Meet THE COAches

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Coach Tyrell Escoffery was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He played both basketball and football growing up, but found his love for football soar when he joined the Brooklyn Skyhawks at 11 years old.  Tyrell went on to play for Brooklyn Technical High School, where he would become a NYC All-City Linebacker in 2006. He later played collegiate football at Southern Connecticut State University where he earned NE-10 All-Conference honors as a linebacker, and SCSU Defensive MVP in 2007. Tyrell graduated from The University at Albany in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance, and has had an opportunity to work in the investment banking, tech startup, non-profit, and entertainment industries.

Best Football Memory

"Senior year of high school, 21-20 goal line stand against Canarsie to close the game out in the 4th quarter. They tried to go for two but we weren't having it! Greatest thing about that memory is that I'm still creating more with those same teammates to this day"

3 Things Football Taught Me 

Work Ethic

Accountability

Resiliency

   Coach Malcolm Davis' passion for football began at a very early age, playing in the rock & glass- filled lot that is now Brooklyn Tech field. As a freshman at Brooklyn Tech my parents were against me playing football, so I forged my mom's signature on the forms in order to play. The "discipline" received after was well worth it, as I went on to earn a reputation as an intense and physical linebacker. It was also at Tech where my love for training, plyometrics, and athletic performance was born.

This reputation continued through his short collegiate football career. While many claim their careers were cut short due to injury, "I can humbly say mine was derailed due to poor life choices. Incredible lessons were learned from my experiences, that have made me a better person and mentor throughout my coaching career."

Coach Davis career as a coach has had him blowing his whistle at Brooklyn Tech H.S. (1992- 2007, 2015- current), Xaverian H.S. (CHSFL 2007-2012), and as a consultant to the Springfield Rifles Youth Football Organization. During this time he coached numerous athletes with All-City & All-State recognition in football, Track & Field, and girls basketball. Among the more notable players have been Keron Henry, Roger Knight, and Oday Aboushi.

As a Strength Coach, Coach Davis has trained athletes from the amateur to professional levels, ranging from football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, track & field, ice hockey, and MMA.  This coaching has included Strength & Athletic performance development, injury rehabilitation, and speed development.

Best Football Memory 

"I won a championship at the youthful age of 42 years young with the Kings Bay Knights, and have played with numerous teams and have memories from them all.

If I had to choose my favorite memory, it would be this.. 

The first game my parents attended was in college.  A Tight End ran a drag thru my zone, and as he attempted to catch the ball I launched myself at him like a projectile, knocking him unconscious. After the game dad  tells me that my mom went CRAZY in the stands, singing "Momma said knock you out!"

My parents attended every game that season and many more the next few years" 

3 Things Football Taught Me

Consistency 

Determination

Perserverance

 Coach Jerome Brown has served the youth in our community for 28 years, and his passion for the game of football is second to none. When he arrived in New York City from Monroe, Louisiana in 1992, the first thing that the former Louisiana Tech Line Backer did was look for a football field. The story goes that while in search for Boys and Girls High School, he made a wrong turn at Brooklyn Tech High School field and landed a coaching position that day. Coach Brown would end up becoming the longest tenured Defensive Coordinator at Brooklyn Tech and the school’s first African American head coach. Renowned throughout the PSAL coaching circuit for his knowledge of defensive schemes and player development, he has coached a long line of players who have gone on to play both collegiate and professional football, including Roger Knight, Danny Flores, and Keron Henry.

Throughout his career, Coach Brown has consistently demonstrated sportsmanship, an unselfish spirit, and an unmatched devotion to his players and students. In 2019, he was awarded a Citation from Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams for his outstanding commitment to community well-being. 

