Bowl tight end Ben Coates spent a season with the Frankfurt Galaxy before being named as tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns, while Martin Bayless and Albert Lewis spent the last two years coaching for Oakland and Kansas City respectively, while Dana Stubblefield - another ex-Pro Bowler - used his NFLEL experience to gain a high school position. Mike Maslowski, the former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, was a training camp intern with Scotland in 2003, and is now the linebackers coach for the Hamburg Sea Devils for the NFLEL's 2006 season.
Among this year's group of intern coaches are Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ted Washington, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber and former offensive lineman Tim Grunhard, along with Detroit Lions tight end Marcus Pollard and former NFL quarterback Cory Sauter.
Barber, who is a training camp intern coach with the Berlin Thunder, said: "It's a real unique experience, and I would say that any player thinking about making a change to coaching after they retire should take advantage of the internship program in NFL Europe. You get a great opportunity and good guidance from the coaches who are here."
Grunhard believes that the opportunity to discover the sacrifices needed to be a coach - at any level - is one of the factors that makes his time with the Cologne Centurions so valuable. "It is an excellent program because it teaches you what goes in to being a coach, in terms of the meeting time, the breaking down and putting together of plays and the evaluation of players. It is a side that, maybe as a player, you don't really see."
For some of the coaches involved, teaching is something they are already involved in - despite still being players. Washington, who is with Cologne, explains that he tries to pass on his experience to young players even as he continues to play in the NFL.
"One of my ways of giving back and showing I am thankful for the 14 seasons I have had in the NFL is by going to high schools and colleges and trying to teach those players the fundamentals that I think are missing from the game nowadays."
2006 NFL Europe League intern coaches
Amsterdam Admirals: Robert Hunt, Kanavis McGhee, Todd Washington.
Berlin Thunder: Vince Marrow, Dwayne Stukes, Troy Walters, Shawn Barber.
Cologne Centurions: Ken Oxendine, Sam Garnes, Tim Grunhard, Ted Washington.
Frankfurt Galaxy: J.J. Smith, Cory Chamblin, Dwayne Ledford, Donte Curry.
Hamburg Sea Devils: Cory Sauter, Perry Carter, Tim Stuber, Will Hunter.
Rhein Fire: Duval Love, Antonio Anderson, Marcus Pollard, Lewis Tillman.
NFLEL STAGES FIRST COMBINED WORKOUTS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21
(All at Skyway Park, George Road, Tampa - open to public)
9:00 am Hamburg Sea Devils vs Cologne Centurions
12:00 noon Amsterdam Admirals vs Berlin Thunder
3:00 pm Frankfurt Galaxy vs Rhein Fire
National Football League Europa Stories from February 20, 2006
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
