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Nighthawks Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski Selects Coaching Staff

May 10, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Omaha Nighthawks News Release


OMAHA, NE - Monday, May 10, 2010 - Omaha Nighthawks head coach Jeff Jagodzinski has assembled his coaching staff for the 2010 United Football League season.

A combination of experienced former NFL and college coaches will lead the Nighthawks when they kick off the franchise's inaugural UFL campaign this fall at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

"I took guys that I knew personally or that were recommended by people I really respect in this profession," said Jagodzinski. "I feel we have a really good staff who will give us a great shot at making an impact on the UFL this season. They are really good football coaches with a lot of experience."

The Nighthawks' defensive responsibilities fall to the experienced Rick Lantz, who has spent 38 years working in major college football programs, including 30 years as a defensive coordinator.

Wide receivers coach Roger Hughes, a long-time and successful Ivy League coach at Princeton and Dartmouth, is a Nebraska native who was a graduate assistant for the 1984 University of Nebraska Cornhuskers early in his career.

Omaha Nighthawks Coaching Staff:

Jeff Jagondzinski Head Coach

Rick Lantz Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

Kirk Doll Special Teams / Linebackers

Wardell Smith Running Backs

Ron Hudson Quarterbacks

Pat Ruel Offensive Line

Vince Marrow Tight Ends

Roger Hughes Wide Receivers

Joe Tresey Defensive Backs

Carl Hairston Defensive Line

Patrick Madden Defensive Backs/Quality Control

Michael Ketchum Offensive Line/Quality Control

John Burrell Trainer

Bobby Crumpler Strength Coach

Cale Kirby Equipment

Ken Stills Operations

Omaha Nighthawks Coaching Staff:

Jeff Jagodzinski, Head Coach Served as head coach at Boston College for two seasons (2007-2008), led the Eagles, who were ranked as high as second in the nation, to a cumulative 20-8 record and was named New England Coach of the Year in 2008. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in 2006, leading an offense that featured QB Brett Favre, 1,000-yard rusher RB Ahman Green and 1,000-yard receiver WR Donald Driver.

Rick Lantz, Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers: Spent 38 years working in major college football including 30 as a defensive coordinator. His stops included US Naval Academy, University of Miami, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Louisville. During that time he also made a brief leap to the NFL, where he coached linebackers for the New England Patriots in 1981. As head coach of the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe he reached back-to-back World Bowls, winning World Bowl XII against the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2004.

Kirk Doll, Special Teams & Linebackers Has extensive experience at both the college and NFL level. He excelled in two separate stints as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas A&M, which propelled him to Lou Holtz at Notre Dame where he spent eight years with the special teams and linebackers before being elevated to assistant head coach. He also made a stop with Nick Saban at LSU, helping them to a share of the 2003 National Championship before leaving the college game to coach special teams, and then linebackers for Mike Shanahan and the Denver Broncos.

Wardell Smith, Running Backs As a player at East Carolina in was the all-time leading rusher in school history. Became running backs coach at the US Military Academy at West Point, before returning to East Carolina.

Rod Hudson, Quarterbacks Spent eight years at Kansas State, including six as offensive coordinator, where he led a daunting attack. Hudson helped the Wildcats to ten wins per season in all eight of his years with the school, and reached six consecutive bowl games.

Pat Ruel, Offensive Line Has almost 40 years of coaching experience at both the college and pro level. Spent nine years at the University of Kansas, helping them reach the Aloha Bowl twice. He coached in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, before returning to college with Pete Carroll at USC. He helped the Trojans reach the Rose Bowl from 2006-2008, including the 2006 BCS National Championship Game.

Vince Marrow, Tight Ends Graduated from the University of Toledo and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. After playing for a host of NFL teams moved to NFL Europe where he earned First-Team All-League honors with the Frankfurt Galaxy.

Roger Hughes, Wide Receivers: Former Princeton head coach and Nebraska native was a graduate assistant with the Cornhuskers early in his career in 1984 before spending many years as offensive coordinator at Dartmouth. Is one of only five men to spend more than a decade as the head coach of the Princeton Tigers.

Joe Tresey, Defensive Backs Spent 2009 as the defensive coordinator of the University of South Florida having helped Cincinnati and Central Michigan to conference championships. He has also coached at Akron, Georgia Southern and Central Michigan.

Carl Hairston, Defensive Line Was selected in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and during a 15-year career amassed 1,141 tackles before helping the St Louis Rams to glory in Super Bowl XXXIV as defensive line coach. Also coached with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and in 2009 with the Florida Tuskers.

Patrick Madden, Defensive Backs / Quality Control Coaches under Jagodzinski at Boston College and has also coached at the University of New Hampshire and Columbia University.

Michael Ketchum, Offensive Line / Quality Control Spent three seasons coaching with the Kansas City Chiefs and comes from unique background as he was not only a football player, but also a rugby player and wrestler.

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