Best Football Memory

"While I was playing at Louisiana Tech, I blocked a punt in our annual rivalry game with Louisiana-Lafayette and we ran it back for a touchdown to end the game 24-23"

3 Things  Football Taught Me

Determination

Toughness 

Intensity

Coach K.J. Stroud is the founder of Playmakers Academy, and has partnered with B4TA as our Wide Receiver Positional Director. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he played his prep/post graduate football at Fort Hamilton HS and Fork Union Military Academy. In January of 2008, he enrolled at Rutgers University playing under current Scarlet knights Head Coach Greg Schiano. K.J.’s college career concluded at Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach FL under Head Coach Brian Jenkins. In 2013, K.J. signed as an undrafted free agent to the New York Jets.

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In 2014 K.J. embarked on his new journey as a football coach, coaching the wide receivers at Grand Street Campus H.S. While at Grand Street, he mentored the top three receivers in the State of New York - Taysir Mack, Ahmed Bah, and Kareem Davis. In 2017, Coach K.J. transitioned to a new opportunity as the Offensive Coordinator/ Receivers coach at Erasmus Hall H.S. In his time at Erasmus, he has mentored a plethora of players that have gone on to sign scholarships at the collegiate level including Sean Ryan, Aron Cruickshank, Andrew Thomas, and Justin Bellido.

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For several consecutive seasons Coach K.J. has been a driving force for mentoring some of the top WRs in NY.

Best Football Memory

"My favorite football moment, had to be in 2013 when I was going through the pre draft and actual draft process. I remember for two months working my hardest. I made a lot of sacrifices just to earn a NFL contract. Working out twice a day being very strict with my diet. It was very repetitive but it was the formula for what I wanted. 

The draft process was unique, I had the opportunity to workout for a few teams after I posted unbelievable numbers at my pro day and other NFL Regional Combines. Once all the pre draft concluded and it was draft day to be honest I didn’t watch the draft. I spent the few days just mingling with my friends and only the final day I was with Calvin “Megatron” Johnson at a sporting event. Finally around the later rounds of the draft I started to make my way around my family at a bowling alley where things started to pick up. My agent started to receive calls from teams I started to receive text messages from teams I workout pre draft New York Jets and Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

As it got closer to concluding round 7 of the NFL draft I literally just remembered telling my best friend of 20 years. “I’m going to the Jets.” He was actually a huge JETS fan. I received a phone call from the Jets seconds after the draft ended and was offered a contract. 

In that very moment everything I ever did with this game flashed before me. From the first days at Parade Grounds to Betsy Head Park to Fort Hamilton HS to Military School to Rutgers University to Bethune Cookman University. I saw myself in every jersey I had worn to now be living out my dream and being able to say, I’m a professional athlete."

3 Things Football Taught Me

Character

Commitment

Consistency

 Coach James Gales Jr. hails from Lower Manhattan, NY.  There wasn’t much he didn’t try in terms of sports as a kid, but due to his early development he found success in youth football with lower Manhattan’s only youth team, the Downtown Giants.  He went on to play for Brooklyn Technical High School, where he’d become 3-time All Brooklyn, 2-time All-City, All-State, Brooklyn’s OPOY and the PSAL Wingate Award Winner (2013) at the RB position.  After Tech he went on to Princeton University and was named 1st Team All-Ivy in 2016 at the CB position. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2017. Post college he went on to play professionally overseas and continues to play to this day. 

Best Football Memory

 “My best football memory without a doubt  comes from my sophomore year at Tech.  During the regular season we played Thomas Jefferson during our homecoming and lost a hard fought game that we had the opportunity to win in the 4th.  But we ended up getting our revenge in the first round of the playoffs after a 4th and 9 conversion and subsequent touchdown to send the game into OT.  After 2 OT periods we got a 2pt conversion stop and I scored the game winning TD and conversion.” 

