Medal of Honor Bowl - South Carolina's Premier College Football Bowl Game
Charleston, South Carolina
January, 2018
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All posts tagged American Team Coaches

December 31, 2014
Travis Jervey, Chris Doleman, and Eddie Seigler
Travis Jervey, NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman Added as Assistant Coaches for the MOH Bowl’s American Team

CHARLESTON, SC – The Citadel’s Travis Jervey, a member of the 1996 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, and NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman have been added as coaches for the Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team.

Jervey will join Coach Willie Jeffries’ staff as the special teams coach while Doleman will coach the linebackers. Doleman replaces Elvin Bethea, who had to withdraw from the game because of the health of a family member.

Also, former Clemson kicker Eddie Seigler will serve as the kicking coach for both squads.

The Medal of Honor Bowl, which will be televised live nationally by the NBC Sports Network, is a premier all-star game the features the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL Draft. The game honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, disabled veterans and wounded warriors.

Jervey, a Lowcountry resident, was a running back who played scholastically at Wando High School and collegiately at The Citadel. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1995 draft (170th pick overall).
A popular player in Green Bay, Jervey in 1997, was the first Packers’ player ever to make the Pro Bowl for his play on special teams. He is perhaps best known for his 1998 season with Green Bay, in which he started a career high five games before suffering a season-ending broken ankle on “Monday Night Football.”

Jervey was named to the Pro Bowl in 1997 and was part of the Packers’ 1996 team that won the Super Bowl, becoming the first Citadel player ever to own a Super Bowl ring. Jervey was enshrined in The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

While at The Citadel, Jervey ranked third in the Southern Conference in rushing and sixth in scoring in 1994, and was named second team All-SoCon by both the coaches and media. For his career, he rushed for 1,490 yards.

Doleman was drafted as a linebacker out of the University of Pittsburgh by the Minnesota Vikings as the fourth player overall in the 1985 NFL Draft and two years later unleashed his great pass-rushing ability when he recorded a team-high 11 sacks in 1987. It marked the first of six sack titles with the Vikings. For his efforts he was named All-Pro, All-NFC and voted to his first Pro Bowl.

His finest season came two years later in 1989 when he led the NFL with 21 sacks, just one shy of the single-season record at the time. In 1992, he was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Year after he led the Vikings with 14.5 sacks, had 64 tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown, forced six fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and had a safety.

After nine seasons with Minnesota, Doleman was dealt to the Atlanta Falcons in 1994. He spent two seasons with Atlanta before signing with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in 1996. Doleman played three seasons in San Francisco before returning for one final year with the Vikings in 1999. He retired as the fourth-ranked sack leader of all-time with 150.5 and was tied for third in the NFL Record Book with eight seasons in which he recorded 10 or more sacks.
Aside from leading the Vikings in sacks six times, Doleman was also the Falcons’ leading sacker in 1995 and led the 49ers with 15 sacks in 1998. Doleman was extremely durable as evidenced by him missing a mere two games due to injury during his 15-season, 232-game NFL career. In all, he was named to eight Pro Bowls, six with the Vikings and once each as a member of the Falcons and the 49ers. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1987, 1989, and 1992 and first-team All-NFC four times. Doleman is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s. He was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 2012.

Seigler, a former Clemson Tigers kicker who was reared in Greenwood, will be the kicking coach for both teams. Currently the president of Edgar B. Heape & Son Inc. in Greenville, Seigler is best known as Clemson’s first “soccer-style” kicker who booted a 52-yard field goal to lead Clemson to a 17-7 win over the South Carolina Game­cocks in 1971 in Columbia. It was the first field goal of at least 50 yards in Clemson history.

Tickets, which range from $15-$40, may be secured at the Medal of Honor Bowl Game’s dedicated website www.MOHbowl.com. They will also be available at The Citadel Athletic Ticket Office at 843/953-DOGS (3647).

