# First impressions of each UFL coaching staff

- Author: Greg Parks
- Published: 2026-02-26T15:59:22Z
- Updated: 2026-03-09T16:03:58Z
- Categories: UFL (ufl)
- Canonical URL: https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/one-thought-on-each-ufl-coaching-staff

The beginning of 2026 UFL training camps brought about the announcement of full coaching staffs for each team on Monday. Here are those staffs, along with first impressions on each.

**Birmingham Stallions**

*Head Coach: A.J. McCarron*

*Offensive Coordinator: Tyler Siskey*

*Running Backs: Todd Watson*

*Receivers/Tight Ends: Cody Latimer*

*Offensive Line: Mike Goff*

*Defensive Coordinator: Kevin Sherrer*

*Defensive Line: Damion Square*

*Linebackers: Daric Riley*

*Defensive Backs: Travis Pearson*

McCarron put together a staff with a lot of ties to the state of Alabama, including Siskey, Watson, Sherrer, Square, Riley and Pearson It should be no surprise given McCarron's own relationship and name recognition there through his play at the University of Alabama. Siskey, an outside-the-box hire, was at Bama when McCarron was there and is more known today as a podcast co-host. Both Siskey and McCarron have offensive backgrounds, but neither have called plays anywhere near this level so it will be interesting to see how that process plays out. Latimer helped out with San Antonio last year when they found themselves in a coaching crisis. Riley is the only holdover from the Skip Holtz era, now in his fourth season coaching linebackers for the team. It's a solid mix of experience and youth on the staff. Expect a lot of influence from the Nick Saban era of UA.

**Columbus Aviators**

*Head Coach: Ted Ginn Jr.*

*Offensive Coordinator: Todd Haley*

*Running Backs/Tight Ends: Bob Saunders*

*Receivers: Jordan Overton*

*Offensive Line: Ronnie Vinklarek*

*Defensive Coordinator: Captain Munnerlyn*

*Defensive Line: Curtis Terry Sr.*

*Linebackers/Special Teams: Larry Grant*

*Defensive Backs: Rasul Spain*

The dichotomy in Ginn's coordinators is striking, with Haley, a longtime coach at the NFL level and multi-time offensive boss, teaming with Munnerlyn, whose only coaching experience has been at the high school level. Saunders coached in the original UFL as well as XFL 2020 with the Defenders and in the USFL in 2022 and 2023. He also coached under Haley with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and was Haley's coordinator with the Tampa Bay Bandits in 2022. Grant, a noted special teamer in the NFL, and Ginn's paths crossed at Ohio State. Vinklarek was also with the XFL in 2020 and resigned as head coach of the San Antonio Toros of the new Continental Football League to take this job. Spain has a relationship with Ginn, helping him coach at Ginn's football camps. Terry is an Ohio native and another former Buckeye on staff.

**Dallas Renegades**

*Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel*

*Offensive Coordinator: Noel Mazzone*

*Running Backs/Special Teams: Chris Reinart*

*Tight Ends/Special Teams: Scott Spurrier*

*Offensive Line: Xavier Su'a-Filo*

*Defensive Coordinator: Mike Gillhamer*

*Defensive Line: Brian Baker*

*Inside Linebackers: Tim Hundley*

*Outside Linebackers: Kevin Wolthausen*

Dallas features a unique coaching set-up: Two coaches for special teams and two coaches for linebackers, but none for defensive backs. Gillhamer's background is as a defensive backs coach in college and the NFL, so he may end up leading that group as well. Mazzone stepped in early in the season for Memphis last year calling plays for that team when Ken Whisenhunt left. They had to install a brand-new offense in a short amount of time, an experience that will help Mazzone do the same here with the UFL's relatively short training camp. Baker joins Mazzone in moving over from the Showboats. Spurrier, son of legendary college coach Steve Spurrier, has coached on the Renegades for all five seasons the team has existed. Hundley was Neuheisel's defensive coordinator when the two were at the University of Washington at the turn of the century. Hundley, Gillhamer and Reinart were also on Neuheisel's staff in the AAF with the Arizona Hotshots in 2019. This is a much more experienced group of coaches than maybe any other in the league, no surprise for a veteran of the coaching wars in Neuheisel. Su'a-Filo is the only one making his first foray into coaching.

**D.C. Defenders**

*Head coach: Shannon Harris*

*Offensive Coordinator: Fred Kaiss*

*Quarterbacks: David Johnson*

*Receivers: Andre Simmons*

*Offensive Line: Brian Braswell*

*Defensive Coordinator: Blake Williams*

*Linebackers/Special Teams: Jerod Kruse*

*Defensive Backs: Vernon Dean*

Just like D.C.'s roster features more holdovers than any other heading into 2026, so too do does their coaching staff. If Kaiss were in the NFL, he'd be the third-longest-tenured offensive coordinator in that league as he now enters his fourth year leading that side of the ball for D.C. He'll also likely coach the running backs again. Braswell was a late addition last year, coming in for the departed Cody Crill, who left in March for the college ranks. Braswell came from nearby University of Maryland and was OL coach for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020. Williams returns to head the defense after taking over for his father early last year. Kruse is the only new face, though he coached with Harris at Tennessee State last year. Each team is allotted eight assistants, so there is one more open spot, perhaps for a defensive line coach if Williams doesn't also handle that (maybe his dad Gregg will return - he was one of several coaches [fired](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/gregg-williams-fired-as-defensive-coordinator-at-tennessee-state-football/ar-AA1UhUGv)by former Defenders boss Reggie Barlow at Tennessee State in January). Like Kaiss, Dean is in his fourth year with D.C.

