SCOUTING REPORT | From Pierre to the NFL, thieving from Air Force One, NRA's hunting education

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Steve Steele’s tenure as the head coach of the Pierre T.F. Riggs High School football team hasn’t been particularly long, but boy, it’s been successful.

Steele started at Riggs in 2016. Last season he celebrated his record-setting seventh consecutive state championship. His success hasn’t escaped the notice of the NFL.

Steele was one of 25 coaches selected to attend a coaching academy launched by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DRG News reports. The academy will take place May 6-14, and it is intended to give candidates a path to an NFL coaching staff. The coaches will receive scholarships. 

More than 1,500 people from around the world applied for selection to the academy. Steele’s class includes five women and two international coaches. 

“The inaugural class of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Coaching Academy will receive on-field experience, interactive sessions, business insights, media training, film review and instruction on key football software with NFL players, coaches and staff,” DRG News reports. “Participants will be given hands-on instruction and networking opportunities with Buccaneers coaches and staff members.”

The academy will take place during the Bucs’ rookie minicamp. Five of the inaugural academy participants will be selected for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship that will take place for training camp and preseason.

“The Fellowship,” DRG News notes, “created in 1987, is designed to open pathways for minority coaches into the league.”

Might this be an opportunity for Steele to move on from Pierre? Some of his opposing 11AA coaches might be hoping so.