ATHENS — In just over a month, a college football and National Football League legend will be visiting Pennsylvania to host the LaDainian Tomlinson Preparatory Academy’s Elite Football Performance Clinic at Athens Area High School — and he will be joined by an impressive group of coaches.
Tomlinson brings his clinic back to Athens for the second straight year on July 10-11 and will have a coaching staff which includes former NFL and TCU teammates and high school coaches with impressive resumes.
Here is a look at some of the coaches, who are scheduled to be at the clinic:
• LaDainian Tomlinson’s illustrious career as an NFL running back did not follow the expected progression. He played linebacker and fullback in high school before earning the right to the running back position. However, when the opportunity finally arose to serve as the team’s primary back his senior season, Tomlinson didn’t disappoint. He finished the year with over 2,500 yards and 39 touchdowns, leading the team to a 12-2-1 overall record; the best in school history. He was named district MVP and Super Centex Offensive Player of the Year.
Tomlinson was recruited and signed by Texas Christian University, where he would mature into one of the top running backs in NCAA history. Among his many college accolades are: a fourth place finish in the 2000 Heisman Trophy race, the Doak Walker National Running Back Award, the Jim Brown Trophy, WAC Offensive Player of the Year, Football News National Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American honors. In addition, he set a multitude of TCU school records for rushing and scoring.
Selected fifth in the 2001 NFL draft, Tomlinson began his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers. In his first eight years in the league, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns every season. In 2006, he rushed for an incredible 1,815 yards, and racked up an NFL-record 28 rushing touchdowns. That year, he won the NFL rushing title, and was named both the NFL MVP and Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year. He won the rushing title again in 2007. In 2010, he left San Diego and joined the New York Jets. He has been selected to play in five pro-bowls, and has been named All-Pro six times throughout his career.
Throughout his career, Tomlinson has remained as devoted off the field as he is on it, giving back whenever and wherever he can. Despite his busy schedule, he donates his time and resources to various charitable organizations. He also started a foundation of his own — The Tomlinson Touching Lives Foundation.
• Russell Gary was a four-year starter in baseball, as well as a two-year letterman in football in high school. His team went to back-to-back state championships his junior and senior years. During his senior season, he helped his team win the first state championship in school history. His leadership on and off the field earned him the title of captain for both teams that year. As a result of his athletic performance, he was selected to the All-Greater Houston Area team for football and baseball.
Gary also played college football at TCU, and was a three-year starter. His performance led to his inclusion on the 1999 All-ESPN Bowl team, and earned him All-WAC Conference honors. He graduated from TCU with a degree in Psychology, and also went on to work out with several NFL teams.
Since graduation, Gary has established himself as a leader in both sales and management. He has also worked as a high school coach. Outside of the office, he continues to dedicate his time and passion to sports, coaching high school football and training athletes in several sports on top of that. He remains committed to mentoring kids of all ages and sports.
• Roy Williams, a former TCU Champion and All-American sprinter, brings lofty credentials to the Prep Academy as a 2-time Olympic trial track and field qualifier, 2-time national Champion, 5-time NCAA All-American, 7-time WAC Conference Champion, and 13-time All-WAC performer.
After Graduating from TCU with a degree in Mathematics and finishing his running career, Roy moved into coaching. Roy spent 5 years at All Saints’ Episcopal, where he served as head varsity and middle school Track and Field/Cross Country coach, assistant varsity Basketball coach, and assistant varsity Football coach. While at All Saints’, he founded the Flyin’ Frog Track Club and Athlete’s Run Speed, Agility, and Strength Program. Through these two programs, Roy was able to help over 30 athletes realize their dreams of participating in college athletics.
From there Roy moved on to coach track and field at the collegiate level. He served at the University of Texas at Arlington for 3 years as associate head coach of sprints, relays, hurdles, and jumps. Roy also coached at Texas Tech University for 3 years as the sprints, relays, and hurdles coach. While at the collegiate level, Roy coached 42 All-Americans, 6 Olympians, and was also nominated twice as the El Salvador National Sprints Coach.
Using his USATF Coaching and USATF Level 1 certifications, combined with the Speed Dynamics Theory, Roy trains athletes to get the most out of their bodies. He teaches the athletes that he trains the skills and techniques that it takes to be successful in whatever field of play they participate in through speed, agility, and strength.
• Collins Wetzel was a four-year starter at Coudersport High and played quarterback at Lock Haven University. He has been the Offensive Assistant/Coordinator for 15 seasons in Northern Virginia at perennial powerhouses Potomac, Woodbridge, and Gar-Field high schools.
• BJ Scott was a four-year starting defensive end at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia where he helped the Spiders to two conference championships with a career 140 tackles, five sacks, and 32 pass breakups. He served his senior year as team captain and received a degree in Sociology. Scott attended Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia where he was a four-year starter and team captain for the Bruins football team and letterman on the track team. While at FP, Scott collected both All-District and All-Regional honors at Wide-Reciever and Defensive End and multiple MVP honors.
• Jake Swanson coached at the LT clinic last year, and played quarterback at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He is a master of the option system and quarterbacking nuances. He was team Captain in high school and earned many honors and accolades at Mt. Spokane High School.
• Bill Johnston has been involved in the game of football as a coach and player for more than 20 years now. He played at North Penn High School in Blossburg, PA where he was a three-year letterman and captain. In 2005, he began playing semi-pro football with the Northern Tier Bruins out of Towanda, PA and the Southern Tier Diesel out of Olean, NY. Bill is a OL/DL. Coach Johnston has earned multiple NFA all-star selections, as well as two Defensive Lineman of the Year awards. He has assisted with Valley Small Fry football in Athens, PA, and assisted for the Athens Area School District at both the junior high and varsity levels working mainly with the offensive and defensive lines.
• Lucas Welch played linebacker for Army at West Point and Tunkhannock Area where he earned many honors. He has assisted the Tunkhannock Tigers for five seasons. Coach Welch is also returning to the clinic after his excellence in execution with last years’ curriculum.
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The cost of the Elite Football Performance Clinic is $199 per athlete. There are group discounts available. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11.
There will also be something new added this year as the LT Preparatory Academy will be offering a youth sports clinic on Sunday, July 12. This event is for athletes between five and 10 years old and will feature instruction for baseball, football and softball. The charge for the youth clinic will be $40.
To register for the Elite Football Performance Clinic or the youth clinic, call 817-717-8801 or go to www.LT-academy.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Pat McDonald
Cell- 607-425-2424
Email: LTathensmedia@gmail.com
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