XFL Seattle Complete Staff Breakdown, Plenty Of Returning XFL 2.0 Coaches, Some New Faces

On Tuesday, the XFL announced the full staff for each of their 8 franchises, including front office positions, coaches, training staff, equipment managers, and even video managers. While a few of the more important roles were previously announced, such as the Director of Player Personnel, Head Coach, and Coordinators for each team, let’s take a deeper look at the staff for the XFL’s Seattle franchise.

Director of Team Operations: Pat Mathews

After working on the customer service side of the Buffalo Bills organization for over 15 years, Pat Mathews would go on to found ‘F2 Development and Mentoring Group’ in 2019, an Education Administration Program focused on creating the creating sports leaders of the future. Along the way, he started working as a professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he’d teach the Masters of Sports Administration program.

In 2020, Mathews became a Managing Partner and the VP of Client Relations at Avalon Sports, a company with the goal of helping athletes develop a plan for building and growing their personal brand beyond sports. He stayed with the company until June of 2022 when he took on his new role as the Director of Team Operations for Seattles XFL team.

• Buffalo Bills – Customer Service/Assistant Director of Customer Service – (2003 – 2019)
• Canisius College – Adjunct Professor – (2008 – Present)
• F2 Development and Mentoring Group – President – (2019 – 2022)
• Avalon Sports – Managing Partner/ VP of Client Relations – (2020 – 2022)
• XFL Seattle – Director of Team Operations – (2022 – Present)

Director of Player Personnel: Randy Mueller

Randy Mueller brings 39 years of front office experience to the XFL’s Seattle franchise from all different levels of professional football. He reunites with coach Jim Haslett, who he worked alongside in 2000 as the New Orleans Saints General Manager. Most recently, Mueller was involved with the 2020 iteration of the XFL as the Houston Roughneck’s Director of Pro Personnel, making him one of many former Roughnecks to return for the league’s third iteration.

• Seattle Seahawks – Pro Personnel Assistant – (1983 – 1989)
• Seattle Seahawks – Pro Personnel Director – (1990 – 1994)
• Seattle Seahawks – Vice President of Football Operations – (1995 – 1999)
• New Orleans Saints – General Manager – (2000 – 2001)
• Miami Dolphins – General Manager – (2005 – 2007)
• Los Angeles Chargers – Senior Executive for Football Operations – (2008 – 2018)
• Salt Lake Stallions (AAF) – General Manager – (2018 – 2019)
• Houston Roughnecks (XFL 2.0) – Director of Pro Personnel – (2020)
• XFL Seattle – Director of Pro Personnel – (2022 – Present)

Head Coach: Jim Haslett

Jim Haslett brings 34 years of coaching experience to the XFL’s Seattle franchise, having spent time as a head coach, defensive coordinator, and in various positional coaching roles with several NFL, NCAA, UFL, and WLAF franchises. Notably, Haslett earned the NFL’s AP Coach of the Year Award with the New Orleans Saints in 2000.

Additionally, Haslett has experience playing linebacker, having played at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, going on the be selected in the 2nd round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He earned the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1979 and stayed in Buffalo through 1985. Unfortunately, Haslett broke his leg in the 1986 preseason, ending his career with the Bills. After a brief stint with the New York Jets in 1987, he’d officially retire and try his hand in the coaching world.

• University at Buffalo – Assistant Coach – (1988 – 1990)
• Sacramento Surge (WLAF) – Defensive line/Linebackers/Special Teams – (1991 – 1992)
• Los Angeles Raiders – Linebackers – (1993 – 1994)
• New Orleans Saints – Linebackers – (1995)
• New Orleans Saints – Defensive Coordinator – (1996)
• Pittsburgh Steelers – Defensive Coordinator – (1997 – 1999)
• New Orleans Saints – Head Coach – (2000 – 2005)
• St. Louis Rams – Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach – (2006 – 2008)
• Florida Tuskers – Head Coach – (2009)
• Washington Redskins – Defensive Coordinator – (2010 – 2014)
• Penn State – Consultant – (2015)
• Cincinnati Bengals – Linebackers – (2016 – 2018)
• Tennessee Titans – Inside Linebackers – (2020 – 2021)
• XFL Seattle – Head Coach – (2022 – Present)

Offensive Coordinator: June Jones

June Jones brings 39 years of coaching experience to the XFL’s Seattle franchise, having held various positions at nearly every level of football, including the NFL, NCAA, CFL, USFL (1984-1985), XFL 2.0, and most recently, The Spring League. Additionally, Jones is widely known as one of the pioneers of the ‘Run & Shoot’ offense, both as a player and a coach.