3 Things Football Taught Me

Patience

Perseverance

Perspective

 Coach Rick Kirkland was raised in Paterson, NJ. Growing up in the Christopher Columbus Projects, he was exposed to a high level of competition by family and friends. Inspired by his older cousins,  Coach Rick was devoted to becoming a professional football by the age of 6. His ideal goal was to use football as a tool to move the family out of the projects and inspire lives. Coach Rick played QB and DB for Passaic County Tech in Wayne, NJ. In 2007, he played his first season as a cornerback at Cheyney University in one of the most competitive Division II conference (PSAC).  After one season, he transferred to Southern Connecticut State University. By the end of his collegiate career, he had earned 1st Team All Conference and 1st Team ECAC at cornerback. Graduating with a BA in Sociology, Coach Rick went on to work with youth in various capacities. He continued his sports career playing  professional rugby at an elite level around the world.

 
Best Football Memory 

" There was nothing I enjoyed more than being one of the youngest kids playing football outside in the snow in the projects where I grew up.. It taught me I was tough"

3 Things Football Taught Me

Mindfulness

Resilience

Community

 Coach Georges Gedin aka 'Coach G' out of Brooklyn, NY is a true NYC football story. A love for football which blossomed from playing football in the street with friends, to and through the halls of Brooklyn Technical High School where he would be named captain and chosen as an  All-City Defensive end in 2008. He went on to play collegiate football, first at Nassau Community College where he was selected Second Team All-NE football conference, and finishing his college career at Shaw University where he would lead in all defensive statistics for the team his senior year. Coach G still plays football to this day, playing semi-professional football for the Brooklyn Seminoles where he has helped lead his team to 6 League Championships and 2 National Titles in seven years.

Best Football Memory
"Down at Shaw a game went to overtime and we had scored on our possession - One stop and we win the game. First play of defense I'm able to shed the tackle and make the tackle on the ball carrier with no problem.  I get my hand on the football and rip it out of the RB's hands like nothing. My best friend on the team at the time (dog corner!) gets the recovery! Best feeling ever sealing the game away for my team like that!"

3 Things Football Taught Me

Discipline
Teamwork
Perseverance

 Coach Darnel Thomas was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in West Caldwell, NJ. He started his athletic career in basketball but quickly found his calling in football when he moved to New Jersey and started playing at 11 years old. Darnel played Running Back for James Caldwell High School, where he achieved All-County and All-Group Honors. He was also named team captain his freshman and senior years, in addition to receiving the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award. 

After James Caldwell he continued his career at Union College, being named captain his senior year, and achieving 2x Offensive MVP, All-Liberty League Second Team (2013), and All-Liberty League First Team (2014) honors along the way. Darnel graduated from Union College in 2015 with a Biology degree and has since went on to helping people with their health as a personal trainer.

Best Football Memory
" My favorite football memory looking back is fracturing my femur during the preseason my sophomore year. I wasn’t able to play for a majority of the year, but that moment was definitely  a turning point for my mindset not only in sports but in life. Nothing is guaranteed in life and anything can be taken away at any moment. From that moment on my mindset has been that I’m not going to do anything that I wont take seriously and put my all in to."

3 Things Football Taught Me

 Mental Toughness 

Hard Work Pays Off

Selflessness 

 Coach Adolph Bellamy was born in Bronx, NY and raised in Brooklyn. He was first introduced to football at Brooklyn Tech High School where he fell in love with the sport immediately. He used his first season to get acclimated to the sport, and the first offseason to prepare himself physically so he could excel. Coach Bellamy would go on to start the next three years at defensive end, becoming the team’s sack leader and earning All-Brooklyn and All-NYC honors in 2007. He continued his playing career at Southern Connecticut State University as a defensive end and outside linebacker for four more years. After graduating with a BS in Athletic Training, Coach Bellamy has continued to teach the importance of physical health as a personal trainer with over 10 years of experience. 

Best Football Memory
" My favorite football memory would be during the NYC vs LI Boomer game in 2007. I was on the second unit of defense and I remember discussing with my fellow defensive linemen about the importance of making the best of each play. We did exactly that resulting in us starting the entire second half, not allowing a single score and allowing our offense to take the lead. On their final drive I sacked the quarterback on third down, which sealed the game for us.."

3 Things Football Taught Me

Selflessness
Perseverance
Effective Time Management