For more information, please refer to Twitter: @MOHbowl and Facebook.com/MOHbowl

Chris Doleman
Chris Doleman
1985-93 Minnesota Vikings
1994-95 Atlanta Falcons
1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
1999 Minnesota Vikings

 
 

Travis Jervey
Travis Jervey
1995-98 Green Bay Packers
1999-00 San Francisco 49ers
2001-03 Atlanta Falcons

 
 
 
 

Eddie Seigler
Eddie Seigler

Coaches, News, Press Release American Team Coaches, Johnson Hagood Stadium, MOH Bowl No Comments
December 10, 2014
Elvin Bethea
NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea to Coach in Medal of Honor Bowl Game

CHARLESTON, SC – Willie Jeffries, head coach of the 2nd Annual Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team, has announced that NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea will assist him as the linebackers coach.

Set for 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game the features the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL Draft. The game, which will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network, honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, disabled veterans and wounded warriors.

During his Hall of Fame career where he played for the Houston Oilers from 1968-83, Bethea played in 210 games, including a stretch of 135 consecutive. He played defensive end and guard in the 1968 season and didn’t miss a game until breaking his arm in a contest against the Oakland Raiders in 1977. He led the team in sacks six times, finishing his career with 105 unofficial sacks.

His career high was in 1973 with 16 sacks, which still ranks as the best in Oilers/Tennessee Titans history, a feat made more remarkable by the Oilers’ 1-13 record. He also had 14½ sacks in 1969. Other notable seasons in terms of sacks were: 1970 and 1971 with 10½ sacks in each, 1975 with 10 and 1978 with eight. He played in the AFC Championship game in 1978 and 1979.

In 1975 Bethea, a native of Trenton, NJ, was named All-Pro by College and Pro Football Newsweekly, the only time Bethea was a first-team All-Pro in his 16-year career. He was second-team All-Pro in 1969, 1973, 1978 and 1979 to go with his eight Pro Bowl selections.

A former standout at North Carolina A&T University where he was coached by then-assistant Willie Jeffries, Bethea was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and was officially inducted during the Enshrinement Ceremony on August 3, 2003. In 2005 Bethea was inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The Houston Oilers also retired his No. 65 jersey.

Tickets for the Medal of Honor Bowl can be purchased now online at MOHBowl.com, or The Citadel ticket office in McAlister Field House (843/953-DOGS {3647}).

For news surrounding the game, follow @MOHbowl on Twitter and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MOHbowl

Elvin Bethea
Elvin Bethea

1968-83 Houston Oilers

Coaches, Press Release American Team Coaches, MOH Bowl No Comments
December 8, 2014
Rusty to coach American Team’s offensive line while son Paul guides running backs
Father-Son Tandem of Rusty & Paul Hamilton to Serve as Assistant Coaches for the Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team

CHARLESTON, SC – Willie Jeffries, head coach of the 2nd Annual Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team, has announced that Rusty and Paul Hamilton will assist him on the offensive side.

Specifically, Rusty Hamilton will guide the offensive line while his son, Paul, currently the head coach at Brevard College (NC), will coach the running backs.

Jeffries had announced previously that Cam Turner of Florida International University would serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the quarterbacks while defensively, former VMI coach Cal McCombs will be the defensive coordinator.

Set for 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game the features the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL Draft. The game honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, disabled veterans and wounded warriors.

Paul Hamilton recently completed his 33rd year coaching collegiate football at both the Division I and Division II levels, with 17 years of experience as a head coach. He recently finished his eighth year as the head coach at Brevard.

He began his collegiate football coaching career at The Citadel in 1982 where he coached the receivers. He then moved to East Tennessee State where he guided the receivers in 1983 before coaching the quarterbacks in 1984-85, in addition to calling the offensive plays in 1986-1987. Hamilton became offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Mike Ayers at Wofford in 1988-89.

From 1990-96, Hamilton moved to the United States Air Force Academy as quarterbacks coach under Fisher DeBerry. During his last three seasons with the Falcons, he also called the offensive plays.

Hamilton moved on to become the head football coach at ETSU in 1997. During his seven years there, he became third on the all-time win list, along with the most Southern Conference wins of any head football coach in Buccaneer history. He then moved on to become the head coach at Elon in 2004-05. In his first season as head coach he guided the Phoenix to two Southern Conference victories, a first in the school’s young history as a conference member.

After returning to the Air Force Academy in 2006, Hamilton became the head football coach at Brevard College in 2007. He has guided the Tornados from a start-up football program to Division II status, along with becoming members of the South Atlantic Conference. He led the program in 2009 to a 7-4 record in only the third year of playing a full-time schedule.