**Houston Gamblers**

*Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin*

*Offensive Coordinator: Eric Price*

*Running Backs: K.C. Gundy*

*Receivers: Tyron Carrier*

*Offensive Line: Tim Holt*

*Defensive Coordinator: Marvin Sanders*

*Special Teams/Linebackers: Grant Dickerson*

*Safeties: Ted Bolin*

Price double-dipped last year as offensive coordinator of the Roughnecks in the spring, then in the fall joined the University of Montana as an analyst. The familiarity Price will already have with several Houston offensive players, including QB [Nolan Henderson](https://uflnewshub.com/player/nolan-henderson-32151), will help ease the transition to an otherwise brand-new staff. Holt had success building and maintaining a winning offensive line for the Michigan Panthers over the last three seasons. Like Price, Sanders is a coordinator well-versed in spring football, from the Bob Stoops tree with the Renegades. Though he was not listed on the coaches roster, stories on Bolin's 2025 hiring by Lock Haven cite him working for the Renegades (and Sanders) last season, where he "[coached the linebackers and helped with roster maintenance and development.](https://www.sungazette.com/sports/local-sports/2025/08/lhu-lands-ted-bolin-as-an-assistant-coach/)" Dickerson was at the University of Maryland when Sumlin was there as Assistant Head Coach. Look for the team to add a defensive line coach somewhere along the way with an extra spot open on staff. Somewhat interestingly, Sumlin's coaches are all new from his 2022 stint as Gamblers head coach.

**Louisville Kings**

*Head Coach: Chris Redman*

*Offensive Coordinator: Steve Logan*

*Receivers: Tony Banks*

*Tight Ends: Jeff Jagodzinski*

*Offensive Line: Breno Giacomini*

*Defensive Coordinator: Jamie Sharper*

*Linebackers: Brad Jackson*

*Defensive Backs: Chris McAlister*

Louisville doesn't have a position coach for the defensive line, running backs, special teams or quarterbacks, yet they have just one spot left for a hire. Redman or Logan could handle QBs; with it being Redman's first head coaching job, the less on his plate, the better. It's a championship staff as Redman brought in former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl-winning teammates in Banks, Sharper, Jackson and McAlister, many of whom are coaching at this level for the first time. Banks, a former QB, is coaching receivers. Sharper has played and coached under elite defensive minds like Ray Rhodes, Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Gregg Williams. It will be interesting to see what influences he most leans on as he calls defenses for the first time. Jagodzinski and Logan are the old hats and their experience will be needed on an otherwise novice staff.

**Orlando Storm**

*Head Coach: Anthony Becht*

*Co-Offensive Coordinator/Receivers: Colin Thompson*

*Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line: Marc Colombo*

*Quarterbacks: Jordan Kitna*

*Running Backs: Art Valero*

*Defensive Coordinator: Donnie Abraham*

*Defensive Line: La'Roi Glover*

*Linebackers: Mike Phair*

Orlando's coaching staff was thrown for a loop just before camp began when offensive coordinator Kyle Caskey was hired by the Minnesota Vikings. Thompson and Colombo will now share coordinator duties though it's unclear who will call plays on game day. It's nothing new for Becht, who lost offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski to the NFL around the same time last year. Just as he brought over several players from St. Louis, four of Becht's coaches have been with the Battlehawks in recent years. Valero returns after a year away, as he coached RBs in 2023. Kitna is the son of former NFL QB Jon Kitna, getting his coaching start. Phair is a longtime NFL defensive assistant who comes to Orlando from a head coaching stint in Japan. Thompson, a former tight end, played for the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL in 2020, and hung up his cleats for good after a shot with the Vikings in 2023.

**St. Louis Battlehawks**

*Head Coach: Ricky Proehl*

*Offensive Coordinator: A.J. Smith*

*Running Backs: John Estes*

*Receivers: Austin Proehl*

*Offensive Line/Tight Ends: Todd Washington*

*Defensive Coordinator: Corey Chamblin*

*Defensive Line: Jeff Zgonina*

*Linebackers: Will Reed*

*Special Teams: Frank Gansz Jr.*

The only team with a dedicated special teams coach, Gansz Jr. is a second-generation ST coordinator and has coached in college and at various pro levels over the years. Smith was hired to lead the offense and has been a staple of spring football for the last half-decade. Ricky coached his son on the Battlehawks in 2023 and now Austin joins him on staff as a position coach. Estes coached with Smith on the Roughnecks in 2023. Zgonina and Washington have both coached in the NFL. Reed was the DC of the San Antonio Brahmas the last two years, with mixed results. He'll reunite with former Brahmas [Jordan Williams](https://uflnewshub.com/player/jordan-williams-28747) and [Tariq Carpenter](https://uflnewshub.com/player/tariq-carpenter-33126) at the position. Chamblin coordinated one of the top defenses in the league last year for Birmingham. This is an impressive staff that Proehl has put together for his first time as head coach.

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