USA Football announced members of three advisory councils to provide the organization leadership and assistance in its efforts to create, maintain and deliver resources and support to youth football leagues and coaches. Coach, Education and League Leadership advisory councils are intended to advance USA Football’s work across grassroots levels of the sport.

USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, designs and delivers educational, developmental and competitive programs to grow the game.

“For the good of young athletes, we are committed to reimagining how our sport is played, taught and experienced,” said USA Football Executive Director and CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “All of our council members – many of whom are youth sports parents – are united by a selfless commitment to our children and personify an inspired, athlete-focused mission.”

USA Football’s Education Advisory Council will advise on the best methods and strategies to implement education and curriculum spanning early childhood through adult learning. Members of the Coach Advisory and League Leadership Advisory councils will assist in the development of programs, resources and support for coaches and youth league commissioners, providing input on meeting the needs of volunteers across all demographics.

More than 700,000 USA Football Youth Coach Certifications have been completed in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and 10 foreign countries across four continents since 2012. In addition, USA Football has conducted more than 1,300 in-person coaching clinics for nearly 50,000 volunteer coaches from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries since 2010. USA Football was the first U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee member organization to earn the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Youth Sports Safety Ambassador Award in 2016 for its commitment to safer and smarter play.

Coach Advisory Council

  • Jamal Bacon, Youth Coach & Flag Director, Williamsville Jr. Football & Cheerleading, NY
  • Eric Bennett, Head Football Coach & Athletic Director, Saranac Lake, NY, Central School District
  • Mike Canchola, Youth Coach & President, Oregon City, OR, Youth Football Association
  • Chris Coffman, Youth Coach, Zionsville, IN, Youth Football League
  • Kate Decker, Owner & Director, Institute of Athletic Movement, TN
  • Jeremy Frisch, Youth Coach & Owner, Achieve Performance Training, MA
  • Scott Groth, Youth Coach & Board Member, Metro Youth Football Association, IO
  • Cory Moore, Head Football Coach, Lakewood High School, FL
  • Ed Roldan, Youth Coach & Board Member, Southeast Bronx, NY, Youth Coalition
  • Chris Seay, Youth Coach & Board Member, Thomas County, GA, All Stars Academy
  • David Walker, Commissioner & Founder, Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network, MS

Education Advisory Council

  • Donald Davis, Head Coach & Teacher, Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.) Nadine Dubina, Associate Director of Coach Development United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
  • Carla Garrett, Director of Operations, Southwest Virginia American Youth Football
  • Ken Martel, American Development Model (ADM) Technical Director, USA Hockey
  • Dr. Paul Roetert, Managing Director, United States Tennis Association
  • Ed Roldan, Youth Coach & Board Member, Southeast Bronx, NY, Youth Coalition
  • Audrey Shaw, TrueSport Outreach & Education Program Lead, United States Anti-Doping Agency
  • Dr. Mark Urtel, Dept. of Kinesiology Chair & Associate Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

League Leadership Advisory Council

  • Bill Blair, Commissioner, New Mexico Young America Football League
  • Jeremiah Davis, Defensive Coordinator, Westfield High School, VA
  • Toi Debose, Athletic Director, Fort Bend Youth Football League, TX
  • Rich Dixon, Athletics Manager, Greenville County, SC, Rec
  • Terry Donovan, Offensive Coordinator, Kasson-Mantorville, MN, High School
  • Karly Frey, Commissioner, Dane County, WI, Area Youth Football League
  • Carla Garrett, Director of Operations, Southwest Virginia American Youth Football
  • Tom Goodwin, Region Director, Mid-South Pop Warner, NC
  • Karalyn Stott, Program Manager, Move United
  • Russ Yeager, Commissioner, New Jersey Suburban Youth Football League

Photo courtesy USA Football