Whitehaven coach to lead high school all-star team

Whitehaven coach to lead high school all-star team
Submitted by Jeramia Trotter, WMCTV.com
Thursday, December 16th, 1:54 pm
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Whitehaven coach to lead high school all-star team

Football gurus Rodney Saulsberry and Jeff Dicus were selected as the two head coaches in the National Underclassmen Combine's inaugural All World Gridiron Classic.

Since taking over a struggling Whitehaven program in 2003, Saulsberry has won more than 70 percent of his games while making his squad a fixture in the Tennessee State Playoffs. 2010 was his best year to date, guiding the Mighty Tigers to a 12-2 record and their first ever state semifinal appearance. He also gives back to the sport, holding an annual academic workshop to drive his players to become students first.

"Coach Saulsberry is one of top young coaches in America," said Schuman. "He has develop his team at Whitehaven HS from a subpar program into a perennial power in the state of Tennessee. His innovative offense and developing of young men is why he is successful and one of the coaches of the NUC All World Game."

While Schuman was all smiles upon announcing his two coaches, the well respected Saulsberry is equally as happy about the opportunity to work with some of the world's very best football players.

"It is a great opportunity to (see some of the world's best) talent," said Saulsberry. "Coach Schuman and his staff have put together an outstanding event. This will also do great things for our program. "

Much like the man he will be coaching against, Dicus also has an outstanding resume.

With 27 years of coaching experience including 13 years as the chief commander, Dicus' squads have won more than 200 games along with three state titles. Dicus, the current coach at Texas' Duncanville High School, earned numerous Coach of the Year honors in addition to raising upwards of $50,000 to help his football program.

"Jeff Dicus is one the top HS coaches in the country," said NUC CEO and President Coach David Schuman. "His character, organization and love for developing kids, as well as his immense success on the field at Duncanville and other schools is why he is one the NUC All World Coach. He is a great coach in an amazing state for football."

Dicus, who has accomplished just about everything imaginable, is thrilled to be coaching in the All World Gridiron Classic.

“I'm extremely excited to be(coaching in the) inaugural NUC All World Gridiron Classic game," said Dicus. "(I am) looking forward to meeting and coaching these very talented young men. (I'm honored) to coach at a place with such storied history as the Citadel and the opportunity to work with a fantastic group of coaches. Knowing Dave Schuman this will be a first class All Star game."

The NUC All-World Gridiron Classic will showcase 114 elite high school seniors from all across the globe in a unique All-Star Game. Players from the two squads, Team NUC and Team World, will be drafted from the ground up by the coaching staff to ensure a level playing field. There will also be a full week of events leading up to game day for select All-World Underclassmen including 7 on 7's, linemen challenges and a combine.

More than 100 elite seniors have accepted invites to participate in the NUC All-World Gridiron Classic thus far, including Nationally Rated Defensive Lineman and North Carolina bound Devonte Brown (Fayetteville, NC), Oklahoma commit Kameel Jackson (Arlington, TX) and wideout Junior Pomee (Moreno Valley, CA) amongst others.

The NUC All-World Gridiron Classic kicks off from Columbia, SC at the Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium Friday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Fox College Sports.

Information provided by the NUC All-World Gridiron Classic.

Photo courtesy Flickr user mahphotography.