Jones should be a familiar face to XFL fans, as he most recently led the Houston Roughnecks in the 2020 iteration of the league. He reunites with his former Director of Player Personnel, Randy Mueller, in the XFL’s third iteration, but this time in Seattle.

Before entering the coaching world, Jones played quarterback on three different college teams, attending Oregon, Hawaii, and Portland State. While at Portland State, he was introduced to the Run & Shoot offense by head coach Mouse Davis. Under coach Davis, Jones became the first quarterback to give the Run & Shoot legitimacy as a quarterback-friendly offense. He ended his two seasons with the team totaling 5,798 yards passing with 50 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Following the 1977 NFL Draft, Jones signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons, and in four seasons with the team, completed 75 of 166 passes for 923 yards with 3 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He spent 1982 with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts before entering the coaching world.

• Hawaii – Quarterbacks – (1983)
• Houston Gamblers (USFL) – Wide Receivers – (1984)
• Denver Gold (USFL) – Offensive Coordinator – (1985)
• Ottawa Rough Riders – Offensive Coordinator – (1986)
• Houston Oilers – Quarterbacks – (1987 – 1988)
• Detroit Lions – Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers – (1989 – 1990)
• Atlanta Falcons – Offensive Coordinator – (1991 – 1993)
• Atlanta Falcons – Head Coach – (1994 – 1996)
• San Diego Chargers – Quarterbacks/Interim Head Coach – (1998)
• Hawaii – Head Coach – (1999 – 2007)
• SMU – Head Coach – (2008 – 2014)
• Kapolei HS – Offensive Coordinator – (2016)
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) – Head Coach – (2017 – 2018)
• Houston Roughnecks (XFL 2.0) – Head Coach – (2020)
• TSL Conquerors – Offensive Coordinator – (2020)
• XFL Seattle – Offensive Coordinator – (2022 – Present)

Defensive Coordinator: Ron Zook

Ron Zook is another familiar face from the 2000 New Orleans Saints team joining Seattle’s XFL franchise, bringing 44 years of experience from the NFL, NCAA, and AAF coaching ranks. In that time, Zook has served as a head coach, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, defensive backs coach, and even spent some time as a Senior Analyst for Maryland more recently.

Before entering the coaching world, Zook played Division I football at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, earning himself a role as a starting defensive back and co-captain by his senior season. After graduating in 1976, he’d immediately start coaching, signing on as the defensive backs coach at Orrville High School in Ohio.

• Murray State – Defensive Backs Coach – (1978 – 1980)
• Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator – (1981 – 1982)
• Kansas – Defensive Coordinator – (1983)
• Tennessee – Defensive Backs – (1984 – 1986)
• Virginia Tech – Associate Head Coach – (1987)
• Ohio State – Defensive Backs – (1988 – 1990)
• Florida – Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Backs – (1991 – 1993)
• Florida – Special Teams Coordinator – (1994)
• Florida – Associate Head Coach/ Special Teams Coordinator – (1995)
• Pittsburgh Steelers – Special Teams Coordinator – (1996 – 1998)
• Kansas City Chiefs – Defensive Backs – (1999)
• New Orleans Saints – Defensive Coordinator – (2000 – 2001)
• Florida – Head Coach – (2002 – 2004)
• Illinois – Head Coach – (2005 – 2011)
• Green Bay Packers – Special Teams Assistant – (2014)
• Green Bay Packers – Special Teams Coordinator – (2015 – 2018)
• Salt Lake Stallions (AAF) – Special Teams Coordinator/ Defensive Backs – (2019)
• Maryland – Senior Analyst – (2019 – 2020)
• Maryland – Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator – (2021)
• XFL Seattle – Defensive Coordinator – (2022 – Present)

Quarterbacks: Dan Morrison

Dan Morrison brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the XFL’s Seattle franchise, including 7 seasons at SMU and 9 seasons at Hawaii under June Jones. In his time at SMU, Morrison coached the Mustangs to a number of offensive team records while his quarterbacks performed at the highest levels, including Garrett Gilbert, who set five single-game passing records and was later drafted in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.

