Pepe Pearson named Hawgs new head coach
May 24, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Daytona Beach Hawgs News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. â Pepe Pearson, a star tailback at The Ohio State University, was named today as the new head coach of the Daytona Beach Hawgs of the National Indoor Football League.
Pearson, who was recently a running back with the Dayton Warbirds of the NIFL, will take over immediately. He will bring with him two assistants, Marcus Ray and Central McClellion.
He replaces Ervin Bryson, who served as head coach and general manager in the team's inaugural season. Bryson was dismissed earlier today.
Pearson played in nine games this season for the Warbirds where he gained 320 yards on 83 carries (3.9 per) and scored 10 touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 61 yards a touchdown in his first season of indoor football.
Youngest Coach In NIFL
The youngest coach in the NIFL at 29, Pearson also is the running backs coach at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. His head coach with the Warbirds, Matt King and Marcus Ray are also assistant coaches at Ohio Dominican.
Ray, 28, is from Columbus but elected to become a University of Michigan Wolverine. A member of the Michigan 1997 National Championship team, the outstanding four-year starting safety was drafted by the NFL Oakland Raiders He played with the Raiders for three seasons.
McClellion, 29, was born in Delray Beach, Florida, and went to Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, Florida. He was a teammate of Pearson's at Ohio State. Signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins, he played the 2001 season and signed as a cornerback with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002.
Leads Bucks To Rose Bowl Win
Pearson played with the Buckeyes from 1994 through 1998 and helped them to four bowl games including the 1996 Rose Bowl win. He is the Buckeyes 5th-all-time leading rusher and was an all-Big Ten performer.
He played for the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL and also with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, winning the NFLE 2001 World Bowl championship.
Pearson and his wife, Mary, have two sons and a daughter.
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