Staff

National Team Coaches

Coach Jim Collins

Head Coach Defensive Coordinator / Scouting Liaison

Coach Jim Collins has been a National Bowl defensive coordinator since its inception. Last year he was awarded NFL’s New York Giants Coach of the Week as a head coach of JP Stevens in New Jersey. Jim also has acted as the scouting liaison and has oversaw the NFL scouting meetings and interviews with National Players. He has been instrumental in the logistics support of the National Bowl weekend. We are extremely excited to have Jim back at the FCS BOWL.

Coach Mike Stock

Green Bay Packers(NFL) Special Teams

NFL’s Coach Mike Stock formerly of the Green Bay Packers will return to head coach the FCS BOWL Navy Team returning to National Bowl weekend. In 1983 he coached the New Jersey Generals offensive backfield, including hall of fame running back Herschel Walker. He then returned to Notre Dame, where he coached wide receivers and running backs through 1986. From 1987 through 1991 he coached special teams, then wide receivers, and finally tight ends for the Cincinnati Bengals. From 1992 through 1994 he coached wide receivers at Ohio State. From 1995 through 2000 he was the special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. From 2001 to 2003 he was the Washington Redskins special teams coach. In 2004 he was the special teams coach for the Saint Louis Rams. For the 2006 through 2010 seasons, he was Head Special Teams Coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.

NFL SPECIAL TEAMS COACH OF THE YEAR RUNNER UP – 2007 GREEN BAY
*NFL SPECIAL TEAMS COACH OF THE YEAR – 1997 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

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Tony Racioppi

OC/QB Coach (Test Sports)

James Parham

OL/DL Coach

James Parham has spent years as a Pro player and formerly a Pro OL Coach with the Trenton Freedom arena team. James has coached in the National Bowl since 2011 and we are excited to have him back at the FCS Bowl.

Kevin Moritis

Defensive Coach (Defense University)

Daniel Dieudonne

Assistant Coach

Kevin Miller

RB Coach

American Team Coaches

Preston McKnight

Head Coach (AFL Albany/ Soul)

Coach Preston McKnight begins his 32^nd year in coaching. He is entering his fourth FCS/National Bowl as a coach. Preston has worked in professional football as a coach, scout, and in the front office since 2006. In 2012-13, Preston served as the Director of Football Programs for the Philadelphia Soul, and quality control coaching stops in Orlando and Tampa Bay, most recent has coached with the Albany Empire of the AFL. Prior to coaching in Albany he served stints as an NFL and CFL scout. Coach McKnight also coached collegiately at Kutztown University and Albright College in Pennsylvania.

Coach Bernie Nowotarski

Philadelphia Soul Defensive Coordinator (2016 / 2017 Arena Bowl Champions)

Coach Nowotarski is currently the Defensive Coordinator of the World Champion Philadelphia Soul and FCS Bowl assistant coach. In the past he spent time with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and was the Head Coach of the Harrisburg Stampede of the Pro Arena league (PIFL). In Nowotarski’s 10+ seasons of indoor coaching, he has amassed an 83-29 regular season record. His 11-5 playoff record includes five division titles, three conference championships, and two national championship victories with different teams (Reading Express 2009 and Harrisburg Stampede 2013). He was named Coach of the Year in both of those championship seasons.

Rob Flowers

Assistant Coach

Coach Rob Flowers had a distinguished Indoor Football League Career culminating in an amazing 2009 Season where he was named MVP Quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year for the 2009 AIFA (American Indoor Football Association) as well as winning the National Championship with the Reading Express. Rob played Quarterback @ Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. Rob Flowers has 15 years of High School coaching experience. Currently the Head Football Coach @ Daniel Boone High School in Birdsboro, PA.

Sam Bryant

Assistant Coach

Sean McKnight

Assistant Coach

Coach Sean McKnight is Pennsylvania native, Sean is entering his 27^th year of coaching football. Throughout his 27 years of coaching Sean has been part of many successful professional organizations. He has organized and help run open combines for the NFL, Philadelphia Soul, and the Reading Express. Coach McKnight has coached at every level, including the Philadelphia Soul Tryouts, the Reading Express Indoor Arena Football Team, as well as Millersville University. He has built championship professional teams with the AIFA’s Reading Express. Sean has a total of two division titles, two conference championships and one national championship.