After his time at SMU, Morrison took his talents north to the CFL and coached with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. After 2 seasons with Hamilton, he returned to the states to reunite with June Jones on the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, where he’d coach XFL legend, PJ Walker. Now Morrison joins June Jones staff once again, this time in Seattle, for the XFL’sthird iteration.

• Hawaii – Quarterbacks – (1999 – 2007)
• SMU – Quarterbacks – (2008 – 2014)
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) – Quarterbacks – (2017 – 2018)
• Houston Roughnecks (XFL 2.0) – Quarterbacks – (2019 – 2020)
• WSU – Quarterbacks – (2021)
• XFL Seattle – Quarterbacks – (2022 – Present)

Offensive Line: Dennis McKnight

Another former Roughneck joining the staff of the XFL’s Seattle franchise is Dennis McKnight. McKnight brings 41 years of coaching experience to Seattle, spending time in the NCAA, CFL, and XFL. Additionally, McKnight is another staff member who’ll be reuniting with offensive coordinator June Jones, having coached under him at Hawaii, SMU, Hamilton (CFL), and Houston (XFL).

McKnight also has experience playing as an offensive guard collegiately and professionally, having attended Drake College and later playing 11 seasons in the NFL, holding stints with the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. He’d be named a pro bowl alternate in 1988 while with the Chargers.

• Southeast Missouri State – Graduate Assistant – (1981)
• Hawaii – Special Teams – (1999 – 2000)
• Grossmont CC – Special Teams/ Offensive Line – (2001 – 2003)
• San Diego State – Tight Ends – (2005)
• Hawaii – Special Teams/ Offensive Line – (2006 – 2007)
• SMU – Offensive Line – (2008)
• SMU – Special Teams – (2009 – 2010)
• Edmonton Eskimos – Running Backs – (2011)
• Lamar – Special Teams/ Offensive Line – (2012 – 2013)
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Special Teams – (2017)
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Offensive Line – (2018 – 2019)
• Houston Roughnecks (XFL 2.0) – Offensive Assistant/ Special Teams
• XFL Seattle – Offensive Line – (2022 – Present)

Running Backs: Wes Suan

Wes Saun brings 47 years of coaching experience to the XFL’s Seattle franchise and is another member of the staff who’s very familiar with the Run & Shoot offense, having worked with June Jones at SMU, Hawaii, and with the XFL 2.0’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020.

While at SMU, Suan coached running back Zach Line, who finished his career as the No. 2 rusher in school history and was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year (2012) and first-team All-C-USA (2012). Under Suan, Line rushed for 80 or more yards in 32 of his final 37 games and passed the 1,000-yard mark three times, becoming just the 2nd Mustang and the 4th player in C-USA history to reach that mark in at least three seasons. Additionally, Suan’s offensive line paved the way for a Mustang offense that set school records in completions, completion percentage, total offense average, total offense plays, passing yards average, and passing first downs.

• Leilehua HS – Assistant – (1975)
• Waialua HS – Assistant – (1976 – 1979)
• Linfield – Assistant – (1979 – 1981)
• Linfield – Assistant Athletics Director – (1992 – 1998)
• Hawaii – Assistant/Running Backs/ Offensive Line – (1999 – 2008)
• SMU – Offensive Line/ Running Backs – (2009 – 2013)
• Houston Roughnecks (XFL 2.0) – Running Backs – (2020)
• XFL Seattle – Running Backs – (2022 – Present)

Wide Receivers/Special Teams: Ty Knott

Bringing 34 years of coaching experience to Seattle is Ty Knott, who some may recognize from the 2020 iteration of the XFL as the assistant head coach/tight ends coach for the LA Wildcats.

Before joining the XFL’s 2020 iteration, Knott spent time with a number of college and professional franchises, including Texas Southern, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New Orleans Saints, the Green Bay Packers, and Mike Singletary’s San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, Knott spent time with the AAAF’s Memphis Express in 2019.

