Ashland University cornerbacks / kickoff Return coach / academic coordinator / social media coordinator
Donzale Ashley is getting ready for the start of 2025 football training camp on Monday (Aug. 11).
However, just a week ago, Ashley was working with the National Football League's New Orleans Saints as part of the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He spent a week assisting first-year head coach
Kellen Moore and his staff.
"It was great," said Ashley, entering his third season as an AU assistant coach. "One of my good friends, Brandin Cooks, wide receiver for the Saints, he's a vet there. I had the chance to talk to him and talk about the Bill Walsh a little bit. Kellen pretty much trusted Brandin's word, and it was great.
"When I got down there, they showed me a lot of love and made sure I was taken care of."
The NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is celebrating more than 30 years of helping outstanding coaches gain exposure to NFL training camps and offseason workout programs. The program's objective is to use NFL clubs' training camps, offseason workout programs and mini camps to give talented coaches opportunities to:
- Observe
- Participate
- Gain experience
- Ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position
During the week with the Saints, Ashley said he helped with coaching on the field and on the sidelines. He also took notes in meeting rooms, seeing how the coaches work with professional athletes.
"It's, for the most part, attention to detail," Ashley said. "These guys play at the top level, and they look their coaches in the eyes and say, 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir,' and they get the job done. I loved the way they players, for the most part, interacted with the coaches. It was very professional, and it was very respectful."
This wasn't Ashley's first taste of the NFL, having been in the then-Washington Redskins' rookie mini camp in 2016. That came following a playing career at AU in which he earned second-team Don Hansen All-Super Region Four and first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in 2015, and was a Cliff Harris Award Nominee.
For Ashland head coach
Doug Geiser, Ashley's week with the Saints was a continuation of the growth Ashley has seen in his first two seasons on Geiser's staff.
"From having done guest coaching in the CFL (Canadian Football League), it's very similar," Geiser noted. "It's probably the best professional development thing I've ever done as an assistant coach. It's a great opportunity, and you always want to find ways to grow as a coach. But also, sewing the seeds for the rest of your career, too.
"He had actually come out the summer before he joined us (in 2023) and met with myself and coach Rose (defensive coordinator
Tim Rose) on some defensive stuff, just some coaching questions. We agreed that if we had an opportunity, we would add him. I didn't anticipate it would be as soon as it was. He's done a great job, and Donzale has a great work ethic. He cares, he's very competitive, he takes pride in what he does, and he's a great communicator and teacher."
There definitely is an Ashland University football flavor to current NFL coaching staffs, as Green Bay Packers head coach
Matt LaFleur, Los Angeles Chargers secondary coach
Steve Clinkscale, Atlanta Falcons secondary coach
Justin Hood, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant tight ends coach
Jeff Kastl all either coached or played – or coached and played – for the Eagles.
"My ultimate goal is to get to the NFL," Ashley said. "I had the opportunity when I went to the rookie mini camp…it kind of gave me the perspective of I belong here. Once I started coaching in college, my confidence started building up, and once I got there (New Orleans) and saw how the players came to me for help…that confidence just kept going up.
"I do want to get to that level. I've talked to coach Hood a lot, would love to talk more to coach Clinkscale. There's some great mentors out there, and hopefully one day, I can mentor someone in my shoes."