Pete Gilmore

Assistant Coach

Arlan Johnson

Assistant DL Coach (Madness Training)

Ken Miller

OL/FB/ Special Teams Coordinator / Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Duval Zimmerman

DB Coach

Zachary Williams-Cooper

OL/DL Coach

Chris Hovan

DL Coach

An 11-year veteran of the National Football League, Hovan began his career as a first-round draft pick (25th overall) for the Minnesota Vikings. After five seasons with the Vikings, during which time he was a consensus All-Rookie pick (2000) and earned All-Pro honors (2002), he signed a free-agent contract that would bring him to the Tampa Bay area to play with the Buccaneers.

In his first season with the Buccaneers (2005), the defense finished as top unit in the NFL. He would spend five seasons with Tampa Bay prior to joining the St. Louis Rams. A back injury derailed him for the 2010 season, his 11th in the NFL, and he was placed on injured reserve during training camp for the remainder of the season.

During his NFL career Hovan appeared in 156 games and started 149 of them. He finished his career with 362 tackles, 22 sacks, 14 pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

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Rob Keefe

OC (AFL Head Coach Albany Empire)

Keefe was part of the Philadelphia Soul 2008 championship team as a defensive back. At the age of 29 he became the youngest head coach in AFL history to win an Arena Football League Championship, when he led the Spokane Shock to an ArenaBowl victory in their first year in Arena Football 1. He is the only person in Arena Football history to win an Arena Cup (AF2) and ArenaBowl (AFL) title as both a player and a coach.

Posting a career 61-30 record as a head coach in the AFL (#1), Keefe most recently led the Orlando Predators as head coach and vice president of football operations from 2014-2016. In his stint in Orlando, Rob won a division championship in each of his three years leading the team.

"There is no question that Rob is a winner on the field and a good person off the field," said co- owner Ron Jaworski. "I had the opportunity to get to know Rob well when he played for the Philadelphia Soul in 2008. He will be active in the community and he will make Albany proud of their team. His energy is off the charts and that energy permeates through his players and the fan base. Albany should be excited to get one of the best coaches in the game."

"I can't wait to get started," said head coach Rob Keefe. "We have a lot of work to do, and you can bet that I am up for the challenge. I will not be out worked. Being an expansion team will not be an excuse for not having success on the field. I am looking forward to getting up there, meeting the fans and the business leaders, and forming a great relationship with everybody in the area. You will see me and our team very active in the community."

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Chris Thompson

Co- Head Coach / Atlanta Alliance / AFL

Atlant Alliance of American Football Director of Football Operations and former Albany AFL Offensive Coordinator & Director of Football Operations (AFL)*

Coach Chris Thompson and his staff will return to coach the “American” team in the FCS BOWL. Coach Thompson starting coaching in the National Bowl in 2011 and the FCS Bowl in 2013.

Chris Thompson:

Chris serves as the Director of Football Operations for the Alliance of American Football (AAF) Atlanta Team. Chris served as the Director of Football Operations Offensive Coordinator for the AFL Albany Empire team during the season.

Chris came from a great rsume with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the NAL where he was the team’s Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator and won the 2017 NAL Coach of the Year Award. In his 7 seasons as head coach, he has posted a 54-35 overall record, including 7 straight playoff berths. Lehigh Valley also won the 2017 Franchise of the Year Award, where Chris also served as the team’s Assistant General Manager.

Prior to being promoted to head coach, Chris was an assistant general manager and offensive coordinator in the IFL, PIFL and AIFL. In total in his coaching career, Chris has a 122-60 record including 11 playoff berths in 12 seasons.

“Chris has a tremendous record of success in the indoor game,” said head coach Rob Keefe. “He has proven to be a consistent winner in every role and situation he has been in. He has a brilliant football mind along with an energy that is consistent with this organization. Chris has all the tools to run a championship football operations department as well as high-powered offense.”

He graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and currently resides in Lancaster, PA with his wife Leeann, daughter Haley, and son Kellen.

