Familiar faces joining USFL coaching staffs

Names familiar to area football fans are back to work next week as the USFL opens training camps.

Three former members of coaching staffs at LSU under Les Miles and Ed Orgeron have been named as assistant coaches.

John Chavis, who spent six years as defensive coordinator under Miles, will be the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach of the Birmingham Stallions. Joining him on the Stallions’ defensive staff as line coach is former Saints and LSU assistant Bill Johnson.

Greg McMahon, who announced his retirement once Brian Kelly replaced Orgeron at LSU, has un-retired to serve as special teams and tight ends coach for the Houston Gamblers. McMahon also spent more than a decade on Sean Payton’s staff with the Saints, including nine years as special teams coordinator.

Former Tulane assistant coach Kwahn Drake is the defensive line coach for the Michigan Panthers.

The New Orleans Breakers staff under head coach Larry Fedora includes veteran offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, offensive line coach Jim Turner, wide receivers coach Pat Washington, defensive line coach Paul Spicer and secondary coach Nathan Burton. Matt Butterfield and Greg Patrick will serve as team assistants.

The USFL season opens the weekend of April 16-17, with all regular-season games in 2022 being played in Birmingham.