The XFL is set to make a return to Arlington in February 2023 and though the name of the team has yet to be announced, head coach Bob Stoops has begun naming members of the coaching staff. Several of the newly-hired coaches and trainers have experience with NFL teams in addition to stops in a variety of levels of American football.
“Arlington fans should be excited for this experienced group of individuals that will help build the best squad in the XFL,” Stoops said. “I respect and admire what every single individual brings to their position and am thrilled to get working on developing a game plan and strategy for our team.”
The XFL and Stoops previously announced the hirings of Matt McMillen as director of team operations, Rick Muller as director of player personnel, Jonathan Hayes and Chuck Long as co-offensive coordinators, and Jay Hayes and Tim Lewis as co-defensive coordinators for the Arlington-based team.
Former NFL tight end-turned position coach Reggie Davis will assume the role of running backs coach after a successful outing in the same position with the former St. Louis BattleHawks.
Davis was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He began his coaching career at the University of San Diego in 2004 and had stops at UNLV and Oregon State before joining the San Francisco 49ers where he gained experience as an assistant offensive line coach. Davis returned to running back coaching for two years at Nebraska before joining St. Loius for the COVID-shortened 2020 XFL season.
Fellow BattleHawks staff member Michael George has also been hired by the Arlington team to serve as the quality control coach. George brings years of experience as the director of player personnel for Texas State University and Ohio University.
Jon Himebauch, who has close to 20 years of coaching experience, will be the offensive line and special team’s coach. Himebauch was most recently the offensive line coach for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. An experienced offensive lineman, he played at USC and spent five years as a professional player for various teams in different leagues.
Marvin Sanders will become the cornerbacks coach for Arlington. Sanders began his coaching career shortly after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1990 where he played defensive back for four seasons. Sanders has made stops with numerous college programs. He was the defensive backs coach for the former XFL Dallas Renegades in 2020.
Scott Spurrier also returns to the staff as the tight ends and special teams coach. Spurrier is the son of former NFL head coach Steve Spurrier. He has gained experience coaching for college teams at USF and USC before joining the Renegades in 2020.
Chris Crooks will reprise his role as team video manager and Blake Kuenzi returns to Arlington as the team’s head equipment manager. Both were with the Dallas Renegades until that team was dissolved in 2020 as the XFL faced bankruptcy.
The former XFL league shares many similarities with the previous league that shut down in 2020, but is now under the guidance of a new ownership group.
Eight teams have been selected to host teams for the Grand Reopening season, most of which are closely aligned with previously XFL-affiliated cities. Team names have yet to be announced. Earlier this year, the XFL announced a multi-year exclusive broadcast deal with Walt Disney and ESPN.