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Coach-Lo Locust (FRMR NFL Baltimore Ravens)

Linebackers Coach

*First Ever Woman to coach with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens

2018 - NFL Baltimore Ravens Coaching Staff (Intern)

2017 to 2018 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks/Men’s Arena-Assistant Coach (NAL)**

Linebackers
Player Assessment/Scouting

2016 to present DMV Elite/ Men’s Semi-Pro-Assistant Coach (WFF)**

Defensive Line

2011 to present Susquehanna Township/High School Boys-Assistant Coach**

Defensive Line-Varsity
- 4 appearance in PIAA District 3 AAA playoffs
2012-2014 Head Line Coach-Freshman
- Both seasons were undefeated

2015-2016 Central Penn Capitals (York Capitals)/Men’s Arena AIF-Assistant Coach**

2015 Offensive Line Coach
- Undefeated season 10-0, 2015 AIF League Champions
2016 Head Defensive Line Coach
- Team gained Playoff berth prior to being folded
2016 Defensive Special Teams Coordinator
2016 Player Assessment/Scouting

2016 River City Thunder/Mens Arena-MIFL-Assistant Coach**

Defensive Line

2013-2016 Central Penn Piranha/Men’s Semi-Pro-Assistant Coach (GWFL/MDFL)**

2013 Tight Ends, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Special Teams
- RAFL League Champion 18-1
2014 Head Offensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator
- GDFL National Champion 15-1
2015 Head Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator
- WFF League Championship Runner Up 8-1

2008-2012 Keystone Assault/Women’s Semi Pro-Assistant Coach (IWFL/WFA)

Head Defensive Line Coach, Defensive Coordinator
- Developed DE for WFA 1^st team All-American Team

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

2006-2008 Central PA Vipers/ Women’s Semi Pro-Player (IWFL/WFA)

Defensive End, Will LB, Fullback, Special Teams
- 2007 Team MVP, Captain-Tied for 5^th in nationwide league (64 teams) for sacks

2004-2006 Harrisburg Angels/ Women’s Semi Pro-Player (NWFA)

Defensive End, Will LB, Fullback, Special Teams

COACHING REFERENCES-Contact Information furnished on request

MENS SEMI-PRO

Coach Shawn Penn, DMV Elite (HC)
Coach Ron Kerr, Central Penn Piranha (HC), Shippensburg University (OL), Dickinson College (OL)
Coach Tom Laubach, Central Penn Piranha, Head Coach, OC/DC, Valley Forge Military Academy
Coach Charles McGriff, Central Penn Piranha (DC), DMV Elite (DC)

NAL/AIF/MIFL-MENS ARENA

Coach Chris Thompson, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (HC/OC)
Coach Ken Miller, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks-AIF (OL)
Coach Robert Kohler, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks-AIF (DC)
Coach Andre Coles, Central Penn Capitals-AIF (HC)
Coach Archie Smith, Central Penn Capitals-AIF (DC)
Coach Rick Marsilio, Bishop McDevitt HS (QB), Harrisburg Stampede (HC), York Capitals (HC), Central Penn Capitals-AIF (HC)
Coach Jake Minnich, Shippensburg University (OL), York Capitals (OL), Central Penn Capitals-AIF (OL)
Coach Reggie McAvoy-Shipp-River City Thunder-Arena MIFL (HC)

WFA/IFL-WOMEN’S SEMI-PRO

Coach Mark Ring, San Diego Surge Women’s Semi-Pro (OL/ST Coordinator), Former-Nat’l City Bears (HC)-Men’s Semi-Pro
Coach Mike Ochmanowicz-Former Keystone Assault Women’s Semi-Pro (HC), Former-Red Land HS (OC), Former Philadelphia Phantomz Womens Semi-Pro (HC)
Coach Michael Suggett, San Diego Surge (HC)

PIAA HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Joe Headen, Susquehanna Township HS (HC)
Coach Eric Ramsay, Susquehanna Township HS (OC)
Coach Rick Pierce, Susquehanna Township HS (Head DLine)

SUMMER CAMP-Paulsboro, NJ

Coach Kevin Ross, Arizona Cardinals-NFL (Cornerbacks)*

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