Georgia Force Coaches Hold 2012 Training Camp
February 22, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Duluth, GA (February 22, 2012) - This past Saturday marked an official beginning of the 2012 season for Georgia Force coaches and staff. As the last open try outs wrapped up around noon, the 2012 training camp promptly began. For two grueling weeks, potential Force players will compete for a position on the team under the direction of head coach Dean Cokinos. Assisting Cokinos are returning assistant coaches James Clark and Willie Gary. Joining Cokinos, Gary, and Clark for training camp are seasoned coaches Cosmo DeMatteo and Brenard Wilson.
Clark made a name for himself at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a four-year letterman on the football team's offensive line 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 Force from 2007 until 2008, where he started 26 games and participated in two Southern Division Championships. Prior to that, Clark spent 2006 with the Birmingham Steeldogs. Clark is entering his second year coaching with the Force.
Gary is also entering his second season coaching with the Force as the Defensive Backs and Special Teams Coach. He is beginning his eighth year in total with the team, after coaching and competing with the Force from 2003 through 2008. Gary gained NFL experience with the St. Louis Rams from 2001 to 2002, while competing as Safety and contributing to Special Teams. While attending the University of Kentucky on a full athletic scholarship, Gary earned Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC Conference honors.
A 2001 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Cosmo DeMatteo has joined the ranks of the Force coaching staff for the duration of the 2012 training camp. DeMatteo spent 2010 and 2011 as a Receivers Coach for the Toronto Argonauts. Prior to that, DeMatteo held the position as Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Director of Player Personnel for the Tennessee Valley Vipers from 2008 to 2009. Additionally, DeMatteo was the Wide Receiver and and Passing Game Coordinator Coach at the Baylor School during that time. Before coaching, played for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe and the Wilkes-Barre Pioneers of the Arena 2 Football League in 2002. In 2004, DeMatteo was a Receiver for the New York Dragons of the AFL, before moving on to the Arizona Rattlers for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Also assisting with the 2012 training camp is 1977 Vanderbilt University graduate Brenard Wilson. Wilson held a position as Secondary Coach with the Nashville Cats from 1998 until 2007. Prior to that, he gained experience in the NFL as a Safety for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 until 1987, and then for the Atlanta Falcons in 1987. Wilson coached at Southeastern Missouri State University in 1989.
"We are fortunate to have this group of men working with our organization for the 2012 season," stated Cokinos. "The experience and knowledge they bring to the team is invaluable to the development of our players."
The schedule for the 2012 season is out withan exciting, family-friendly slate of promotions and entertainment. For more information on how to reserve your season tickets for as low as $65, please call the front office at770.609.1300. For more information, please visitwww.georgiaforce.com. Be sure to follow theForceBlog as well asTwitterandFacebook for all the latest updates and events.
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