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The Hula Bowl Loads Up on NFL Coaching talent for its Orlando Debut

The 2022 Hula Bowl will be a showdown between the Falcons winningest head coach Mike Smith and Ravens Super Bowl XXXV winning coach Brian Billick. The brother-in-laws will battle on the Gridiron in Orlando, Florida.

The Hula Bowl has moved its historic game from Honolulu to Orlando for its 2022 game.  The iconic game is pleased to feature an amazing lineup of coaching legends for its Orlando Debut.  This year’s coaching staff has over 275 years of combined coaching experience.  The game will maintain much of its rich Hawaiian heritage, and will continue with its two squads, titled the AINA and KAI, representing the Land and Sea in Hawaiian. 

Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith will return to the sidelines to be the AINA head coach at the 2022 Hula Bowl.  During his time at the helm of the Falcons, he became the franchise’s winningest head coach by number of wins.  In addition, he was awarded the prestigious NFL 2008 Coach of the Year Award by the Associated Press.   He also received the NFL coach of the hear Award by the Sporting News in 2008, 201 and 2012. 

Mike has tapped Ron Turner to be his Offensive coordinator.  Ron has impeccable experience having served 13 years as Head Coach with San Jose, Illinois, and FIU.  His NFL experience includes assistant coaching positions with the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and the Carolina Panthers.

Tim Lewis will serve as team AINA’s Defensive Coordinator.  Lewis was a first round draft pick from the University of Pittsburgh by the Green Bay Packers in the 1983 NFL Draft. His playing career was cut short by a severe neck injury suffered in a Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears .  

Coach Lewis began his coaching career at Texas A&M in 1987.   He was the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Giants. He was the secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and in 2015, Lewis became the defensive backs coach of the San Francisco 49ers, He was named the head coach of the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football.

Coach Smith completes his staff with Tony Wise OFFENSIVE LINE, Johnathan Hayes TIGHT ENDS WIDE RECEIVERS, Gerald Brown RUNNING BACKS, Jay Hayes DEFENSIVE LINE, Bob Sanders LINE BACKERS, and Andrew Weidinger DEFENSIVE BACKS.

Brian Billick will head up the KAI squad.  

Billick was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 1994 to 1998.  The team broke the NFL scoring record in the 1998 season. Following this record setting performance, Billick spent nine seasons as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007.

On January 28, 2001, Billick won Super Bowl XXXV as the Ravens’ head coach in a 34–7 victory over the New York Giants. It was the Ravens’ first Super Bowl appearance. He was inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor in 2019.

Billick will also serve as the Offensive coordinator for the 2022 game.  Coach Billick has selected Wade Phillips as his Defensive Coordinator.  

During his 37 years in the NFL, Coach Phillips served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys. He has also served as interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and the Houston Texans. His career winning percentage as a head coach is .546. Additionally, Phillips is recognized as among the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. During his career, Phillip’s has served as defensive coordinator with seven different franchises (twice with the Denver Broncos).

Coach Billick completes his coaching staff with Mike Tice OFFENSIVE LINE, Taylor Jones TIGHT ENDS, Kevin Sumlin WIDE RECEIVERS, Bill Johnson DEFENSIVE LINE, and Carnell Lake DEFENSIVE BACKS

“We are pleased to welcome this illustrious staff to guide the 2022 Hula Bowl.  Providing the highest level of coaching has been a benchmark over the years at the Hula Bowl, and this year’s coaching lineup continues this tradition, and delivers the penultimate combination of Experience, Character, and W’s.” Said Jennifer Logan, Executive of the Hula Bowl.

The 2022 Hula Bowl (www.hulabowl.com) will be played at the UCF “Bounce House”.  The game will be televised on CBS Sports, with a Noon kick off.

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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