Hamilton graduated in 1981 from Appalachian State University where he lettered for three years as a quarterback under DeBerry. The Charleston native was an All-State quarterback at Fort Johnson High and earned his master’s degree in secondary education from The Citadel in 1986.

Rusty Hamilton, a native Charlestonian, served as an assistant coach for last year’s inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl and returns this year.

A longtime assistant, Hamilton has coached with the likes of former Citadel coaches Red Parker, Bobby Ross, Frank Beamer, Ralph Friedgen, Cal McCombs, Jimmye Laycock, Furman coach Bob King and the legendary John McKissick.

A standout quarterback at Charleston High School, Hamilton graduated from Florida State in 1963. He began his coaching career at Florida High School – which was on the Florida State campus – before returning home and coaching football, wrestling and track at St. Andrews High for five seasons. He became the Rocks’ defensive coordinator and helped lead the team to the 1967 State Championship game. During his time at St. Andrews, he was one of the founders of high school wrestling in South Carolina. He won two state wrestling championships and was twice named South Carolina Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was later inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

After spending the 1969 season as a graduate assistant football coach under Bob King at Furman, he began an eight-year run at The Citadel. While at The Citadel, Hamilton was the offensive line coach and also worked with the receivers.

From 1978-92, Rusty Hamilton left the coaching ranks to work in the family business but returned to the field in 1993-94 where he coached at Cainhoy High with Larry Sechrist. He joined John McKissick’s staff at Summerville High in 1994. In 1997, the Green Wave won the state title with Hamilton guiding the offensive line.

Tickets for the Medal of Honor Bowl can be purchased now online at MOHBowl.com, or in person at The Citadel ticket office in McAlister Field House beginning Dec. 9.

For news surrounding the game, follow @MOHbowl on Twitter and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MOHbowl

Paul Hamilton
Paul Hamilton

1982 The Citadel (Receivers)
1983 East Tennessee State (Receivers)
1984-87 East Tennessee State (Quarterbacks)
1988-89 Wofford (Quarterbacks- Offensive Coordinator)
1990-96 Air Force (Quarterbacks)
1997-03 East Tennessee State (Head Coach)
2004-05 Elon (Head Coach)
2006 Air Force (Fullbacks)
2007-present Brevard (Head Coach)

Rusty Hamilton
Rusty Hamilton

1962-63 Florida High School
1964-68 St. Andrews High (Defensive Coordinator)
1969 Furman University (Wide Receivers; Freshman Coach)
1970-77 The Citadel (Offensive Line for 7 years; Receivers for 1 year)
1978-92 Participated in family business
1993-94 Cainhoy High (Defensive Coordinator)
1994-04 Summerville High (Offensive Line for 7 years; Receivers for 2 years)

Coaches, Press Release American Team Coaches, MOH Bowl No Comments
December 3, 2014
American Team Coaches
Two Former Major College Head Coaches to Serve as Assistants for the Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team

CHARLESTON, SC – Willie Jeffries, head coach of the 2nd Annual Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team, has announced that two former major college head coaches will assist him.

Former Air Force Academy head coach Fisher DeBerry and Vanderbilt’s Bobby Johnson will join Jeffries’ defensive staff. DeBerry will guide the defensive linemen and Johnson will handle the defensive backs and special teams. DeBerry and Johnson coached in the inaugural game in 2014.

Jeffries previously announced that former VMI head coach Cal McCombs, will serve as the defensive coordinator. McCombs doubles as the bowl game’s director of player personnel.

Set for 2:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game the features the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL Draft. The game honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, disabled veterans and wounded warriors.

DeBerry, a native of Cheraw who earned letters in four sports while at Wofford, served as the head football coach at the Air Force Academy from 1984 to 2006, and compiled a record of 169–109–1. He led 17 of his 23 Falcons squads to winning records and 12 captured a bowl game bid. Three times his teams won the Western Athletic Conference title, in 1985, 1995, and 1998, and retired with the most wins and highest winning percentage (.608) in Air Force football history.

After the 1985 season in which the Falcons finished 12-1 and captured the Bluebonnet Bowl, DeBerry received the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award as the NCAA’s college football’s coach of the year. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011.

DeBerry has also been awarded the State Farm Coach of Distinction award in 2001, and was enshrined in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Wofford, his alma mater, where he played flanker, defensive back and linebacker, and graduated in 1960.