• Oregon Tech – Defensive Backs – (1988 – 1989)
• Whittier College – Defensive Backs – (1994 – 1995)
• Indiana University – Defensive Backs – (1997 – 1999)
• Mt. San Antonio – Defensive Backs – (2000)
• Greenville College – Defensive Backs – (2001)
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Offensive Assistant – (2002)
• New Orleans Saints – Defensive Quality Control – (2003 – 2005)
• Green Bay Packers – Offensive Quality Control – (2006 – 2008)
• San Francisco 49ers – Director of Player Development – (2009 – 2010)
• Texas Southern – Special Teams – (2011)
• Minnesota-Crookston – Defensive Coordinator – (2012)
• Memphis Express (AAF) – Special Teams/ Running Backs – (2019)
• Los Angeles Wildcats – Assistant Head Coach/ Tight Ends – (2020)
• Saint Mary of the Woods College – Head Coach – (2021)
• XFL Seattle – Wide Receivers/ Special Teams – (2022 – Present)

Defensive Line/Front Seven: Chip Garber

Seattle XFL fans may also recognize Chip Garber, as he served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers coach for the Seattle Dragons under head coach Jim Zorn in 2020. Garber’s return to Seattle brings along 42 years of coaching experience, having coached at every level of football, including the NCAA, NFL, CFL, and XFL.

Garber also has playing experience as a linebacker, having attended Maryland from 1975 to 1977, and was a three-year letterman. In his time at the school, the Terrapins made it to the Gator Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Hall of Fame Bowl, also winning the ACC Championship in 1975 and 1976.

• SMU – Assistant – (1980 – 1982)
• Kentucky – Wide Receivers/ Defensive Backs/ Speacial Teams – (1982 – 1989)
• Mississippi State – Defensive Backs/ Special Teams – (1990)
• TCU – Defensive Backs/ Special Teams – (1991)
• Minnesota – Defensive Backs – (1992 – 1995)
• Virginia Military Institute – Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Backs – (1996 – 1998)
• Hofstra – Defensive Coordinator/ Safeties – (1999)
• Army – Assistant Head Coach/ Linebackers/ Defensive Backs – (2000 – 2004)
• Hofstra – Defensive Backs – (2004 – 2005)
• University of North Texas – Wide Receivers – (2006)
• Washington Redskins – Defensive Quality Control – (2009 – 2010)
• Toronto Argonauts (CFL) – Defensive Coordinator – (2010 – 2012)
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) – – (2012 – 2013)
• Seattle Dragons (XFL 2.0) – Special Teams/Linebackers – (2019 – 2020)
• XFL Seattle – Defensive Line/ Front Seven – (2022 – 2023)

Linebackers: Matt Fleischacker

One of the younger members of the staff for XFL Seattle is Matt Fleischacker, who got his start at coaching in 2012 as an undergraduate student assistant at Penn State.

After taking a position with Appalachian State as a defensive graduate assistant for the 2016 season, Fleischacker returned to Penn State. However, this time it was for a full-time position coaching defensive backs and linebackers. Over the course of his two seasons back at PSU, Fleischacker helped the school post a 20-6 record, also winning the 2017 Fiesta Bowl over the University of Washington.

After spending the 2019 season as the outside linebackers coach at Mercer University, Fleischacker accepted a role at Hobart College as the team’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. He’d help the school build a defense that ranked top 20 in the nation in passing defense, scoring defense, and more.

• Penn State – Undergraduate Student Assistant – (2012 – 2015)
• Appalachian State – Defensive Graduate Assistant/ Recruiting – (2016)
• Penn State – Defensive Backs/ Linebackers – (2017 – 2018)
• Mercer – Outside Linebackers – (2019)
• Hobart – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers – (2020 – 2021)
• XFL Seattle – Linebackers – (2022 – Present)

Defensive Backs: Mike Gillhamer

Mike Gillhamer is another XFL 2.0 returner, having spent 2020 with the DC Defenders following the departure of the team’s defensive coordinator and the promotion of the team’s previous secondary coach. He brings 43 years of coaching experience to the secondary of XFL Seattle, having coached the position at nearly every level of football, including the NCAA, NFL, CFL, AAF, and XFL.

One major highlight of his collegiate coaching career was helping the Oregon Ducks to a Fiesta Bowl victory, along with a final number 2 national ranking in 2001. After joining the New York Giants in 1997, Gillhamer would take over as the team’s running back coach in 2000, a year the Giants would go on to win the NFC Championship and make a Super Bowl appearance.

