Georgia Force Announces Coaching Staff
February 7, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Atlanta - The Georgia Force is pleased to announce the final additions of the coaching and operations staff including James Clark, Juan Porter, Willie Gary, Brian Struck, Chris Stueber, and Thomas Anderson.
"We are fortunate to have all three of these men on board with us for the 2011 season," Head Coach Dean Cokinos said. "Each one brings their own unique style to the staff but what I am most impressed with is their overall knowledge of the game, their ability to communicate and their evaluation skills in regard to player personnel."
James Clark will serve as Assistant Coach and will also fulfill the duties of Line Coach. Clark was a four-year letterman on the offensive line at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and received First Team All-American honors in 2002. Most recently, Clark played for the Jacksonville Sharks (2010) where he helped lead his team to a division title. He also played for the Georgia Force (2007-08) where he started 26 games and saw action in two Southern Division Championships. Prior to that, Clark spent 2006 with the Birmingham Steeldogs.
Juan Porter, will serve as Assistant Coach and Line Coach. Porter has 12 years of professional playing experience as an offensive and defensive lineman, including a stint with the Georgia Force (2003-06). He also spent time with the New England Patriots (1997-08) and Washington Redskins (1999-2000) as an offensive lineman, and performed with NFL Europe (1999) and the XFL (2001). At the collegiate level, Porter served as a three-year starter at center for Ohio State, where he was named team captain in 1996 and received Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors (1996).
Willie Gary has been named Assistant Coach and Defensive Backs Coach. Gary enters his seventh year with the team, after coaching and competing with Georgia Force from 2003-08. Gary gained NFL experience with the St. Louis Rams (2001-02) while competing as safety and contributing to special teams. Gary attended the University of Kentucky on a full athletic scholarship, where he earned Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC Conference honors.
Brian Struck, enters his first season as Athletic Trainer for the team after serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Seasonal Intern for the 2010 season. Struck was a Graduate Assistant at Valdosta State University where he served as the primary athletic trainer for the women's basketball team and competition cheerleading squad. He also worked with school's baseball and football teams.
Chris Struber will serve as the Director of Pro Player Personnel where he will oversee the scouting of players with professional experience. Struber spent the last eleven years as an NFL draft analyst for Fox Sports and CBS. He also worked as a lead reporter for the Philadelphia Soul from 2003-04.
Thomas Anderson has been named Equipment Manager, after spending the 2010 season with the Gwinnett Gladiators as Assistant Equipment Manager. Anderson also served as Locker Room Assistant for the Atlanta Thrashers during training camp (2010), Assistant Equipment Manager for the Charlotte Checkers ECHL (2009-10) and Visiting Team Locker Room Assistant for the Gwinnett Gladiators (2005-09).
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