D.C. Defenders Officially Unveil 2024 Staff, Sans Special Teams Coordinator
UFL teams report to training camp in Arlington, Texas, this weekend as the newly merged league prepares for its regular season on March 30.
On Wednesday, the D.C. Defenders and the seven other UFL squads unveiled their coaching staff for the 2024 season.
D.C. Defenders 2024 Staff
- Reggie Barlow, Head Coach
- Von Hutchins, General Manager
- Vernon Dean, Defensive Backs
- Fred Kaiss, Offensive Coordinator
- Sean Anderson, Wide Receivers
- Russ Ehrenfeld, Offensive Line
- Deion Harris, Linebackers
- Shannon Harris, Quarterbacks
- Jeremy Watkins, Defensive Line
- Gregg Williams, Defensive Coordinator
There are very few noticeable changes for D.C., despite plenty of outside interest from Power Five schools and NFL teams for head coach Reggie Barlow and legendary defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, who was arguably the XFL's best assistant a year ago, returns for duty in D.C.
Many of the Defenders' top lieutenants from a season ago return to fortify Reggie Barlow's staff. Included are standout offensive line coach Russ Ehrenfeld, Shannon Harris (quarterbacks), Jeremy Watkins (defensive line), Deion Harris (linebackers) and Vernon Dean (defensive backs).
However, the one area that sticks out on the 2024 Defenders staff is the absence of a designated special teams coordinator. D.C. is the only UFL team without someone filling that role.
A year ago, the 9-1 Defenders took a committee approach on special teams, with former NFL linebacker Jamie Sharper leading that charge. D.C. will take a similar collaborative approach on specials in 2024, minus their former coordinator, who has mutually parted ways with the squad.
It's a special teams unit in 2023 that produced All-XFL punter Dan Whelan, who was firmly entrenched in that role with the Green Bay Packers this past NFL season.
Also departed from D.C.'s 2023 staff are wide receivers coach Alvance Robinson and tight ends coach Cody Crill, who joined Marshall University as their new offensive line coach.
The new arrival to D.C's coaching staff is Sean Anderson, who is designated as a receivers coach but will likely wear multiple hats, as is usually the case for spring pro football assistants.
Anderson has 18 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level at Jackson State, Rice University, Mississippi Valley State, Lincoln University, Benedict College, and Northwestern State. He has coached wide receivers, special teams, tight ends, and quarterbacks at those stops and others and has been an offensive and recruiting coordinator as well.
In 2018, as special teams coordinator at MVSU, Anderson coached the No. 2 punt return team in the country, and his kickoff return team was ranked 24th. Because of that background and success, it's likely that Anderson will play a role in D.C.'s new special teams by committee approach.
Continuity is the key to success in spring pro football leagues. The 9-1 Defenders, who fell one win short of a championship behind general manager Von Hutchins and head coach Reggie Barlow, have plenty of that.
You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.
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