American Coaches

O.J. Brigance Baltimore Ravens Player Development Director

Former Ravens and Baltimore Stallions (CFL) LB O.J. Brigance is in his 2nd year as the Ravens' director of player development. Brigance, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000, oversees all Ravens player development programs and works closely with Ravens players, assisting with each phase of their careers.

Brigance has already made significant contributions to the Ravens' player development program, including organizing a number of internships for many of the players at locations such as high school football programs, financial institutions and real estate groups. In addition, the life skills programs O.J. has provided to the players throughout the year have been highly effective.

Brigance's wife, Chanda, facilitates the Lady Ravens association, coordinating involvement for all of the players and coaches spouses and significant others. Each year, the group is highly active with the Ravens Family Food Drive, and in 2004, the Lady Ravens participated in the team's tsunami relief collection. Chanda has also organized seminars for the group on benefits, financial education and empowerment.

Brigance's football career began in the CFL with the British Columbia Lions. He spent 3 seasons with the Lions (1991-93) and was named an All-Conference LB. Brigance then joined the CFL's Baltimore Stallions from 1994-95, helping the team earn a Grey Cup Championship in 1995.

He entered the NFL in 1996 with the Miami Dolphins and was voted as a team captain twice in 4 seasons. His Dolphins teammates also selected him as the Ed Block Courage Award recipient in 1999. Throughout his 7-year NFL career, Brigance was involved with the community and has remained involved since his retirement. In Miami, Brigance was involved in a number of different community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Daily Food Bank. Brigance was honored with the NFLPA's Unsung Hero award in 1999.

Brigance, a 1992 graduate of Rice University, signed with the Ravens for the 2000 season, and then closed his career with the St. Louis Rams (2001-02). Brigance also serves on the board of directors for Aunt Hattie's Place, a home for young men. He and Chanda reside in Baltimore.

NFL/PRO PLAYER EXPERIENCE: 1991-93 (British Columbia Lions); 1994-95 (Baltimore Stallions); 1996-99 (Miami Dolphins); 2000 (Baltimore Ravens); 2001-02 (St. Louis Rams)

Arthur Hightower San Diego Chargers Player Development Director

Arthur Hightower joined the San Diego Chargers as director of player development in April 2005. He assists players with off-the- field issues and helps prepare them for life after football. His duties include administering programs in the areas of continuing education, life skills, financial and career education/planning and career internships.

Prior to joining the Chargers, Hightower spent three years as assistant director of professional development at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. He oversaw the NCAA postgraduate scholarship selection process, the ethnic minority and women's enhancement scholarship programs, the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and the NCAA national office internship program.

He also was an academic counselor for student-athletes at the University of Houston from 2000-01 and at the University of Maine from 1998-99.

Hightower played free safety at Florida A&M University, where he was named Male Scholar Athlete of the Year during his junior season. He graduated from FAMU, magna cum laude with a degree in graphic arts and printing management. Prior to graduation he completed a Wall Street Journal internship in printing production-management.

Hightower earned a master's degree in physical education with a concentration in sports administration from Florida State University in 1998. He worked as an NCAA national office intern from 1997-98, serving in the education services group.

Hightower was born May 1, 1972 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and graduated from Brighton High School in Rochester, New York. He and his wife, Tresa, have two daughters, Alexandria and Arielle. Bobby Darnell George Bush High School Varsity Assistant Football Coach, Varsity Assistant/Head JV Boys Basketball Coach, and Assistant Track and Field Coach

Bobby Darnell has been coaching and teaching at George Bush High School since 2004. Coach Darnell works primarily with the wide receivers and secondary while also serving as the Special Teams Coordinator. Prior to joining the Fort Bend Bush Broncos, Coach Darnell was part of the highly touted and competitive Ethnic Minority and Internship Program with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for only five months before getting recruited by the University of Texas at Austin as one of their Assistant Compliance Coordinators. Coach Darnell, a former Baylor University wide receiver, has received numerous honors and awards for his work on and off the field; for this reason he was asked to serve as the Coach Coordinator for the Devard Darling Football Camp and is in charge of coordinating all of the coaches efforts, defining and refining the camp schedule, and maintaining the integrity of the camp curriculum and philosophy. Robin Kirk St. Pius X High School Athletic Director, Head Football Coach

