Former Steelers Merril Hoge and Bubby Brister will be teaming up on the football field again, but this time they will be coaching and not playing.
Hoge was previously named the head coach of the 2011 U.S. Under-15 National Team and added Brister to his staff as the quarterbacks coach.
Hoge and Brister will help lead Team USA during the first USA Football Under-15 International Development Week in Canton, Ohio from July 16-24. Joining Team USA will be teams from Canada and Sweden.
The two played together for the Steelers for six seasons and formed a friendship that made it a no-brainer when Hoge asked Brister to be one of the coaches.
"Merril asked me to come out and help and I accepted right away," said Brister, who has previously worked football camps training young quarterbacks. "I enjoy working with young players, teaching proper fundamentals – it's inspiring and exciting to help a player develop."
During his NFL career Brister threw for 14,445 yards and 81 touchdowns, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a zest for the game to Team USA.
"Our players, as well as those from Canada and Sweden, will enjoy learning from Bubby – he's an extraordinary teacher, and I'm proud to have him on our staff," said Hoge. "We're excited to help develop these young men as players and people during our week together in Canton. This will be a tremendous week to celebrate, learn and enjoy the world's greatest sport and its team-first values."
Those taking part in the Development Week, which includes 26 players from 15 states on Team USA and another 30 on the U.S. Development Team, were nominated based on 2010 USA Football Player Academy skill evaluations.
The Development Week will focus on football as well as other important topics, as each team will play two games and have seven-on-seven exhibitions, joint practices and educational seminars for the players and parents.
About USA FootballUSA Football, the sport's national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and awards $1 million annually in equipment grants to youth and high school football programs based on merit and need. Endowed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