Active in the American Football Coaches Association, where he served as president in 1996, DeBerry served on the AFCA’s ethics committee.

Johnson most recently was the head football coach at Vanderbilt University, a position he held from the 2002 season until his retirement in 2010. In December 2001, Johnson became the Commodores’ head coach after leading Furman University to the Division I-AA national championship game. He coached the Paladins from 1994–2001 and led the team to a 60–36 overall record during his eight years. Prior to his hiring at Furman, Johnson was the defensive coordinator at Clemson.

In 2008, Johnson led Vanderbilt to its first winning season since 1982, as his team went 7–6 with a 16–14 win over Boston College in the Music City Bowl, Vanderbilt’s first bowl victory since 1955 and only their second in school history. That season Johnson was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year sharing that honor with Nick Saban of Alabama and Houston Nutt of Ole Miss.

His tenure at Vanderbilt was lauded for bringing a resurgence to a team that had long been dominated by its fellow members of the SEC, notably guiding the Commodores to their first bowl game win in 53 years and snapping a 22-game losing streak to rival Tennessee.

Johnson graduated from Clemson in 1973, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in management, before earning his master’s degree in education from Furman in 1979.

For news surrounding the game, follow @MOHbowl on Twitter and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MOHbowl

Coaches, Press Release American Team Coaches, Defensive Coordinator, MOH Bowl No Comments
September 30, 2014
Coach Willie Jeffries
Hall of Famer Willie Jeffries to Guide Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team

Popular Former South Carolina State Head Coach Returns to Lowcountry to Coach

CHARLESTON, SC

Hall of Fame coach Willie Jeffries, the former South Carolina State, Wichita State and Howard head coach, will guide the American Team for the 2nd Annual Medal of Honor Bowl, which will be played on January 10, 2015, at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium.

“The Medal of Honor Bowl is privileged to have Hall of Famer and living legend Willie Jeffries coach the American Team,” said Medal of Honor Bowl Chairman Tom McQueeney. “Coach Jeffries has demonstrated throughout an amazing career his passion for the game and his abilities on the sideline. His team will certainly enjoy playing for him. His engaging personality will make every player and NFL scout feel special as part of our game.”

Jeffries, a native South Carolinian, replaces new Rutgers University Offensive Coordinator Ralph Friedgen, who guided the American Team in the Bowl’s inaugural year in 2014 to a 20-3 victory. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Chan Gailey was previously announced as returning to guide the National Team.

In his 29-year coaching career, Jeffries compiled a 179-132-6 record. He coached for 19 years at his alma mater, South Carolina State University, another five years at Wichita State and five years at Howard University. Jeffries is the winningest coach in the 107-year history of SCSU and in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Jeffries grew up in Union, SC, and started his coaching career in 1960 as an assistant at Barr Street High in Lancaster. He followed at Granard High in Gaffney, where he went 64-8-2 in seven seasons.

His record during his two stints with South Carolina State (1973-78 and 1989-01), include three Black National Championships, seven MEAC championships, several post-season appearances in the Division I-AA playoffs and the Heritage Bowl. He received numerous coaching awards and produced many future NFL players to include Harry Carson, Donnie Shell, Robert Porcher, Orlando Brown, Jumpy Geathers, Chartric Darby, Dexter Clinkscale, David Norman and Anthony Cook.

In 2010, Jeffries was named Head Football Coach Emeritus by the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees. In that role, he serves as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents and also helps market the university.

When Jeffries took over Wichita State in 1979, he became the first African-American to coach a Division I-A University. He is the only man to coach against both Eddie Robinson of Grambling State University and Paul “Bear” Bryant of the University of Alabama.

Coach Jeffries has been recognized with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in the state. He also was presented with the Order of the Silver Crescent, which is awarded to those who make community or professional accomplishments of local significance.

A proud member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, Coach Jeffries was also inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Coach Willie Jeffries
Coach Willie Jeffries (Year-by-Year as Head Coach)
1973-78 South Carolina State
1979-83 Wichita State
1984-88 Howard
1989-01 South Carolina State

For player confirmations and news surrounding the game, follow @MOHbowl on Twitter and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MOHbowl

About the Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is America’s highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States in the name of Congress to US military personnel only. There are three versions of the medal, one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air Force. Personnel of the Marine Corps and Coast Guardreceive the Navy version.

