Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer has assembled the majority of his coaching staff for the 2010 United Football League season.

A staff of NFL-seasoned and emerging coaches will lead the Colonials when they kick off the second UFL campaign this fall. The coaches are meeting as offensive and defensive groups in the Connecticut state capital this week to formulate the team’s game plan and prepare for a 10-game season that includes five home games at the Colonials’ Rentschler Field home stadium in East Hartford.

“We are excited to announce our staff and begin developing our football program,” said Coach Palmer. “We have coaches that have a passion for football and enjoy helping young players develop. It was good to get together and discuss football.”

Hartford Colonials Coaching Staff:

Chris Palmer- Head Coach and General Manager
Ted Daisher- Defensive Line
Oji Fagan- Running Backs
Frank Hauser- Linebackers
Jerry Holmes- Secondary
Osia Lewis- Defensive Coordinator
Dave Ragone- Wide Receivers/ Quarterback
Tony Sparano- Assistant Defensive Line
Shane Waldron- Tight Ends
Todd Washington- Offensive Line

Chris Palmer, Head Coach and General Manager: Played football at Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT, and was a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State University before a successful spell coaching at the University of New Haven from 1986-87, posting consecutive 8-2 records. Most recently, Palmer tutored Eli Manning with the New York Giants from 2007 to 2009 and ultimately won a Super Bowl XLII ring.

Ted Daisher, Defensive Line: Was the Special Teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and before that from 2004 to 2005. He has also coached with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.

Oji Fagan, Running Backs: Spent the last five seasons coaching the Hudson Valley Vikings. He was a four-year letter winner at the University of Albany and since has coached with Stonehill College in Massachusetts and worked with the New York Giants as a coaching intern.

Frank Hauser, Linebackers: A well-known local figure who coached in Connecticut with Wesleyan University for 24 years and was the head coach of the Cardinals for the last 18 seasons. He is also a physical education professor at Wesleyan.

Jerry Holmes, Secondary: Was the head coach at Hampton University in 2008 having spent five years coaching in the NFL with San Diego, Washington and Cleveland and played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly with the New York Jets.

Osia Lewis, Defensive Coordinator: Was the defensive coordinator at UTEP having coached previously at New Mexico and the University of Illinois. Following a standout college career at Oregon State, he played in the CFL and AFL.

Dave Ragone, Wide Receivers / Quarterbacks: Finished his college career as the second-leading passer in Louisville school history and was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Won NFL Europe MVP honors in 2005.

Tony Sparano, Assistant Defensive Line coach: Was a three-year letterman at the University of Albany. His father is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Shane Waldron, Tight Ends: Was the tight ends coach of the New England Patriots in 2009 having previously served as an offensive assistant with the Patriots and as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame. He played football at Tufts University.

Todd Washington, Offensive Line: Was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the University of San Diego. During an eight-year NFL career played with the Houston Texans and won a Super Bowl XXXVII ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Group and season tickets to Hartford Colonials games will go on sale in April and the team’s new logo and uniforms will also be unveiled in the coming months. Sports fans can call 860-718-0141 for more information about the Colonials.

Social networking Colonials fans eager to interact with fellow fans can do so at:
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague
http://www.facebook.com/HartfordColonials
http://www.twitter.com/theUFL
http://www.twitter.com/theColonials