Robin Kirk is currently the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for St. Pius X High School a private Catholic high school in Houston, Texas. Coach Kirk currently coaches Rico Forbes, Bahamian born talent, recruited and cared for by Frank Rutherford, Devard’s cousin and the first Bahamian to win an Olympic medal in track and field. Forbes, from Freeport’s own Bishop Michael Eldon High School, was recruited at age 14 to come live with Rutherford and now is considered on of the top defensive backs in America. We are very excited to have Coach Kirk as part of our coaching staff and know he will be eagerly anticipating the discovery of more young, talented Bahamians to bring back the U.S. to play for him and the Panthers.

Eddie Darney Towson High School Varsity Offensive/Defensive Line Coach

Eddie was a four year starter and two time team captain in football at Hereford High School, where he helped the Bulls to a 44-1 career record, and the Maryland State Championship in 2001. Eddie received Honorable Mention All- State Honors at Defensive End as a junior, and Consensus First Team All-State Honors as a senior. He also played four years of basketball, and captained the team in his senior season.

Collegiately, Eddie played his football for the University of Richmond Spiders, where he played Tight End, Fullback, and Defensive End for four years before graduating with a degree in Rhetoric and Communication Studies. He helped the Spiders to the Atlantic-10 Conference Championship, and the 2nd round of the NCAA playoffs in his senior season.

Currently, Eddie is working as a Personal Trainer in Timonium, Maryland, with a focus on young athlete strength, speed, and agility development. He is also the Offensive and Defensive Line Coach for the Towson High School Varsity Football Team

Tom Miller Elsik High School Passing Game Coordinator

Coach Miller has coached for 13 years, 1 year in Waco and the rest in the Fort Bend and Alief ISD’s of the Houston Area. He has served as a Defensive Coordinator most of his career. He spent the past season as the Passing Game Coordinator at Elsik High School.

At Clements High School, Coach Miller taught future Bahamian Olympic Star Dennis Darling, the older brother of camp visionary and director, Devard. He coached against Devard and Devaughn during their prep years, and coaching Bobby Darnell in high school, as well.

Ian McLean First Colony High School Varsity Football Head Coach

Coach Mclean has coached for 18 years, all in the Fort Bend and Alief ISD’s of the Houston Area. He has served as a High School Offensive and Passing Game Coordinator and has coached many district championship teams. He is currently serving as the Head Football Coach at First Colony in Sugar Land, Tx.

At Clements High School, Coach Mclean taught and coached future Bahamian Olympic Star Dennis Darling, the older brother of camp visionary and director, Devard. He also coached against Devard and Devaughn in some heated battles during their High School careers. This is Coach McLean’s first year at the Devard Darling Football Camp, and he looks forward to bringing his years of experience working with both beginning and advanced players to the Bahamian football hopefuls.

Lance Clelland Dartmouth College Assistant Football Coach – Offensive Line

Coach Clelland just recently accepted a position at Dartmouth College as an Assistant Coach for the Offensive Line. As an outstanding offensive tackle himself, playing at Northwestern University and then in the NFL for several years, he will be contributing a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise in the position of Offensive Tackle. Before joining the staff of Dartmouth College Football, Coach Clelland was an Assistant Coach for Coach Damico at McDonogh School.

Dennis Darling Assistant Track & Field Coach – Sprints University of Texas, Pan Am

Coach Darling returns again for his second year as a coach for the Devard Darling Football Camp. Coach Darling is currently the sprints coach for the University of Texas, Pan Am in McAllen, Texas. In addition, to coaching, he and his wife, 400m Olympic Gold Medalist, Tonique Williams-Darling are currently training for the upcoming Track and Field World Championships. Both he and his wife have extensive experience representing the Bahamas both nationally and internationally as Olympic Track and Field athletes.