Coaches, Press Release American Team Coaches No Comments
December 6, 2013
Friedgen Adds Bobby Johnson, Eric Moulds and Rusty Hamilton as Assistant Coaches

CHARLESTON, SC – Ralph Friedgen, head coach of the Inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team, has announced that former Vanderbilt and Furman head coach Bobby Johnson, former all-Pro wide receiver Eric Moulds and local longtime coach Rusty Hamilton will serve as assistant coaches.

Set for 2 pm on Saturday, January 11 at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game featuring the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL draft. The game honors the Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Getting Bobby Johnson, Eric Moulds and Rusty Hamilton brings immeasurable mentorship and football knowledge to the great players that will be in this game,” Friedgen remarked. “We feel we have an amazing staff in place now and the fans are going to enjoy seeing very familiar faces on the sidelines.”

“What a great opportunity to be a part of this game! I look forward to coaching these young men and especially the full experience that only a bowl week can provide,” said Johnson. It’s an exciting event that honors our military at every level.”

Johnson most recently was the head football coach at Vanderbilt University, a position he held from the 2002 season until his retirement in 2010. In December 2001, Johnson became the Commodores’ head coach after leading Furman University to the Division I-AA national championship game. He coached the Paladins from 1994–2001, led the team to a 60–36 overall record during his eight years. Prior to his hiring at Furman, Johnson was the defensive coordinator at Clemson. In 2008, Johnson led Vanderbilt to its first winning season since 1982. His team went 7–6 with a 16–14 win over Boston College in the Music City Bowl, Vanderbilt’s first bowl victory since 1955 and only their second in school history. That season Johnson was named SEC Coach of the Year sharing that honor with Nick Saban of Alabama and Houston Nutt of Ole Miss.

His tenure at Vanderbilt was lauded for bringing a resurgence to a team that had long been dominated by its fellow members of the Southeastern Conference, notably guiding the Commodores to their first bowl game win in 53 years and snapping a 22-game losing streak to rival Tennessee.

Johnson graduated from Clemson in 1973, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in management, before earning his master’s degree in education from Furman in 1979. He currently lives on the Isle of Palms with his wife, Catherine.

Moulds, who earned Pro Bowl accolades three times, will serve as the wide receivers coach.

Moulds, who starred at Mississippi State where he caught 117 passes for 2,022 yards (averaging 17.1 per catch), was the 1994 NCAA kickoff return champion with a 32.8 yards/return average. For his professional career, Moulds played for the Buffalo Bills (1996–05), Houston Texans (2006), and Tennessee Titans (2007).

He was the Bills’ first round draft pick (24th overall) in 1996, and for his first two seasons, Moulds was on the depth chart behind receivers Andre Reed and Quinn Early. He had his breakout season in ‘98, where set a single-season team record with 1,368 receiving yards, a total that led the AFC and was second in the league. Moulds also owns the Bills’ second-highest single-season total, with 1,326 in 2002, and his 20.4 yards per catch was second in the NFL in 1998.

In his eight seasons as the number one receiver for the Bills (1998-05), Moulds had 626 receptions for 8,523 yards, an average of 78.25 catches and 1,065 yards per season. Moulds’s yardage was the seventh-most in the NFL over that span.

In 2002, Moulds became the first player in Bills history to log 100 receptions in a single season.

Moulds established himself as one of the premier receivers in football in the late 1990s and early 2000s, amassing 675 career receptions and being selected to three Pro Bowls (1998, 2000 and 2002). He was named to the Bills’ 50th Anniversary Team

Hamilton, a native Charlestonian, also served as an assistant coach at The Citadel under Red Parker, Bobby Ross and Art Baker. He coached with Friedgen during Friedgen’s first fulltime assistant role in 1973.

“I’ve known Ralph for so many years and am quite honored that he would have me help,” Hamilton stated. “I have always loved the game and to get the chance to coach and prepare some of the best players in college is a challenge I enjoy.”

Friedgen has already announced that former Air Force Academy head coach Fisher DeBerry and former VMI head coach Cal McCombs would be part of his staff.

