Huge Setback: After Quarreling With the Head Coach, St. Louis Battlehawks key player Departed From the Team..
Joining the newly established UFL, the St. Louis Battlehawks are ready to take the city by storm once more. The return of Head Coach Anthony Becht and his crew is fantastic news for the league and the fans alike.
With an average attendance of more than 35,000 per game in 2023, the Battlehawks proved to be a great asset to the XFL. The supporters obviously enjoyed the attitude and enthusiasm that the organization delivered each and every week, and the city embraced its team even greater than they did back in 2020.
Let’s examine the people who will be running St. Louis’s backstage operations this season.
Anthony Becht Head Coach
Last year, Anthony Becht had a warm reception in the XFL, when he accepted his first head coaching position. Despite missing the postseason, Becht enjoyed a great deal of success overall. Despite winning seven games, St. Louis was unable to qualify for the postseason because of the competitive Division.
Becht was a tight end in the National Football League for a number of years, mostly with the New York Jets. He was signed by multiple organizations before ending his career in 2011 as a member of the Chiefs.
Anthony was the tight end coach for the San Diego Fleet in the Alliance of American Football, working under Mike Martz. Now that he’s in charge of one of the most prestigious spring football teams, he’ll try to get the squad into the postseason this year.
His coaching views were accepted by the club, and it’s obvious that the group as a whole appreciates his contributions. WR Darrius Shepherd said last week on Around The UFL that he serves as a “players coach.”
Bruce Gradkowski, coordinator of offenses
It’s Bruce Gradkowski in the Lou again. In 2023, Bruce enjoyed considerable success with quarterback AJ McCarron, as St. Louis boasted one of the most explosive offensive groups in the entire XFL.
Gradkowski possesses a wealth of expertise in both coaching and playing. Fun fact: Gradkowski and Becht were teammates on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. In the 2006 season, they connected for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Before joining Toledo as an offensive assistant in 2022, Bruce served as head coach of St. Francis de Sales High School in 2021. Since then, he has worked for Becht in St. Louis, and in 2024, the two will collaborate once more.
Defensive Coordinator Donnie Abraham
Like Becht, defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham has extensive ties to the NFL. He played for both the Tampa Bay Bucs and the New York Jets.
At Tarpon Springs High School in Florida, Abraham started his coaching career as the defensive backs coach. Since then, he has served as a DB coach in the Arena Football League (Tampa Bay Storm), in high school, and in colleges. Donnie played for the Orlando Apollos in the AAF as well.
During the dispersal draft process, the Battlehawks acquired a ton of defensive quality; this squad is loaded. In 2024, expect Abraham’s unit to increase pressure frequently.
Running backs/Special Teams’ Kyle Caskey
A new member of the St. Louis Battlehawks staff is Kyle Caskey. Caskey, who has a wealth of experience in both college and the NFL, will take on the roles of Special Teams and Running Backs coach.
Prior to relocating to Indiana State as a recruiting coordinator, Kyle worked as a graduate assistant at Louisiana-Monroe. After that, he made the move to the NFL, where he currently works for the Cincinnati Bengals as the offensive quality control coach. Caskey stayed with the Bengals through 2018 after being elevated to the position of running backs coach.
Following spells with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars in recent years, Kyle will now play for the Battlehawks of the United Football League.
Wide Receivers | Phil McGeoghan
In 2024, Phil McGeoghan replaces Ricky Proehl as wide receivers coach since the latter is no longer employed by Anthony. When it comes to experience, McGeoghan is a valuable asset to St. Louis.
After his playing career ended, he started working as a wide receivers coach in Maine. In 2012, Phil joined the NFL as an assistant to the Miami Dolphins. In 2015, he became the head coach of the Wide Receivers. When McGeoghan left the NFL in 2020, he worked as a wide receivers coach for three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Phil most recently served as the wide receivers’ coach for the Colorado coaching staff in 2022.
Gino Gradkowski | Line of Attack
The last name should give it away: Gino Gradkowski is OC Bruce’s brother. Gino spent six years as an NFL player, playing for many different organizations. Most famously, he was selected in the 2012 Super Bowl by the Baltimore Ravens, who went on to win the championship.
#UFL Update: @XFLBattlehawks have revealed that @Anthony_Becht’s coaching staff will welcome Gino Gradkowski as new offensive line coach. Bruce Gradkowski, the Battlehawks’ offensive coordinator, has a younger brother named Gino Gradkowski./85qBkeGstR; #AFN pic.twitter.com
Feb. 21, 2024 — Avion Plummer (@Avionp2418)
Since then, Gino has been Rowan University’s offensive line coach. He currently teams up with his brother to try and win a UFL Championship with St. Louis.
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La’Roi Glover | Line of Defense
In 2024, La’Roi Glover rejoins the St. Louis Battlehawks personnel group as the defensive line coach. In addition to spending more than ten years in the NFL as a defensive tackle, Glover spent one season in 1997 playing with the Barcelona Dragons.
Glover served as the Los Angeles Chargers’ assistant defensive line coach in 2019–2020 after serving in same capacity with the New York Jets in 2017–2018. He’s back now with St. Louis for his second spring football season.
Note: La’Roi was the Rams’ Director of Player Engagement from 2010 to 2016, therefore he has prior experience in St. Louis.
Linebackers Chris Claiborne
Former first-round pick Chris Claiborne was selected by the Detroit Lions in 1999. He spent a number of years playing in the NFL, with the Jacksonville Jaguars being his final team in 2007.
In 2018 and 2019, Claiborne led Calabasas High School in his first coaching position. The record for his club was 17-6 in those two seasons. After that, Chris worked as a linebackers coach for a while at USC and Arizona State before joining St. Louis for the 2023 XFL season.