Coach Darling is the older brother of Devard Darling, giving him a close tie and an innate gravitation toward the learning and teaching of the game of American Football. His expertise in speed and agility training will also be a great asset to coaching team. We are grateful he has again found the time to contribute to this year’s camp.

Dominc Damico McDonogh School Varsity Head Football Coach

Coach Damico is currently the Varsity Head Football Coach at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland. Coach Damico and McDonogh School share close ties with the Bahamas as several members of the Kelly family (of Kelly’s Hardware) are former students of McDonogh School and avid supporters of the school. This will be his first year at the Devard Darling Football Camp, but he looks forward to coaching the local talent in the quarterback position and possibly even coaching outstanding talent as an Eagle at McDonogh School in the near future!

Bahamas Youth Football Coaches

Richard Dorsett Bahamas Youth Football

Richard Dorsett’s coaching career started in 1986 as a volunteer to the Walter P. Parker Primary School as a result of his involvement with a semi-professional American football team out of Freeport, Grand Bahama. That year, his team won the highly touted championship trophy. His position at Walter P. Parker Primary School included coaching track & field, softball, basketball, soccer and baseball from elementary aged children to seniors. Coach Dorsett considers those years his “growing years;” as it gave him the opportunity to express himself and the principles required for each discipline. Since winning the championship, his interest in American football was never lost only put on hold; as he has read several John C. Maxwell books that he feels has enhanced his capabilities as a an American football coach and facilitated his increased eagerness to learn. He is truly excited about the opportunity to work within the limelight of his "old dream;" which is to coach the sport of American football.

Marco Bain Bahamas Youth Football

Marco Bain is a former offensive tackle for Freeport’s very own semi-professional teams popular several years ago, Titans and Crushers. He started his semi-professional career younger than most and continued for almost 10 years. Although, he has no past experience with coaching youth; he is very excited to share his playing experiences to help the sport mature in a place where it is not yet considered an organized, competitive sport. He hopes to assist in nurturing talented, young Bahamians in the sport of American football so as to “develop more Devard Darling’s” and see Bahamians prosper on elite levels. Coach Bain recently attended a coaching clinic for new Bahamian coaches and has been working with Coach Nelson in building his coaching knowledge base. We are grateful to have Coach Bain dedicated to our mission in helping children seek and prosper in opportunity.

Ronald Nelson Bahamas Youth Football

Ronald Nelson has been involved in coaching for more that ten years. He began as a player for the Freeport Titans and later joined the coaching staff under the leadership of Mike Bass who played professionally in the NFL for the Washington Red Skins. His love for the game propelled him to share his knowledge with the youth hence for the past three years he has been actively involved in a group of young, energetic and enthusiastic young men. He was introduced to Mr. Mike Jones last year and was privilege to have him come down and started a league in Freeport. The group has grown by leaps and bounds and stands with a membership of over fifty youth.

James Kemp James Vega Stanford Duhaney Joseph Simmons

Academic Segment

Mel Ferguson CEO CA Sports Inc. College Prospect of America Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Valley Wolfpack

Born on the island of Abraham’s Bay Mayaguana, the most southeasterly island of the Bahamas Mel Ferguson has been involved with football for over 32 years.

After moving to Miami Florida in 1975, Ferguson began his athletic journey. Prior to entering Miami Beach Senior High School he was named as one of Dade County’s raising star. In high school Ferguson competed in football, basketball and track and field, he received numerous outstanding awards in all three sports including, All-America and All-State recognitions.

In February 1981, Ferguson accepted a full scholarship to the University of Minnesota where he played under Coaches Joe Salem and then Lou Holtz. Ferguson became a William Scholar and later graduated with a Bachelor and an Associate of Arts degree. He then tried his hands in the NFL, as a walk on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being released by Tampa, Ferguson moved backed to Minnesota and begin his coaching, scouting and recruiting career.

Currently, serving as Defensive Coordinator with the Minnesota Valley Wolfpack, a semi pro football team, based in Burnsville Minnesota. Ferguson is also the CEO of CA Sports Inc, a high school scouting and recruiting company based in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He has also joined on with College Prospect of America an international recruiting company based out of Logan, Ohio.