Previously, the Medal of Honor Bowl Game announced that Chan Gailey, former head coach at the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Georgia Tech, would guide the National Team. Gailey’s full staff will be announced soon.

Tickets may be secured at the Medal of Honor Bowl Game’s dedicated website www.MOHbowl.com. They will also be available at www.Etix.com and charge by phone at 800/514-ETIX (3849).

For more information, please refer to www.mohbowl.com, Twitter: @MOHbowl and Facebook.com/MOHbowl

— Medal of Honor Bowl—

Coach Bobby Johnson
Coach Bobby Johnson
Coach Eric Moulds as a Houston Texan
Eric Moulds as a Houston Texan
Coaches, Press Release American Team Coaches, coaches 1 Comment
December 6, 2013
Friedgen Adds Fisher DeBerry, CalMcCombs as Assistant Coaches

Former head coaches at Air Force and VMI to help coach American Team’s defense

CHARLESTON, SC – Ralph Friedgen, head coach of the Inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl’s American Team, has announced that former Air Force Academy head coach Fisher DeBerry and former VMI head coach Cal McCombs will serve as defensive assistant coaches.

Set for 2 pm on Saturday, January 11 at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Medal of Honor Bowl is a premier all-star game featuring the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players as projected for the NFL draft. The game honors the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and the game’s beneficiaries, the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Having a Hall of Fame coach like Fisher DeBerry next to you is humbling,” said Friedgen. “He’s proven himself to be the best of the best in his career.

“I know that these players will benefit from his knowledge, insight, and motivation,” Friedgen added. “And to get Cal McCombs, whom I’ve coached with and who Fisher has coached with for so many years is very special as well.”

“I am happy to be a part of this inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl,” DeBerry stated. “I really look forward to being on the field with one of my former defensive coordinators and former VMI head coach and Citadel graduate Cal McCombs. It will be fun to coach with these great coaches and friends that have been asked to participate in the game. And this game is for such a great cause.”

DeBerry, a native of Cheraw, served as the head football coach at the Air Force Academy from 1984-06, and compiled a record of 169–109–1. He led 17 of his 23 Falcons squads to winning records and 12 captured a bowl game bid. Three times his teams won the Western Athletic Conference title (in 1985, ‘95, and ’98), and retired with the most wins and highest winning percentage (.608) in Air Force football history.

After the 1985 season in which the Falcons finished 12-1 and captured the Bluebonnet Bowl over Texas, DeBerry was voted as NCAA’s college football coach of the year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011.

DeBerry has also been awarded the State Farm Coach of Distinction Award in 2001, and was enshrined in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Wofford, his alma mater, where he played flanker, defensive back and linebacker, and graduated in 1960.

Active in the American Football Coaches Association, where he served as president in 1996, DeBerry has also served as Chairman the AFCA’s ethics committee.

DeBerry is retired and currently lives on the Isle of Palms with his wife, LuAnn.

McCombs, a 1967 Citadel graduate and football player, track standout and former assistant coach, worked as an NFL scout for the Denver Broncos after stints at The Citadel, the US Air Force Academy and VMI. A native South Carolinian, McCombs lives on the Isle of Palms with his wife Lynn.

“This should be very competitive football as each of these young men will be interviewing for a job with the NFL,” McCombs said. “Coaching with Ralph Friedgen and Fisher DeBerry for a week is something I would never pass up.”

Friedgen indicated that his staff was nearly completed and the names will soon be released.

Previously, the Medal of Honor Bowl Game announced that Chan Gailey, former head coach at the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Georgia Tech, would guide the National Team.

Tickets may be secured at the Medal of Honor Bowl Game’s dedicated website www.mohbowl.com. They will also be available at www.Etix.com and charge by phone at 800/514-ETIX (3849).

For more information, please refer to www.mohbowl.com, Twitter: @MOHbowl and Facebook.com/MOHbowl

— Medal of Honor Bowl—

Coach Fisher DeBerry
Coach Fisher DeBerry
Coach Cal McCombs
Coach Cal McCombs
Coaches American Team Coaches No Comments
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Shelly Nuttall Gardner

Shelly Nuttall Gardner is the owner/director of WheelHouse Concepts Inc., a firm specializing in strategic sales and events as well as creative project management.
Shelly Nuttall Gardner
Her current projects include:

* The Medal of Honor Bowl, director of Sales and Marketing. Gardner leads the sponsorship team, oversees the production of events as well as generates community and regional awareness and excitement about The Medal of Honor Bowl through advertising and marketing campaigns.

