Hello Baltimore youth football fans,
I’m Deno Campbell of USA Football. I will be joining you here regularly to discuss all things youth football. I have been with USA Football, the Official Youth Football Development Partner of the NFL, its 32 teams, and the NFL Players Association, for three years. During this time, I have traveled all over the country observing youth football leagues and meeting the selfless people who power them. You would be surprised to know that the game’s hot topics are very similar wherever you go: finances, coaching education, field space, and background checks are usually at the top of everyone’s list.
Before I go any further, let me tell you a little bit about me. I am a former football player. I played my high school ball at DeMatha Catholic. I then went on to play at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. After college, my former high school coach had an opening at DeMatha and I started out as an assistant linebackers coach back in 1985. Twenty-some odd years later, I’m proud to say that I remain at DeMatha and serve as our team’s Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator under our head coach and my dear friend, Bill McGregor.
I’ll be here online to help you with X’s and O’s, health and safety issues, coaching education direction, clinics, and other topics that will make your job easier as a volunteer youth football junkie. Youth football is the backbone of America’s favorite sport – your involvement is critical to nourish our young people’s character and to teach them the right way to play this game. When a youngster knows how to block and tackle, it makes the game more fun and minimizes the risk of injury. We’re going to get into all of this.
Shoot me your comments here as I plan to post about three entries per week. Like football, let’s make this fun and something we can all learn from.
Filed in: Youth Football.
Tags: Coaching Education, DeMatha Catholic High School, football safety, Youth Football
Dwayne “Deno” Campbell not only enjoys football – he lives his life around it. By day, he works as the South and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for USA Football, the official youth football development partner of the NFL and NFL Players Association. When night falls, Deno hits the field as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at DeMatha Catholic High School, which is consistently ranked in the USA TODAY Super 25 high school football rankings. He was a Stag himself earning All-Met honors his senior year before earning a full scholarship to suit up at the College of William & Mary as a linebacker. Deno, also a member of the DeMatha Hall of Fame, is now in his 23rd season coaching at his alma mater and was named DCSportsfan.com’s Assistant High School Coach of the Year in 2008.
2011…
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already
Cheers!…
Good post mate!! Keep ‘em flowing!
Deno: Good to see you at the Smoker, and congrats on another great DM season. I’ve only been coaching youth football for 3 years now, but have noticed that a majority of O and D linemen (even on the very best youth teams) absolutely do not get into proper 3 and 4 point stances. That’s coaching. Any pointers that can drive home the importance of proper “stance” its necessity to “start” great execution on both sides of the ball? It’s undercoached at the youth football level. Thanks!
Deno,
It is so great to see how involved you are with the game that we all have a passion for!!! Please keep me on your e-mail list, and if you are ever in Pittsburgh, please look me up. Please give my best to your family and have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! p.s. Please tell Bill and all the other coaches I said congrats on a great season (sorry about the WCAC Championship).
Glad to c u E-sharing all of that knowledge you’ve aquired over the years. BIG props to your Mom and Pops. I say that because I know, first hand, that you walked into DeMatha, way back in August of 1977, with a lot of strong character and morals. To all your readers, you can, absolutely, be trusted as a caring, honest person. I’ll c u at the Smoker, tonight. Can’t wait to c what “Big Ralph”, as Coash Thompson calls him, Friedgen has to say.
Hey Deno, good to see you still at it! Way to represent the class of 81.
Alan Arrington
Hey, Deno. How are you? Hope all is well. Happy Thanksgiving, buddy. Peace.
What’s Up Campbell!!??
You look pretty good, that must be an old picture of you!!!
Morley
I have Coaching peewee football for 3 years now, and because of you, Ed Passino, and the USA football community it has been a pleasure to got to the Coaching schools and it has made me a much better Coach and person. Also because of the website you guys put together, I have been printing plays, certificates (Player of the Week,etc.),or just to learn more from the clinic. I just want to say thank you for making this possible, and good luck with the rest of your seasons. THANK YOU
Thanks Coach Campbell, the blog sounds like a nice idea. Also thanks USA Football for your help in continuing to allow us as youth coaches to improve our skills and help our players. Go Little Vikings!
Hope everything goes good this weekend. Thanks to you and USA football for caring about our kids. Thanks again
DENO: As a former high school, (L.A., Long Beach, CA.), Div. II College (Sonoma St., CA.), Div. I Univ., (UCLA), and NFL (Phila., Eagles) COACH, I SALUTE and THANK YOU for your efforts. YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TODAY’S YOUTH! Sincerely, Carl D. Peterson, Chairman of USA Football
Deno-
Keep up the good work and Good Luck to the Stags this weekend. Bright home that seventh straight WCAC Title!
Deno,
Looks great, keep sending me your updates.
Thanks,
Best of luck to Coach Campbell, staff and the fine young mine who play for the Stags!