The NFL has a diversity issue in it’s coaching ranks. Minnesota Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine is stepping up and tackling that issue. This week, he and the Vikings opened team headquarters to a coaching diversity workshop. Most of the NFL’s efforts to improve diversity have been to strong arm teams into interviewing minority candidates for head coach, coordinator, and general manager positions. The focus is on the top jobs. Pettine’s project is focused on helping minorities at the entry level of the NFL coaching profession. He’s hoping to give their development a little push and to perhaps increase their opportunities. He’s had the idea for a few years and is finally getting it rolling. He’s doing something where others aren’t and the league hasn’t.
12 minority coaches participated in a three-day summit that included presentations, group activities, and mock interviews. They also spent time on field with Vikings players during this week’s OTAs.
From Pettine:
The real basic premise of the program is really to feed the candidate pool for the NFL from the bottom up. I don't think there's enough emphasis placed on the entry-level jobs, which is why the target for these candidates, really, they weren't college position coaches.
These are QCs (quality control coaches) that are analysts, graduate assistants, because … on a lot of NFL staffs, that's the glue. People don't realize how important a lot of those positions are. I do think this establishes a little bit of a different niche than the Bill Walsh fellowship program, because a lot of those jobs and opportunities typically go to college position coaches or college coordinators.
The 12 coaches received hands-on experience with NFL players and coaches, they made contacts, they received feedback. These are coaches that need and deserve an opportunity. Perhaps this program will help them get that opportunity. Perhaps it gives them the tools and/or the incentive to get that opportunity.
The 12 Coaches:
Imarjaye Albury, Sr.
-worked with the Vikings defensive line and outside linebackers
Currently: Vikings personnel department
Previously: Cortland State (2017), Ave Maria (2018), Arkansas Graduate Assistant (2018-19), Vikings Quality Control-Defense and assistant Defensive Line (2020-21)
Education: West Virginia and Florida International
Reggie Bain
-worked with the Vikings offensive line
Currently: University of Miami Graduate Assistant
Previously: Illinois Graduate Assistant (2021)
Education: Florida Atlantic (bachelor’s), University of Miami (enrolled in master’s program)
Mark Cala
-worked with Vikings quarterbacks
Currently: Arkansas Offensive Analyst
Previously: University of Puget Sound (2015-16), Florida Atlantic (2017), University of Houston (2018), Florida State (2019-20)
Education: University of Puget Sound
Cortez Carter
-worked with Vikings inside linebackers
Currently: Florida State Defensive Analyst
Previously: Brooke Point High School (2015), Marshall University Graduate Assistant (2016-17), Lock Haven University (2018), Memphis Graduate Assistant (2019)
Education: Marshall University and Memphis
Ryan “Chili” Davis
-worked with Vikings receivers and special teams
Currently: Florida A&M Special Teams Coordinator
Previously: Campbell University (2012-15), Louisiana Tech (2015-16), Fordham University (2015), New Mexico State (2017-21), University of Washington (2021), Grambling (2021-April 2022)
Education: Campbell University
Kenji Jackson
-worked with Vikings defensive backs
Currently: Northern Arizona Defensive Backs
Previously: Northwestern Graduate Assistant (2014), Missouri State (2014-20), Arkansas (2020-22)
Education: Missouri and Northwestern
Courtney Love
-worked with Vikings inside linebackers
Currently: Kentucky Director of Player Development
Previously: Kentucky Graduate Assistant (2018)
Education: Nebraska and Kentucky
Jeremy Modkins
-worked with Vikings defensive backs
Currently: TCU (2014-22)
Education TCU
Jordan Reid
-worked with Vikings receivers
Currently: Wake Forest Graduate Assistant
Previously: Ohio University Graduate Assistant (2019-20)
Education: Ohio University
Ahmad Smith
-worked with Vikings defensive backs
Currently: South Carolina Defensive Analyst
Previously: Indiana State Student Assistant/Graduate Assistant (2014-17), Rose-Holman Institute of Technology (2017-18), Western Kentucky Graduate Assistant (2018-19)
Education: Indiana State and Western Kentucky
Roseanna Smith
-worked with Vikings running backs
Currently: Oberlin College Running Backs and Director of Football Operations
Previously: Winder-Barrow High School (2010-13), Flowery Branch High School (2015-16), Atlanta Phoenix (2020) West Hall High School (2017-21)
Education: Iowa
Earnest Thomas III
-worked with Vikings defensive backs
Currently: Tennessee Defensive Analyst
Previously: Michigan Elite Football Club (2015-18), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2017-18), Massachusetts Graduate Assistant (2019-20)
Education: Illinois
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It’s crazy that a couple of these coaches have been plugging away at the profession longer than Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
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