NFL Alumni Academy To Include XFL & USFL Coaches

The latest Inside the League newsletter taught us a bit more about the NFL Alumni Academy. In April, the XFL and NFL Alumni Academy announced a partnership where players in the Academy could earn XFL contracts. Now we learn that coaches in the XFL are part of the Academy.

ITL talked about the different coaches as part of the Academy. It includes several current and former XFL coaches.

“The offensive line is coached by a Hall of Famer, Anthony Munoz, and a former NFL head coach, Mike Tice. The pass rush coach is Chuck Smith, an NFL veteran and respected defensive line instructor. Defensive line players will also learn from NFL veteran coaches Jay Hayes and Paul Spicer as well as former Cowboys DT Russell Maryland. Ted Cottrell, a four-time NFL defensive coordinator, and Lofa Tatupu are around to coach the linebackers. Dean Dalton, Chris Dishman, Antonio Banks, Moe Williams and Larry Kirksey are other coaches who have at least a decade in the NFL, and several more have major college or NFL coaching (and/or playing) experience. Both position technique and football IQ are emphasized in the daily teaching and mentoring, giving the NFL Alumni Academy team a chance to erase the deficiencies that kept your client off an NFL roster.”

Jay Hayes is the Defensive Coordinator for the Arlington XFL franchise under Head coach Bob Stoops.

Chris Dishman, the former USFL defensive coordinator for the New Jersey Generals, is rumored to be the new DC for the Las Vegas XFL franchise.

Ted Cottrell was the former defensive coordinator for the Houston Roughnecks in 2020.

This does not mean the USFL is left out. Larry Kirksey is the current running backs coach for the Birmingham Stallions. He was the receivers coach of the Seattle Dragons in 2020. Paul Spicer is the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Breakers.

This is from the April press release about the XFL and the NFL Alumni Academy partnership.

“The XFL and the NFL Alumni Academy will work together to identify the highest caliber players to train at the NFL Alumni Academy, leveraging combined resources and expertise to seek quality talent. Upon completion of the NFL Alumni Academy at the end of the NFL season, each player will automatically receive an opt-in contract with the XFL. The goal of this partnership is to enhance the entire football ecosystem by extending player cycles and expanding professional playing opportunities that are also complementary with the NFL season and off-season.”

The NFL season kicked off this week. The XFL season kicks-off on February 18th, 2023, a week after the Super Bowl.