six years to life for killing his wife, Lori, in July 2004. It was then that the Harrisburg native joined up with a semi-pro football and began assistant coaching with the Susquehanna Township High School football team. "From day one," said defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who Locust assists on a daily basis in her role. Suh, a nine-year veteran, might have sneered at this first-year coachs lack of NFL experience, her audacity. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. That said, there is some overlap between the two positions in Tennessee, as weve seen a guy like Denico Autry be deployed at outside linebacker in recent years. Hacking was given six years to 2005 after I think its huge, (and) I think its the wave of the future.. Im super thankful, and who knew all those things would happen and Id be a part of so many special moments. Rodgers put her in charge of the rookies and free agents at her first offseason practices, advising her to make herself available for all their questions and concerns. I feel like if were going to say this is a frontier for women, then we need to work for it and earn it and be great coaches. addresses the judge Locusts family always came first, but she committed herself to those long drives and spending that money because her passion was something she couldnt dismiss. Super Bowl Champs! TAMPA, Fla. -- Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar, Super Bowl champs. July, 2004. We have many in Salt Lake City, Utah. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. It wasnt until she turned 40 that Lori Locust decided to go for her dream. Lori Locust is the assistant defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lori Locust's senior football journey started at Central PA Vipers, a women's football team. With the win, a pair of assistants on the teams coaching staff have made history. Last year, Katie Sowers became the first woman to coach in a game. WebUSA TODAY - Mike Moraitis 22d. She didnt get one in 2017. hearing April 15, 2005 Lori Locust named Tennessee Titans' first full-time female coach. It was all out of pocket. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Armed with plenty of experience, the Philly native and Temple grad eventually latched on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made history with the Super Bowl-winning franchise. And people really dont know, like, the backstory or they dont know that youve coached for years and years, and its like, Oh, wow. with his attorney, He recalled how his eyes were opened 25 years ago by Dot Murphy, a longtime coach at Hinds Community College in Mississippi. So when she was asked earlier this week about what it meant to make history with her friends, Washington Football Team full-year coaching intern Jennifer King and Tampa Bay assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar, on Saturday evening the first time there were full-time female coaches on opposing teams in a playoff game well, she was less focused on that. She was one of the best receivers coaches Id ever seen, he said. Updated: Feb 22, 2022 / 05:15 PM EST When Lori Locust was hired by the Bucs, she was one of just a couple women in the NFL. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. In March, as the doomed leagues only season neared its early conclusion, she attended a coaching clinic at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. But theres always been a mutual respect. History was made tonight! Thank you very much in advance. SALT LAKE CITY - APRIL 15: Mark Hacking (R) stands at the podium Please considersupporting our work. need your help for this. Outside linebacker isnt getting a ton of attention with the issues on the offensive side of the ball, but will be a position to keep an eye on this offseason. Mike Moraitis. Who Is Lori Locust? I really do. Grading every Super Bowl ad: Which got As and Fs? When coaches were speaking at hotel conferences, Locust would figure out where the people she wanted to hear were speaking, get the room above it, then sleep on the floor of her hotel room so she could glean some knowledge about the sport she picked up at 40. The pair also weren't the only women to make history in Sunday's game, as referee Sarah Thomas became the first female official at the Super Bowl. , Awesome, Youre All Set! Locust coached in the Alliance of American Football and was an intern for the, "I do look forward to the day that it's no longer newsworthy to be a woman working in the pros, or making the Super Bowl for that matter," Javadifar said Monday, per the, . pic.twitter.com/kgUlMLuBeA. Then we should be able to get an opportunity just like anybody else.. father of murdered, SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 6: Trying to hold back tears, Doug Hacking (L) SALT LAKE CITY - APRIL 15: Mark Hacking is escorted out of the Hacking was given We had a good referee crew out there that handled everything the way it needed to be handled. When King stepped on the sideline Saturday night, she became the first Black female coach to work in a playoff game. Photo provided by Girls Nite In Online. Other women in the Buccaneers organization include scouting assistant Carly Helfand and director of football