*Taste of Atlanta, director of Restaurants. Gardner works closely with Atlanta area chefs to produce and coordinate the restaurant participation in this festival, which draws 50,000 attendees annually over the 3 day schedule of culinary events.

*The Stray Dog Society, executive director. This member based social organization is for supporters (both graduate or non-graduate) of The Citadel. Gardner runs the membership and sponsorship campaign, as well as plans and executes the Society’s many events including the tailgate parties before each home game and the Annual Homecoming Jamboree to the sell-out crowd of 1500.

Gardner is originally from Charlotte, and is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Before starting WheelHouse Inc , she was a surgical sales representative for Medtronic’s neurosurgery division.

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Andy Solomon

Native Charlestonian Andy Solomon, who handles the media relations for the Medal of Honor Bowl Game, is concluding his 39th year in athletic administration and his 23rd year as an associate athletics director at The Citadel.
Andy Solomon
Having served in marketing, promotions and sports information capacities since joining The Citadel, Solomon now devotes his efforts on special events and coordinating the school’s licensing program. He also produces The Blue & White, the official publication of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, and Today’s Blue & White, a weekly electronic newsletter. 

He is also a Visiting Professor in the school’s Health, Exercise and Sport Science Department and teaches Sports Management courses. He has served as the NCAA representative and tournament director at baseball regionals every year since 2003. Solomon also served a term as president of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and remains active as a member of the Board of Directors.

Solomon was selected as the inaugural Marketer of the Year (1999-2000) for NCAA Division I-AA and I-AAA institutions by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and was named National SID of the Year in 1983 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), becoming the youngest ever to win the award.

In March 2004, Solomon was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and became the third native Charlestonian to be enshrined in a national sports hall of fame, joining Art Shell (NFL) and Beth Daniel (LPGA). In 2009, he was inducted into Winthrop’s Hall of Fame.

Prior to his arrival at The Citadel, Solomon served in athletic administrative positions at College of Charleston (1973-77), Charleston Southern (1977-78), Winthrop (1978-84) and Limestone (1984-88).  He was the public relations manager at Wild Dunes Resort in 1988-89, and serves as a media relations consultant for the Charleston RiverDogs, the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Solomon earned his bachelor’s degree from College of Charleston in 1977 and a master’s from Winthrop.  He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Anna and Addie.

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Tommy McQueeney

W. Thomas ‘Tommy’ McQueeney is the Chairman and Founder of The Medal of Honor Bowl Game, and works closely with our beneficiaries, The National Medal of Honor Museum and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Tommy McQueeny
A native Charleston area businessman with a background in sports development he chaired the Southern Conference Basketball Championships and the Charleston Area Sports Commission twice. McQueeney also chaired the $44.5 million Johnson Hagood Stadium Revitalization, has served on The Citadel’s Board of Visitors, the MUSC Children’s Hospital Board, and the Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum Foundation.

A 2009 recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, he is a local columnist and author.

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Thomas J O'Rourke

Tom O’Rourke is the Executive Director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. Tom’s Agency has been nationally recognized for operating an ever-expanding park system without using tax increases to fund growth.
Tom O'Rourke

Tom has the direct oversight responsibility for over 10,000 acres of parkland consisting of a very diverse offering of parks, programs and services.

Prior to joining Charleston County PRC, Tom was the Director of the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina, and also worked as Manager of the Sports and Recreation Division for Seamon Whiteside and Associates a Landscape Architect and Engineering firm. Tom’s first job was as a high school Athletic Director and Coach.

Currently Tom spends a significant amount of time educating park and recreation professionals. In the past three years he has spoken at 13 different State Association Conferences and has presented sessions at the NRPA Congress for the past 12 years. He is on the Board of Regents at the NRPA Revenue School, The NRPA Directors School and a past member of the Supervisors Managements School Board.

Tom is the Chair of the Clemson University Parks Recreation and Tourism Management Advisory Board, and the Chair of the Charleston Area Sports Commission Board of Directors.

Recreation is his profession, but his passion has always been coaching. Tom currently is the Pole Vault Coach at Hanahan High School.

