Former Steeler Ilkin thrives on teaching
Tunch Ilkin played offensive line in the NFL for 14 years, and, since his retirement, has had offers to coach the position at the game's highest level.
But nothing gave him more satisfaction than his days as a coach for his sons and their classmates in the Upper St. Clair youth leagues.
Until his latest project.
Ilkin has teamed up with the NFL, the NFL Players Association, several of the league's highest-profile stars and a local video production company, the Athletic Training Network, to produce a series of teaching videos.
The eight-part series, entitled "Inside The Game of Football," covers every position on the field and features instruction from NFL head coaches Steve Mariucci of the Detroit Lions, Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts, Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens and Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos. Also featured are top assistants Mike Mularkey of the Steelers, Joe Greene of the Arizona Cardinals, Mike Munchak of the Tennessee Titans, Ted Cottrell of the New York Jets and Bobby April of the St. Louis Rams. Plus, there is instruction from the Steelers' Hines Ward and Mark Bruener, Jeff Garcia of the San Francisco 49ers, Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles, former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Among the topics covered in the quarterback video is Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, a two-time NFL MVP, offering advice on leadership in the huddle. On each video, Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Anthony Munoz hosts a segment on character formation.
"It was a great project to be a part of," said Ilkin, who has devoted much of the past year to producing, promoting and distributing the videos. "It combines entertainment, instruction and life skills."
The videos target football players from seventh through 12th grades and their parents. Its cost -- $99 for the eight-tape set -- covers only expenses. Individual titles are available for $15 each. The videos can be ordered through NFL.com, NFLPlayers.com, AthleticTrainingNetwork.com, or by telephoning 1-800-252-2214.
In conjuction with the video, Ilkin and former Penn State player Leo Wisniewski, the president and CEO of the Athletic Training Network, will be hosts for a football clinic Saturday, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The clinic is scheduled for the indoor practice facility at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side, and is designed to provide instruction for players from ninth through 12th grade and their coaches.
Instructors include Steelers offensive and defensive coordinators Mularkey and Tim Lewis, Bruener and former NFL lineman Tom Myslinski. Members of the UPMC sports faculty, including nutritionist Leslie Bonci, Sports Performance Director Alan DeGennaro and concussion expert Mark Lovell, also will make presentations.
Registration is $5 and is limited to the first 225 people. Telephone 1-800-252-2214.