research Jackie Davidson. Locust inadvertently pointed herself toward the NFL nearly a decade-and-a-half ago. This didnt just happen, she said. Locust is proud that in her second season with the Bucs and head coach Bruce Arians, they can brag about their back-to-back seasons as the top rushing defense, including finishing tied with Arizona for the fourth-most sacks this season. Less than a decade later, and Locus is now the assistant defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That, I think, is where we need to get to as a league, as a country, as a world. Not a subscriber yet? Assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar, right, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Super Bowl LV. Javadifar has a doctorate in physical therapy and was hired as an assistant strength and conditioning coach/physical therapist. She just wanted to be there because she loved the game and she had something to offer. The assistant coaches became the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 31-9 victory at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers were the only NFL team with two female coaches on their staff this season. Her group takes pride in being stout against the run because they know opponents want to run the ball. In the video (which was organized through USAA's Salute To Service initiative), Locust explains her perspective and her journey in becoming the first full-time female killing his wife, Lori Hacking, in July 2004. If teams cannot find success on the ground, Tampa Bays ferocious pass rush can get to work. We acknowledge the fact that there hasn't been many before us, but it's not anything that we keep in the forefront of what we do on a daily basis.". For 13 years, she worked in insurance and raised two sons alone while apprenticing in near-empty arenas and high school stadiums, in Allentown and Alabama, and as a semipro coach and an NFL intern. Locust traveled to Canada, outside of Philadelphia and along the East Coast. of Lori Hacking was sentenced to six years to life Sarah Thomas also made history as the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl, working as the down judge. Locust is a graduate of Susquehanna Township High School in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Arians, who as coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 hired a female intern, Jen Welter, to work with his linebackers, has been a pioneer in the push for women coaches. She actually began her coaching career after playing women's semiprofessional football for four years. And that was on top of working full time and raising her two sons. during his sentencing June 6, Mike Moraitis. Mark Hacking killed his wife in SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 6: Thelma Soares, mother of murdered Lori Instead, she emphasized that the important thing was the path and the work it took to get to that point. It can be training, video, a lot of other avenues. In Arizona, her receiving corps had former Washington special-teamer and wide receiver Rashad Ross, who led the AAF in touchdown receptions. the media after Mark When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV Sunday night, we all became witness to another inspiring victory Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar are the first women assistant coaches to win a Super Bowl. The Buccaneers remain the only team in the NFL with multiple women on their coaching staff. She knows thats what everyone saw, the culmination of 15 years to reach this point. This season, Javadifar and Locust took it a step further. He answered me in a half-hour, Locust said. WebAssistant defensive line coach Lori Locust spoke to the media on Monday in advance of Super Bowl LV between the Chiefs and the Buccaneers. Ive never run into a problem with a player or coach. Mark Hacking killed his wife in July, 2004. But she wasnt out of work for long, joining Titans head coach Mike Vrabels staff on Feb. 4. It was really cool to see the love. Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust Are First Women Coaches to Win a Super Bowl, The Inspiring Way Top Surfers Are Honoring Women Athletes For International Women's Day. A Super Bowl champion with the Bucs following the 2020 season, Locust experienced the highs and lows of NFL coaching business while recognizing and leaning on the value of relationships in the industry to help her land another coaching opportunity. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. for killing his wife, Lori Hacking, in July 2004. I think when you allow it to be an organic (process), this is just another assistant coach, theres really no ripple, theres no problem with it. #GoBucs #NFL pic.twitter.com/3kH3ylXCuG, "She's an extremely talented coach," Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said in a Tampa Bay Times article. She attributes the success to getting the fundamentals down and not overlooking details. Locust has experience with multiple NFL franchises, beginning her coaching career at the professional level with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 as a defensive line "I really value credibility. