The United Football League and Under Armour are partnering to give eight high school football coaches an opportunity to coach in the first-year league this spring. The UFL and UA are teaming-up with the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches to give coaches, with at least three years of experience, the chance to work in the league’s eight markets.
“We are proud to work with Under Armour and the NCMFC to expand our partnership for the 2024 season,” said Russ Brandon, president and CEO of the UFL. “The program is a tremendous growth opportunity for these coaches, and we are deeply committed to creating opportunities and providing unparalleled access to professional coaching at the highest level.”
After a successful pilot program with the XFL’s D.C. and San Antonio markets in 2023, the UFL and Under Armour will bring the program to all eight markets for the 2024 season. The factor in the selection process included the applicant’s proximity to UFL markets.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the UFL and NCMFC in our commitment to access and opportunity within sports. Under Armour is passionate about creating opportunities for minority football coaches of all levels to increase minority hires year over year, and increase engagement with the Coalition, ultimately bringing more diversity, equity, and inclusion to football,” said Sean Eggert, SVP of Global Sports Marketing at Under Armour. “With the expansion of this partnership, we will provide NCMFC coaching members in each of these markets a platform to continue to build on their craft, grow personally and professionally, and develop a network so they are in the best position to take the next step in their careers.”
Beginning Thursday, March 7, each coach will report to the UFL’s training camp hub in Arlington, Texas, allowing them to meet their respective teams and staff in person. At training camp, these coaches will take part in meetings and practices, assisting with their team’s needs.
During the 2024 UFL season, the selected coaches will attend all five home games in their respective markets, assisting on the sidelines and working with staff on key projects.
“The mission of the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches centers around the professional development of minority football coaches, which is why we are excited to expand our partnership with Under Armour and the UFL,” said Mike Locksley, President and founder of NCMFC. “This unique opportunity for a minority fellowship with a professional UFL team will give our coaches the chance to gain invaluable experience as they seek to advance their careers. We know our coaches truly appreciate such a rare opportunity, which was apparent by the vast number of applications we received.”
The 2024 High School Coaches selected are:
Arlington Renegades: Nkere “Scoop” Reed, Highland Park High School
- As he heads into his 21st year of coaching football, basketball and track, Reed looks forward to continuing to learn on all levels and aspires to move to a professional level of coaching. In 2018, he participated in the Bill Walsh Fellowship, serving as a coaching intern with the Buffalo Bills.
Birmingham Stallions: Jason Winchell, Norcross High School
- With a passion for player development and a commitment to excellence, Winchell’s impact on and off the field continues to inspire. He brings over a decade of coaching experience to the high school football field. Serving as the offensive play caller, his team boasted an average of 32 points per game, and under his guidance, the 2023 team clinched the regional championship. Additionally, he coached a first-team all-county running back and spearheaded a running back group that maintained zero turnovers. Winchell has also been instrumental in securing several Power 5 scholarship offers for his athletes.
D.C. Defenders: Eric Allie, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
- After 10 years of coaching youth football, Allie felt he needed a new challenge in his coaching career and decided to make the jump to coaching high school. In 2010, Allie was offered a position as the freshman RB coach at Our Lady of Good Counsel. After 6 years, Coach Allie was promoted to varsity RB coach where he coached former Lions RB Mo Ibrahim. Coach Allie has always channeled the skills he learned in the military into his coaching style. Leadership, preparation, and accountability are major pieces of his coaching philosophy. Last summer, Coach Allie participated in the NY Jets Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship.
Houston Roughnecks: Yusef Johnson, Lutheran South Academy
- Even during a 27-year career in space exploration, Johnson has always found time to coach football, the sport he loves, and provided so much to him. Currently, he’s the lead mission planner for the Artemis IV mission, which will deliver the I-HAB module to the Lunar Gateway space station, as well as perform a lunar landing mission. Johnson aspires to advance his coaching opportunities beyond the high school level.
Memphis Showboats: Rodney Saulsberry Sr., Whitehaven High School
- Saulsberry has won several state championships as a head coach at his alma mater, Whitehaven High School. Under his leadership, he has led his team to a 185-53 record in 19 seasons, reestablishing the program as a playoff fixture. He has been named AFCA High School Coach of the Year and Influential Coach of the Year.
Michigan Panthers: Marcus Green, Cornerstone Lincoln-King High School
- Green started the football program that he is currently coaching and strives to improve as a former D1 football player and first-time head coach. A promising D-Tackle, he was set to join the line at Penn State University until doctors discovered a benign pituitary brain tumor, which would cut his athletic career short. Still, Green pursued a career in sports, even if it meant using his skill set off the field. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Penn State, he worked at ESPN, ABC News and the former Chicago-based digital college sports network, Campus Insiders.
San Antonio Brahmas: Matthew Bullock, San Antonio Veterans Memorial
- Bullock is a special education teacher at San Antonio Veterans Memorial, the head powerlifting coach, and assistant football coach working with inside linebackers and the defensive line. Like the high expectations Bullock sets forth in his student-athletes, he is always looking for opportunities to develop as a coach.
St. Louis Battlehawks: Kenneth Boyer, Christian Brothers College High School
- Boyer moved back to St. Louis in anticipation of the birth of his first child, a baby girl in 2024, and took an assistant coaching position at Christian Brothers College High School. There, serving as assistant wide receivers/tight ends coach, his team carved their way to a third-straight Class 6 championship game appearance.