• College of Sequoias – Defensive Line/ Defensive Backs – (1979 – 1983)
• Weber State University – Defensive Backs – (1984)
• Utah – Defensive Backs – (1985 – 1989)
• Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL) – Guest Assistant Coach – (1988)
• San Jose State – Defensive Backs – (1990 – 1993)
• University of Nevada – Defensive Backs/ Defensive Coordinator – (1994 – 1995)
• Rutgers – Defensive Backs – (1996)
• New York Giants – Offensive Assistant/ Running Backs – (1997 – 2000)
• Oregon – Defensive Backs – (2001 – 2002)
• Louisville – Defensive Coordinator/ Safeties – (2003)
• Carolina Panthers – Defensive Backs/ Defensive Assistant Coach – (2004 – 2010)
• Illinois – Defensive Backs – (2011)
• Indianapolis Colts – Defensive Backs – (2012 – 2015)
• Cincinnati – Defensive Backs – (2016 – 2018)
• Arizona Hotshots (AAF) – Defensive Backs – (2019)
• DC Defenders (XFL 2.0) – Defensive Backs – (2020)

Safeties/Quality Control: Aaron McGinty

Aaron McGinty brings over a decade of coaching experience to XFL Seattle’s ranks from nearly every level of football, having coached in the NCAA, NFL, Austrian Football League (AFL), and XFL.

While serving as the defensive backs coach at Williams College during the 2010 season, the team ranked first in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in both pass defense and pass efficiency defense, with two defensive backs earning first-team All-NESCAC honors.

• Northwest Oklahoma State – Assistant – (2008 – 2009)
• Arizona Cardinals – Intern – (2009 – 2010)
• Swarco Raiders Tirol (AFL) – Defensive Backs – (2010)
• Williams College – Defensive Backs – (2010 – 2013)
• Rhodes College – Running Backs – (2013)
• Seton Hill University – Linebackers – (2014 – 2015)
• College of the Holy Cross – Defensive Backs – (2015 – 2016)
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Internship – (2017)
• Millsaps College – Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers- (2016 – 2018)
• Cincinnati Bengals – Coaching Intern – (2018 – 2019)
• Cleveland Browns – Coaching Intern – (2019 – 2020)
• Svart Development – CFO – (2019 – Present)
• Willamette – Assistant – (2021 – 2022)
• XFL Seattle – Safeties/ Quality Control – (2022 – Present)

Athletic Trainer: Scottie Patton

Scottie Patton will take on the role of Head Athletic Trainer for the XFL’s Seattle Franchise. Patton has a plethora of experience working as an athletic trainer, having spent 20 years with the New Orleans Saints after an internship with the San Francisco 49ers. He’d work for two Super Bowl champion teams in that time, the 2009 Saints, and the 1994 San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, Patton worked as an athletic trainer for the NFC squad at the Pro Bowl on three different occasions.

• San Francisco 49ers – Internship – (1994 – 1995)
• New Orleans Saints – Head Athletic Trainer – (2000 – 2020)
• Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute/ Xavier University LA – Athletic Trainer – (2020 – 2022)
• XFL Seattle – Athletic Trainer – (2022 – Present)

Equipment Manager: Trevor Pueblo

Trevor Pueblo will serve as the equipment manager for the XFL’s Seattle franchise, having previously held similar roles with the University of Kansas.

• Kansas – Football Facilities/ Equipment Intern – (2017 – 2018)
• Kansas – Graduate Student Equipment Manager – (2018 – 2019)
• Kansas – Assistant Football Equipment Manager – (2019 – 2022)
• XFL Seattle – Head Equipment Manager – (2022 – Present)

Video Manager: Drew Scharenbroch

The former Seattle Dragons Video Director, Drew Scharenbroch, will be returning for the league’s third iteration. Scharenbroch has previously held similar positions with the Seattle Seahawks, UNLV, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Intercollegiate Athletics – Post Production Coordinator – (2009 – 2015)
• Seattle Seahawks – Video Assistant – (2015 – 2019)
• Seattle Dragons (XFL 2.0) – Video Director – (2019 – 2020)
• UNLV – Video Coordinator – (2021- 2022)
• XFL Seattle – Video Manager/Director – (2022 – Present)