JCU-NFL tree is amplified with Staley

The John Carroll football program has long been known for its ties to the NFL, and on Jan. 17 the Division III university added to it with another day to celebrate.

One of JCU’s own is again part of the NFL’s head coaching fraternity. Joining that club isn’t easy, and Brandon Staley’s back story makes it all the more remarkable.

Staley, a Perry graduate, was the Blue Streaks’ defensive coordinator in 2013, and then again in 2015 and 2016. Five years later, he’s agreed to be the next coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He will be introduced at a news conference on Jan. 21.

“It’s hard to put into words just how excited I am for the opportunity to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ Head Coach,” said Staley at chargers.com.

“While this is certainly a dream come true, it’s also a dream that’s just beginning.”

Reaction of the Chargers’ hiring of Staley hit home at JCU, where the football team is starting preparations for its five-game spring season, which begins the second week of March.

“Brandon is an incredible coach with a special knowledge of the game,” said JCU coach Rick Finotti, who took over in 2017. “He knows how to develop athletes into better football players and men. His energy and passion are infectious. He showcased and developed his coaching ability at JCU, and now he gets to coach an NFL team five years later. From Don Shula to Josh McDaniels to Brandon, great coaches are molded at John Carroll.”

Staley is the third NFL head coach with ties to JCU. The first was obviously Don Shula, who graduated from Harvey High School and JCU before embarking on a head coaching career with the Colts and Dolphins that finished with him as the league’s all-time winningest coach.

Josh McDaniels, a JCU grad who was a receiver for the Blue Steaks, was the Broncos coach from 2009 to 2010. He’s also been the longtime offensive coordinator for Bill Belichick in New England.

Staley’s back story can’t be understated. In five years, he rose from assistant coach in D-III to linebackers coach for the Bears and Broncos, to defensive coordinator of the Rams’ No. 1-ranked unit this past season to being named head coach of the Chargers.

Former JCU quarterback Anthony Moeglin — a freshman during the Blue Streaks’ record-setting 12-2 season in 2016 — had immediate admiration for Staley that season. Despite coaching on the other side of the ball, Staley (a former quarterback in high school and in college at the University of Dayton) and Moeglin formed a friendship.

Being quarterbacks helped the friendship, but it was during practices where Moeglin accepted the challenge of competing against Staley’s defense. It wasn’t easy, he said. Every day on the practice field was a grind.

“For me, it was kind of funny looking back. I never knew what I was looking at,” said Moeglin, who threw for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns during his three years as JCU’s starter. “Coach Staley tried to confuse you, and I remember at times looking at my first read, and then thinking, ‘Where’s my check down?’ It was awesome because it made Saturdays so much easier.”

Staley’s focus was always on the task at hand, said Moeglin. However, he does recall on many occasions during sit-down chats in Staley’s office noticing the coach’s computer screen featuring some type of NFL footage.

“He was always studying NFL clips, always,” said Moeglin. “This was his end goal. It wasn’t to be a Division III head coach, or a position coach in the NFL. The goal was to be an NFL head coach. Did I think it would happen this quick? No way.”

Lake Catholic head football coach Marty Gibbons — now in his second year — was a standout safety for JCU, and in 2013 had Staley as his defensive coordinator. He remembers the way Staley connected with not only the defensive players he coached, but all players on the Blue Streaks’ roster.

“He’s so player oriented,” said Gibbons. “He knows player’s strength and weaknesses, doesn’t restrict players and caters to each person’s skill set. I just think he does such a good job connecting with every single person. His personality and enthusiasm for people is what separates him from others.”

Staley as Chargers head coach creates a JCU connection within the franchise. Tom Telesco, a JCU grad, is the team’s general manager, and is now among his biggest fan.

“It’s clear that Brandon will not be out-worked,” Telesco said at chargers. com. “He’s the football equivalent of a gym rat, and that has earned him the universal respect of the players he has coached throughout his journey.”

Staley