Valparaiso University head football coach Landon Fox has announced five additions to his coaching staff including a pair of individuals who have played in the National Football League.
Gibran Hamdan has been named the team’s wide receivers coach, Stanford Routt will coach the team’s cornerbacks, Dayven Coleman joins the staff as nickelbacks coach, Justin Bosch will serve as running backs coach and Evan Matthes will remain at his alma mater to handle special teams quality control.
Hamdan played quarterback in the NFL from 2003-2010, playing for the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft by Washington after playing his college football at Indiana, where he was a two-sport athlete who also played baseball. He passed for 2,115 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior season for the Hoosiers.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Valparaiso University football program as the wide receivers coach,” Hamdan said. “Valparaiso’s rich tradition of excellence and commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field aligns perfectly with my coaching philosophy. I look forward to working with this talented group of players and coaches and contributing to the continued success of the program.”
Hamdan also played in NFL Europe in Amsterdam, Netherlands during the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was a two-time captain, twice leading his team to NFL Europe World Bowl Championship game appearances. He was the 2006 NFL Europe MVP and finished with the highest passer rating in NFL Europe history.
Following his NFL career, Hamdan has built his well-versed portfolio as a one-on-one quarterback coach, a digital creator and a small business owner and operator in addition to providing strategic consulting services to Division-I NCAA football programs. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in marketing in May 2002 and was the president of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during his college years.
“Gibran decided he wanted to get back into college football to give back,” Fox said. “That resonated with me that he wanted to help other people versus the business side of things. You can see that in the way that he interacts with the coaching staff and players. That’s important for player development. Winning is very important to him as well. He played at a high level and is an unbelievable person and outside-the-box thinker.”
Routt was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Houston and played for the Raiders for seven seasons from 2005-2011. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans during the 2012 season and was part of the Baltimore Ravens organization in 2013.
“I’ve always been fond of midwestern football,” Routt said. “I’m beyond excited to be a Beacon.”
Routt played in 119 NFL games and made 60 starts including three different seasons where he started almost every game for the Raiders. He had 12 career interceptions, two forced fumbles, 265 tackles and one defensive touchdown. After his playing career, Routt went the sports broadcasting route, working for NFL Network from 2006-2011 before time at Sirius XM, KTBU Houston, CBS Sports Radio, Yahoo Sports Radio, iHeart Media Radio, ESPN, Fox Sports and more.
Routt began his coaching career at St. Thomas High School in Houston from 2017-2021 before serving as an assistant defensive backs coach at the University of Houston in 2022 and 2023. He helped his alma mater to a Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl championship and 8-5 record in 2022.
Like Hamdan, Routt was a multi-sport athlete in college. He was an NCAA Outdoor All-American in track & field after placing third in the 200-meter dash at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He holds a degree in kinesiology and sports administration from Houston. He had a 40-yard dash time of 4.27 seconds at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine, which at the time was a record.
“Stanford was one of the best corners in the NFL and has done sports broadcasting at the highest level, which will help him in recruiting when it comes to talking with people,” Fox said. “He could be doing a lot of different things, but he wants to coach college football. With his experience, that says a lot about who he is and what he wants to do. He wants to give back.”
Bosch served as the wide receivers coach at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He spent time as the wide receivers coach at Kenyon College from March to August 2022 after getting his coaching start as the wide receivers coach at Coral Gables Senior High School in 2020.
“I decided to come to Valpo because, as a competitor, I wanted to learn from a great staff while competing and winning games at the highest level possible for me,” Bosch said. “Valpo gave me that opportunity.”
Bosch was a captain and leadership council member while playing at Kenyon College from 2017-2021. He participated in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in June 2020 and the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in April 2019. He was the Men of Color Chief of Public Relations and Secretary during his time at Kenyon.
“Justin comes to us from Rochester, which is a high academic, Division-III engineering school,” Fox said. “He understands what kind of fit we’re looking for at a strong academic school like ours. He understands how to attract really good football players who are also really good students. He is from Florida and has some recruiting ties in that state.”
Coleman joins the Valpo staff after serving as a defensive line assistant at UNLV during the spring of 2024. He was a linebackers graduate assistant and transfer portal coordinator at Austin Peay State University during the 2023 campaign. Coleman’s past experience also includes time at SMU as a recruiting assistant in spring 2023.
“I chose Valpo based on the coaching staff, a great mixture of younger and older coaches who all have the same common goal, which is to win,” Coleman said.
Coleman played linebacker and safety at the University of Arizona in 2018 and 2019 and linebacker at Stephen F. Austin in 2020. The Dallas native earned a degree in human sciences / human development and family from Stephen F. Austin.
