Battlehawks Name 2024 Coaching Staff
February 21, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release
ST. LOUIS - The UFL and St. Louis Battlehawks Head Coach Anthony Becht today announced his coaching staff in advance of the upcoming season, which kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Former Director of Player Personnel Dave Boller will now continue as the Battlehawks' General Manager while Donnie Abraham will return as Defensive Coordinator and Bruce Gradkowski as Offensive Coordinator.
"Last year we had a great staff that helped build something from the ground up," said Anthony Becht. "I'm excited about our returning core and the experience of our new additions as we focus on getting even better and push towards winning a championship this season."
Last season, the Battlehawks finished tied for the second-best record in the XFL (7-3) and produced the second-highest scoring offense (24.9 points per game) while ranking second defensively in both tackles (399) and takeaways (21). The combined efforts resulted in a +47 point differential.
Martin Bayless joins the team as the Defensive Secondary Coach. Selected in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Bayless went on to play 13 seasons with Buffalo, San Diego, Kansas City, and Washington. After playing, Bayless worked in the Bills front office before moving to the coaching ranks with stops including Carolina, Oakland, Houston, Minnesota, Denver, Arizona, and Indianapolis. In 2020, he was the Special Teams Coordinator for the XFL's Los Angeles Wildcats.
Kyle Caskey joins as the Running Backs/Special Teams Coach. With more than a decade of experience coaching in the NFL, Kaskey has coached running backs with both the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions and spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. As a player, Kaskey won the Big 12 Championship with Texas A&M in 1998 and then turned his athletic pursuits to track and field, earning All-Big 12 honors in the discus in 2000.
Chris Claiborne returns as the team's Linebackers Coach. An All-American at USC, Claiborne was the 1998 Butkus Award winner and a first round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 1999. He played in eight NFL seasons, including 2005 in St. Louis.
After retiring from the NFL, Claiborne entered the high school coaching ranks and most recently spent the last two seasons as the linebackers coach at Arizona State University. He was an Offensive Quality Control Analyst for USC in 2020-21 and joined the Battlehawks in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
La'Roi Glover returns as the Defensive Line Coach. A fifth-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 1996, Glover went on to play 13 seasons with the Raiders, New Orleans, Dallas, and St. Louis. He earned six straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2000-05 and was named to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team.
Inducted into the San Diego State Hall of Fame in 2010 and New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2013, Glover previously worked as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets after more than a decade coaching in the high school and college ranks. This past offseason, Glover returned to NFL training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the New Orleans Saints.
Gino Gradkowski joins as the team's Offensive Line Coach. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of 2012, Gradkowski's rookie season finished with a victory in Super Bowl XLVII. He played in six NFL seasons, spending time on the offensive line with Atlanta, Carolina, New York Jets and two stints with Denver. Gradkowski is the younger brother of Bruce, the Battlehawks offensive coordinator.
Phil McGeoghan joins as the Wide Receivers Coach. A veteran of four NFL seasons with the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, McGeoghan has coached wide receivers for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He was most recently the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for the Colorado Buffaloes. A two-time All-American in track at Maine, McGeoghan also recorded the fourth most receptions in program history.
Season tickets are now available and single-game tickets will be available starting February 22. For more information on tickets, go to www.TheUFL.com/tickets. For schedules and broadcast details, please visit: TheUFL.com.
United Football League Stories from February 21, 2024
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- Arlington Renegades Announce Coaching Staff for the 2024 Season - Arlington Renegades
- Battlehawks Name 2024 Coaching Staff - St. Louis Battlehawks
- UFL Announces Team Coaching Staffs - UFL
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