http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...p-chargers-shula-dolphins-20161111-story.html
A coach named Shula will be on hand when the Miami Dolphins and the Chargers square off Sunday in Mission Valley.
Chris Shula, a grandson of Dolphins Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula, is a Chargers aide on defense.
Don Shula, who retired from coaching in 1996, is still the all-time leader in NFL victories. He directed six teams to Super Bowls, winning two.
Chris, 30, is making a name for himself as well. As a quality control coach who joined Mike McCoy’s staff in 2015, he works long hours even by NFL standards.
“He’s my lifeline,” Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano said. “He does everything for me. The playbook. The drawings. Breakdowns (of film and data). He’s really the guy that keeps giving me a ton of information.”
In addition to his highly exacting digital tasks, Shula coaches defensive linemen at every practice as an aide to line coach Giff Smith.
Pagano, when asked if he’s pleased with Shula, was brief in his reply.
“Pleased? He’s outstanding,” he said.
Chris, who played linebacker for Miami of Ohio, where his position coach was Chargers special teams coach Craig Aukerman, said he converses with his grandfather, now 86, every month or two.
He attempts to carry out Don Shula’s advice.
“Try to learn something every single day. That’s his big thing,” Chris said. “He always wanted to be around smart people, hire smart coaches. Each coach is an expert at some position, some thing. And the more you can learn every single day, the better you’ll be in the end.”
A coach named Shula will be on hand when the Miami Dolphins and the Chargers square off Sunday in Mission Valley.
Chris Shula, a grandson of Dolphins Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula, is a Chargers aide on defense.
Don Shula, who retired from coaching in 1996, is still the all-time leader in NFL victories. He directed six teams to Super Bowls, winning two.
Chris, 30, is making a name for himself as well. As a quality control coach who joined Mike McCoy’s staff in 2015, he works long hours even by NFL standards.
“He’s my lifeline,” Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano said. “He does everything for me. The playbook. The drawings. Breakdowns (of film and data). He’s really the guy that keeps giving me a ton of information.”
In addition to his highly exacting digital tasks, Shula coaches defensive linemen at every practice as an aide to line coach Giff Smith.
Pagano, when asked if he’s pleased with Shula, was brief in his reply.
“Pleased? He’s outstanding,” he said.
Chris, who played linebacker for Miami of Ohio, where his position coach was Chargers special teams coach Craig Aukerman, said he converses with his grandfather, now 86, every month or two.
He attempts to carry out Don Shula’s advice.
“Try to learn something every single day. That’s his big thing,” Chris said. “He always wanted to be around smart people, hire smart coaches. Each coach is an expert at some position, some thing. And the more you can learn every single day, the better you’ll be in the end.”