“Dayven was a very good football player at Arizona and is a young guy who wants to get into coaching,” Fox said. “He has FCS experience at Austin Peay and FBS experience at UNLV. He’s seen it done at our level and a higher level. He can bring different thoughts and ideas to our program. He’s hungry and is excited about the opportunity to get on the field and coach.”
Matthes punted for Valpo in 2022 and 2023 after beginning his collegiate playing career at West Virginia from 2018-2021. He was named to the 2023 FCS Bowl, was an FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist and was a member of the All-PFL First Team after ranking third in program history with a single-season punting average of 43.2, which led the PFL.
“I’m excited to be able to start my career in coaching at a school I also played for and with my former teammates because I still have a great understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish as a team,” Matthes said. “I understand the culture of the team and what the expectation is for each of our players.”
Matthes earned his master’s in sports administration from Valpo after graduating from West Virginia with a degree in sport and exercise psychology.
“We’re excited to keep Evan on board,” Fox said. “He’s provides a lot of value in terms of understanding kicking and punting. It’s huge for our program to have someone who has played that position. He’s an unbelievable person, and it says a lot about how he feels about our program that he wanted to stay around as part of our staff.”
RJ Ghilarducci has been elevated to assistant head coach. He will instruct the defensive line this season and will continue to serve as co-defensive coordinator. Jack Jarnigan will serve as recruiting coordinator in addition to his role as tight ends coach. Offensive line coach Michael Brewster joins Routt and Hamdan to make it three former NFL players on Valpo’s 2024 coaching staff.
What They’re Saying About Coach Hamdan
Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator: “Gibran has an outstanding football mind. He understands offensive football from the QB’s perspective. His ability to teach and communicate will make him an excellent football coach.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Former NFL Quarterback: “Gibran has the unique ability to make those around him better. The players will benefit from his on-field leadership and knowledge of the game, but more importantly, he will make them better men.”
Lofa Tatupu, Former NFL Linebacker: “Gibran is someone who any staff would be lucky to have. He was an incredible multi-sport athlete in his day, which gives him great perspective and the tools to sharpen any player’s skills. My favorite quality about Gibran is his ability to create. He thinks differently, and I believe he will be an innovator of something special.”
What They’re Saying About Coach Routt
Thomas McCaughey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Special Teams Coordinator: “Stanford is a true student of the game. He has outstanding communication skills coupled with a strong desire to be the best and to get the best out of his players. He will truly add value to the staff at Valpo.”
Archie McDaniel, University of Illinois Linebackers Coach: “His passion to help student-athletes become better in every aspect of their lives is second to none. He has a very special ability to turn something that’s good into something that’s great and something that’s great into something that’s excellent.”
What They’re Saying About Coach Coleman
Van Malone, Kansas State University Assistant Head Coach: “I have known Coach Coleman since he was a high school athlete. I have followed his career. He has always been an impressive communicator and shown a passion for coaching the game of football. He will be a dynamic teacher and represent Valpo in a first-class way.”
Lanear Sampson, San Diego State Wide Receivers Coach: “Dayven is an extremely hard-working young coach who is in it for the right reasons. The way he relates and pours into the kids is unmatched. He lives in the growing business and will strive for greatness daily. He’s a good coach, but an even better human being. I’m excited to see him work this season.”
What They’re Saying About Coach Bosch
Keith Jones, VMI Running Backs Coach: “Coach Bosch is a young, energetic coach who has a bright future in this profession. His work ethic as a football player is clearly transferring over to his career as a football coach. It’s exciting to see his career progress this fast.”
Chris Monfiletto, Wake Forest Special Teams Analyst: “Justin has consistently maximized his ability to outperform expectations through his work ethic and positivity. He knows how to lead under adverse conditions, and he has a magnetic personality that pulls people collectively in a productive direction. His energy and love of the game is evident to anyone who he interacts with.”
Corey Headley, Western Carolina Director of Player Personnel: “Bosch is a guy who gets it. He understands football and players’ personalities. Everyone who comes in contact with him will be better on and off the field.”
Dylan Berardelli, Stonehill Offensive Line Coach: “Justin was a pleasure to coach as a student-athlete because of his competitive and high-energy approach to the game. I have no doubt that his high academic background coupled with his love of the game of football and care for the well-being of others will make him a valuable addition to the program, both as a teacher and recruiter.”
Adam Griggs, Rhode Island Tight Ends Coach: “Justin is a great young coach. He is dedicated to his players and has an ability to connect with all of his guys. I think his players feel that and are willing to run through a wall for him.”
Chad Martinovich, Rochester Head Coach: “Justin is a young coach who has worked to improve the players at his position and himself each year. I’m excited to watch his growth with this next step.”
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