80th anniversary
Coaching Staff
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Jon Gruden
Head Coach - Team Kai
Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (won Super Bowl XXXVII)
Head Coach of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders
Lead analyst and personality on ESPN Monday Night Football
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John Fox
Defensive Coordinator - Team Kai
Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Chicago Bears.
Led the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Broncos to Super Bowl XLVIII
Served as a longtime NFL defensive coordinator and assistant coach
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Ron Zook
Defensive Back Coach - Team Kai
Head Football Coach at the University of Florida and the University of Illinois
Led Illinois to the 2007 Rose Bowl appearance
Served as an NFL assistant and special teams coach (e.g., Packers, Steelers)
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Ron Middelton
Tight Ends Coach - Team Kai
Played tight end in the NFL for multiple teams
Served as an NFL tight ends coach (most notably with the New York Jets)
Filled in as acting head coach for the Jets during the 2021 Senior Bowl and a regular-season game week
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Pat Hill
O-Line Coach - Team Kai
Head Football Coach at Fresno State
Led Fresno State to multiple bowl games and national rankings
Known for his “Play Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime” scheduling philosophy
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Kirby Wilson
RB Coach - Team Kai
Longtime NFL running backs coach for multiple teams
Won two Super Bowls as an assistant coach (Steelers XL, XLIII)
Served as the head coach of the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers
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Ike Hilliard
WR Coach - Team Kai
Played wide receiver in the NFL (mainly for the New York Giants)
Served as an NFL wide receivers coach for multiple teams
Had a long, productive playing career with over 6,300 receiving yards
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Tom Amstutz
Coach - Team Kai
Head Football Coach at the University of Toledo
Led Toledo to multiple MAC Championships and bowl victories
Longtime assistant coach and defensive coordinator before becoming head coach
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Mike Trgovac
Defensive Line Coach - Team Kai
Served as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers
Worked as a longtime defensive line coach in the NFL (Packers, Eagles, Panthers, Raiders)
Helped coach elite defenses, including the 2003 Panthers Super Bowl team
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Jack DelRio
Line Backers Coach - Team Kai
Served as Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders
Worked as a longtime NFL Defensive Coordinator (Ravens, Broncos, Panthers, Washington)
Played linebacker in the NFL for the Saints, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Vikings
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Ed Donatell
Coach - Team Kai
Served as an NFL defensive coordinator (Packers, Falcons, Broncos, Vikings)
Longtime defensive backs coach for multiple NFL teams
Helped coach top-ranked defenses and develop elite secondary units
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Dr. Drametrice Smith
Defensive Quality Control - Team Kai
Head Football Coach at the University of Fort Lauderdale and America Locomotiva
European Football League Coach — Special Teams Coordinator & Linebackers Coach for the Helvetic Mercenaries
NFL Experience & Long Coaching Career — Bill Walsh Fellowship with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019–2020) and 18+ years as a college assistant and defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach
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Jamie Kohl
Special Teams Coach
Built the nation’s top specialist pipeline for kickers, punters, and long snappers through Kohl’s Kicking.
Directly trains and evaluates NFL and college specialists, helping develop dozens of pros.
Serves as a kicking consultant for NFL teams, improving technique, consistency, and performance.
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Jay Gruden
Head Coach - Team Aina
Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals
Head Coach of the Washington Redskins (Commanders)
Arena Football League player and coach (multiple ArenaBowl championships)
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Chris Thompson
Running Backs Coach - Team Aina
Played running back for the Washington Redskins
Served as a key third-down/receiving back and offensive playmaker
Played for additional NFL teams including the Jacksonville Jaguars
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Ray Horton
Defensive Coordinator - Team Aina
Played defensive back in the NFL
Served as an NFL defensive coordinator (Cardinals, Browns, Titans)
Won two Super Bowls as a defensive backs coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers
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Will Compton
Line Backers Coach - Team Aina
Played linebacker in the NFL (Washington, Raiders, Titans)
Co-host and creator of the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast
Special teams and defensive contributor throughout his NFL career
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AQ Shipley
O- Line Coach - Team Aina
Played center in the NFL (Colts, Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Buccaneers)
Won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Works in football media/analysis (frequent contributor on The Pat McAfee Show)
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John DeFilippo
Quarter Back Coach - Team Aina
Offensive Coordinator for several NFL teams (e.g., Cleveland Browns, Vikings, Jaguars)
Quarterbacks Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, including their Super Bowl LII season
Head Coach in other football leagues — e.g., UFL’s Memphis Showboats in 2024
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Eddie Royal
WR Coach - Team Aina
Played wide receiver in the NFL (Broncos, Chargers, Bears)
Known as an elite return specialist early in his career
Recorded over 4,300 receiving yards and 28 total touchdowns in the NFL
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Tom Amstutz
Coach - Team Aina
Head Football Coach at the University of Toledo
Led Toledo to multiple MAC Championships and bowl victories
Longtime assistant coach and defensive coordinator before becoming head coach
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Kyshoen Jarrett
DB Coach - Team Aina
Played safety in the NFL for Washington
Became a defensive backs coach (including working with Washington as an assistant)
Served as a mentor/development coach for young defensive players
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Matt loannidis
Defensive Line Coach - Team Aina
Played defensive tackle in the NFL for Washington and the Carolina Panthers
Known for being a strong interior pass rusher with multiple 5+ sack seasons
Served as a key rotational and starting defensive lineman throughout his career
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Jamie Kohl
Special Teams Coach
Built the nation’s top specialist pipeline for kickers, punters, and long snappers through Kohl’s Kicking.
Directly trains and evaluates NFL and college specialists, helping develop dozens of pros.
Serves as a kicking consultant for NFL teams, improving technique, consistency, and performance.