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Hoyt "Rusty" Holt, Jr.

Hoyt “Rusty” Holt, Jr. serves as the Medal of Honor Bowl’s Operations Director.

Rusty Holt

Having recently retired from a successful insurance career at New York Life, Holt is an active member of Savannah’s Sports Council, and a charter board member of the Savannah Hockey Committee. Holt was the presiding force behind Savannah’s Inaugural Rock n Roll Marathon in 2011.

Holt is a proud graduate of The Citadel’s class of 1973, earning his B.S. in Business Administration and lettering in both football and track. In 1988, Holt was inducted into The Citadel’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his excellence in both sports – football and track .

Originally from Mullins, SC , he currently shares his time between Savannah and Charleston with Mignon, his wife of 39 years. They are the proud parents of 3 children and 7 grandchildren whom they delight in spending time with.

In addition to his love of sports, and his involvement in The Medal of Honor Bowl, Holt is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys boating, fishing, hunting and riding his Harley Davidson.

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Rick Raybon

Rick Raybon Director of Finance

Senior Financial Executive with more than 35 years of achievement improving corporate financial performance through financial leadership in banking relations, operations, mergers and acquisitions, organizational development and global systems integration.

Raybon has served in senior financial leadership roles with both Northrop Grumman and Litton Industries. Additionally, he has served as an interim CFO in several smaller equity backed businesses.

A 1974 graduate of The Citadel he has also attended executive level leadership courses at both Harvard Business School and Wharton. He is a licensed CPA, a retired Commander, Supply Corps. USNR and resides in Mt. Pleasant, SC with his wife Vicki.

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Samuel Rivers

Samuel Rivers

Bio Coming Soon…

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Cal McCombs

McCombs1200mugCal McCombs enjoyed a standout career as a track and football athlete at The Citadel, graduating in 1967.
His coaching career included stints at The Citadel, the United States Air Force Academy and as Head Football Coach at VMI, where he was named both State of Virginia Coach of the Year and Southern Conference Coach of the Year.

McCombs also spent five years as a top player development scout for the Denver Broncos of the American football League. Through these experiences, he gained a solid reputation for assessing draft-level NFL talent.

His skills in the area of quantifying NCAA football talent brings an enormous asset to the Medal of Honor Bowl.
He coached on the winning American Team in the inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl in January of 2014.

McCombs is a native of Belton, SC, and lives on the Isle of Palms with wife Lynn. They have three children and six grandchildren.

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Austin B. Atkinson, J.D.

Austin B. Atkinson, J.D. Austin B. Atkinson, J.D. is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and is a registered Athlete Agent in the State of South Carolina. Austin earned a B.A. in Political Science from The Citadel in 1999, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Charleston School of Law in 2011.

As an NFL agent, Austin was able to put players from the FBS, FCS, and Division II levels of college football into NFL camps in recent years. His eye for talent at all levels of football is invaluable in his personnel role for the Medal of Honor Bowl.

Active in the community, Austin has served as the Vice-Chairman of the Town of Mount Pleasant Board of Zoning Appeals, member of the Town of Mount Pleasant Historical Commission, Past-President of the Mount Pleasant Sertoma Club, assistant coach of the Wando High School boys lacrosse team, and is a member of the Theta Commission of Kappa Alpha Order. Austin lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and children.

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Roy Hamlin Jr.

roy_hamlinMr. Hamlin’s strong success in video and television projects for the nation’s leading nonprofit and sports organizations has helped him network across a broad range of corporate, celebrity and charitable leaders to achieve important goals. He founded AdCraft Associates, which became recognized as a national leader through innovative marketing. After selling AdCraft Associates to Host Communications, Roy’s next venture, NorthStar Visions, took an innovative approach to a marriage between the sports and entertainment worlds. His Fairway Productions Group has been a leader in television concepts and production.
Mr. Hamlin has produced numerous sports publications and live television broadcast programming, while developing many of today’s accepted sports traditions, including the National Championship Trophy Program, Director’s Cut (Div. I, Div IAA, Div III), Basketball Poll, Women’s Basketball Poll, Football Coaches Poll, Baseball Coaches Poll, Baseball National Championship Trophy, Mohamed Ali Museum and the PGA of America Library.

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