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Former Oilers Coach Helps Copperheads

July 4, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release


HOUSTON, TX - At Copperheads practice, spectators might find it odd that players listen and do what Director of Football Operations Ed Biles says. After all, he's only 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 160 pounds. But the players know better than to argue with Biles just because he's half their size.

The team is well aware of Biles' past experiences. His resume includes 14 years of coaching in the National Football League, and 12 years of coaching at Xavier University.

"People respect him because he's done a lot of things most of us will never be able to do," Copperheads coach Bryan Blake said. "On the bus guys just sit around him just to absorb anything they can because he's got so much knowledge and the guys respond to him really well."

Biles was the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1981-83. Before that stint, he served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1974-80 and was the secondary coach for the New York Jets from 1971-73. Biles' first job in the NFL was as a special teams and defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints in 1969.

"Every team can benefit from a coach like Ed," Blake said. "He's probably forgotten more stuff than I know about football. He knows a lot about technique. He helps out a player who might not be strong enough or fast enough, but Ed shows him techniques to help him play in this league."

Although his record with the Oilers wasn't tremendous, Biles coached an aging team that was looking to rebuild. Biles' first two draft choices included Mike Munchak and Bruce Mathews, both NFL Hall of Fame linemen. He also worked to get quarterback Warren Moon out of a 10-year contract in the Canadian Football League, but never got the chance to coach Moon because Biles resigned the year before Moon joined the Oilers.

Nowadays, Biles still walks around the practice field with clipboard in his hand joking around with players before practice. During practice, Biles is all business. He coaches the Copperheads' special teams that have been one of the team's few bright spots this season.

"It's a fun thing for me to work with these young guys because coaching is my life," Biles said. "I wanted to be a coach since I was in the sixth grade. I got a fancy title, but I try to use the experience that I've had and help the players as much as I can."

The player that Biles' deals with the most is Copperheads kicker Nick Gatto. "Coach Biles brings so much experience, he's a great coach plus he's been around so many guys that have made their mark in the NFL," Gatto said. "He knows as much about playing football as anybody."

The knowledge came from working with great coaches like Ohio State's Woody Hayes, Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman and present Cowboys coach Wade Philips. "When you talk about experience, it's something you can't teach," Biles said. "You have to go out and do it and make mistakes to learn. As you go around you try to take the good from all the coaches."

Off the field, Biles tries to give back to the community as much as he can. He serves on the Water Board and the Parks Recreation Commission out in Missouri City, Texas. For the Copperheads he provides more than a coach with valuable experience, but like Gatto, many consider him a friend. When he talks, spectators may not be able to see him from the stands, but the players are all years for the smallest guy on the field.

Special Thanks To ENEA ZHONGA - Houston Community News

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