One more piece of the USFL puzzle has been revealed. After months of speculation and questions, on March 17th, about 30 days ahead of kickoff, all eight USFL teams have announced their completed coaching staff. The Panthers have hired seven new coaches for their staff. Out of the Seven only One of the new Panthers has experience coaching at the NFL outside of Jeff Fisher.
Offensive Coordinator: Eric Marty
Marty is a former Division III Quarterback who set multiple records at Chapman University. Upon graduating from school Marty would go overseas and play in Italy and Austria winning multiple awards and championships. In 2011, he would accept a player/coach role with the Bologna Warriors of the Italian Football League and begin his coaching career. Upon retirement, Marty would join the several junior colleges coaching staffs before earning his first Head Coaching position in 2015. Marty would spend time as the Head Coach at East LA College and Reedley College before joining Grambling State as the Offensive Coordinator in 2021. Marty now holds the same position with the Michigan Panthers going into 2022.
Offensive Line Coach: Neil Callaway
Callaway is a former Linemen with Bear Bryant’s Alabama teams in the 1974-1977. Upon graduation he had stints with Wyoming, Auburn, Alabama, Houston, Georgia, UAB, WKU, USC, and Purdue. From 2007-2011 Callaway served as the Head Coach of UAB compiling a 18-42 record. The Michigan Panthers is his first opportunity in a professional setting.
Running Backs: Mark Stewart
Stewart is a former NFL Linebacker who was drafted in fifth round out Washington in 1983. Stewart’s career lasted two seasons playing in four games with Vikings. Though his playing career was short, Stewart has been coaching in High School Football since 2000, most recently with Mariner High School in Washington State. Stewart has served as a Defensive Assistant, Defensive Coordinator, and Head Coach at the High School and College level.
Defensive Coordinator: Dan Carrel
Carrel joins the Panthers as a Rookie Defensive Coordinator having just left UMass as the Linebackers coach. After Graduating from Western Kentucky in 2012, Carrel has served as a Graduate Assistant and Linebackers Coach at Ohio State, Kentucky, Houston, and UMass.
Defensive Line Coach: Kwahn Drake
Drake was recently the Defensive Line Coach at Kansas University before getting fired in 2021. Since graduating from Nicholls State in 2009, Drake has spent time with multiple universities and high schools and now joins the Panthers for his first job at the professional level.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach: Tony Brown
Not much is known about Coach Brown, other than this is first job at the professional level. Brown is a prime candidate, for the USFL as they have made it clear they are trying to reach out to coaching prospects looking for an opportunity.
Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coordinator: Jeff Imamura
Imamura is the only Panthers assistant to have coached in the NFL most recently with the Carolina Panthers in 2018 as an Assistant Defensive Backs coach. Imamura has also spent time with the Rams and Vikings at the NFL. In addition to spending time with Northern Arizona, Saginaw Valley State, TCU, and Vanderbilt at the collegiate level.
Final Breakdown
With the league set to kick off in less than 30 days expect a lot to be put on these new coaches. Coach Fisher seems to have mixed a solid group of experience and youth regarding his staff however, as April 16th approaches it’ll be crucial, he gets his staff on the same page. Regardless, as one of the more experienced coaches in the USFL, Fisher seems to have the appropriate amount of knowledge and insight to make it happen.