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Locust graduated from Susquehanna Township High School, where she worked as an assistant coach from 2010-2018. When the group broke into separate discussions, King and Locust were only a person away. Please check your email for a confirmation. This year's game was the 55th Super Bowl. #Titans first female coach will work with Ryan Crow and OLBs. Javadifar, age 30, became the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Buccaneers in 2020, so this was also her second season. Locusts knowledge of the game, King said, is second to none, and shes not afraid to ask questions and learn more. She knew guys like Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles, Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong, Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and running backs coach Todd McNair as fellow students back then. However, we now have a good idea of what her role will be. SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 6: Janet Hacking, Mark Hacking's mother, @BruceArians is a legend. by Sarah Wasilak The @Buccaneers stuck to the diversity playbook of raising the bar and won. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. But I want them to be qualified and experienced. I just want her to encourage them to be that same person.. By that point, her ambition was clear, and in 2017 she took a job guiding the defensive linemen, linebackers and special teams with the now-defunct Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the National Arena League. Chad Reuter provides a stock report from Indianapolis. Before that, she attended the University of Temple. This is a different role than the one Locust saw in Tampa Bay, where she worked with defensive linemen. The Titans have not announced the move. Javadifar was born in Iran, where her mother wasnt even allowed to watch sports, she told Yahoo Sports Shalise Manza Young. https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/05/what-new-titans-assistant-lori-locusts-role-will-be/, Ben Jones overcomes Jeffery Simmons cheating to win pool floatie challenge, PFF projects reasonable contract for Titans' Nate Davis, Jeffery Simmons 'very confident' he'll sign extension after meeting Ran Carthon, List of OTs who may be available to Titans in 2023 NFL free agency, Ranking Titans' top 6 pending free agents based on importance, One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023, List of WRs set to be available to Titans in 2023 NFL free agency, Taylor Lewan honors Jerome Boger's retirement in the best way, Titans 7-round mock draft ahead of NFL Combine workouts, Tennessee Titans prospect meetings tracker for NFL Combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Thats not me. She and her mother fled the country in 1984 and settled in Queens. When she could make it work, when she could make it fit, she found ways to put herself around better coaches, better programs learning, listening, volunteering, doing everything she could to be around football and understand it better. It can be public relations. A Super Bowl champion with the Bucs following the 2020 season, Locust Tom Brady was the deserving Super Bowl LV MVP, so to make things interesting Carmen Vitali and Scott Smith are here to nominate two people other than the G.O.A.T. courtroom April 15, SALT LAKE CITY - APRIL 15: Mark Hacking listens to the judge during for the murder Look around at his current staff and you'll see many of his former players and even staff members from that Temple team in the 1980's. Trailblazers: Sarah Thomas, Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar. Hacking was given Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Gil Athay, stand Kacy Rodgers is the Bucs head defensive line coach. Now, zero. Bucs hammer Chiefs in Super Bowl LV behind Brady, defense, Brady named Super Bowl MVP for record fifth time, Super Bowl betting: Bucs made plenty of people happy. Her and Maral Javadifar also. Shes tough, he said. There's no better example of that than how well Locust was able to assimilate into this staff. murder in the death of Lori lived a That opportunity with the Panthers served as a launching pad toward becoming the assistant wide receivers coach of the Arizona Hotshots of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football and an offensive assistant at Dartmouth. You can tune in for Locusts talk by going to gnionline.com. Web Provided by WHTM Harrisburg Buccaneers fire assistant DL coach Lori Locust, Susquehanna Twp. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Its been quite a year for me, King said. California residents do not sell my data request. Soon enough, they'll get their Super Bowl rings, just like Tom Brady and the rest of the Buccaneers. Mark Hacking (R) his wife, Lori Hacking, in July 2004. Shes a grinder. I might look like an overnight success from the back end, but this has been a long time coming.. We don't see her as a woman, we only see her as Coach Lo and she steps in and performs her role admirably.". From there, she was coaching in semi-pro leagues, a womens league and youth leagues, per the AP. Hacking was given six years "I do look forward to the day that it's no longer newsworthy to be a woman working in the pros or making the Super Bowl for that matter," Javadifar said last week.