Veteran Coach Joins Ponder's Staff
February 13, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Dodge City Law News Release
Todd Middleton, an experienced coach at the college and professional levels, has agreed to join the staff of Dodge City Law Head Coach Sean Ponder.
Ponder made the hire official when he introduced Middleton at a press conference on Thursday.
Middleton will work alongside Assistant Head Coach Demetrius Ross on the defensive side of the ball, Ponder said.
In 1991, after graduating from Wake Forest University, Middleton began his football coaching career as the defensive line coach at Chowan College in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Subsequently, he coached defensive backs at West Virginia Wesleyan University and served as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona. Since then, Middleton has been as an assistant for several well-known and highly respected institutions including the United States Military Academy, Princeton University, Northern Illinois University, University of Kansas and Southern University.
In addition, Middleton twice served as a coaching intern in the NFL under the league's prestigious Bill Walsh Fellowship. During the summer of 1997, he helped the Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive line coach develop the players and was able to sit in on coaching staff and team meetings. Three years later, Middleton spent the summer with the New Orleans Saints and worked in a similar capacity.
Middleton's experience as an NFL coaching intern and the relationships that he built within the league have been useful to him since returning to work as a college coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Middleton served as the NFL liaison while at Kansas and as the liaison to NFL scouts while at Southern.
In 2003, Middleton came to southwest Kansas when he was named defensive coordinator at Dodge City Community College. After spending two years with the program, Middleton pursued other coaching opportunities.
Seven years later, in 2010, Middleton returned to Dodge City where he volunteered as a linebackers coach for the Dodge City High School Red Demons. In 2011, he was hired as the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator for the Red Demons. During the 2012 season, Middleton returned to Dodge City Community College as a defensive line coach.
Though an experienced and respected football coach, Middleton's two sons may have higher name recognition among football fans in Dodge City than he does.
Todd Middleton, the coach's eldest son, played for the Dodge City High School and currently plays for Dodge City Community College.
Blaik Middleton, the second of the coach's sons, is currently a star running back for the Red Demons. During the 2013 season, Blaik was an All-State Honorable Mention selection and broke a school record for the most carries and yards in a game.
"This is the best of both worlds," Middleton said. "I have the opportunity to coach for the Law and to be able to watch my sons play football, as well."
"I am looking for to working with Coach Ponder, the staff and the players this year," Middleton added.
Coach Ponder believes that Middleton's experience with developing athletes will be an asset to the Law and its players during the inaugural season.
"I feel very fortunate to have met Coach Middleton and to have been able to see him work with our players at our open tryouts in November," Ponder said. "He has an extensive resume and has the talent as a coach to make a significant contribution to this team."
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