GEORGE WHITFIELD JR
Director, Quarterback Builder
2013 Trained Landry Jones for NFL Draft Trained Matt Scott for NFL Draft Trained Johnny McEntee for NFL Draft Trained Nate Montana Trained Pat White (2013 Redskins) 2012 Trained Donovan McNabb (Eagles) Coach of Elite 11 Finals (national HS QB finals) Trained Andrew Luck for NFL Draft (#1 overall) Trained Texas A & M, Johnny Manziel (2012 Heisman winner, 2013 Cotton Bowl winner) 2011 Coach of Elite 11 Finals (national HS QB finals) Trained Cam Newton for NFL Draft (#1 overall) 2010Trained Ben Roethlisberger in Sept (NFL suspension)
Trained Tony Pike for NFL Draft (Carolina Panthers)
Trained Rusty Smith for NFL Draft (Tennessee Titans) 2009
Trained Chase Clement for UFL (Las Vegas) Trained Hunter Cantwell for NFL Draft (Baltimore Ravens) 2007
Founded Whitfield Quarterback Academy (San Diego) 2006
San Diego Chargers – Quarterback Intern 2003- 2005
Arena League quarterback 2001
University of Iowa Hawkeyes – Assistant Coach Born in Wichita, KS 11/23/77. Raised in Massillon, OH, graduated in ’96. Played for Jim Tressel, Youngstown St. Graduated from Tiffin University ’01. George Whitfield Jr. was born November 23, 1977 in Wichita, Kansas. He is a former college and arena league quarterback. George resides in San Diego, CA and is currently running his quarterback training firm, Whitfield Athletix. He was introduced to the game of football by his father, George Whitfield Sr., who himself was a collegiate football player for Wichita State in the early 1970′s and a very successful high school coach in Kansas and Ohio. George played for power house Massillon Tigers football team from 1992-1995. Massillon was recently featured in “ESPN’s Titletown” special in which Americans ranked the town “as the 4th greatest championship town in America”, above Boston, New York and Chicago! George chose Tiffin University for one reason, it was a chance for him to be closer to his private quarterback coach, Tom Kiser. Having a chance to work and train closely with Kiser through those four years were bigger to George than transferring to Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Toledo, or accepting walk-on opportunities at Ohio State, Michigan State or Penn State. Upon graduation from Tiffin University George accepted Coach Kirk Ferentz’s offer to join on the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football staff. While at the Univerisity of Iowa, George coached future NFL standouts Bob Sanders (Colts), Dallas Clark (Colts), Nate Kaeding (Chargers), Ladell Betts (Redskins), Robert Gallery (Raiders), Eric Steinbach (Browns) and Aaron Kampman (Packers). After a successful season with the Hawkeyes, George felt come back to football as a player. As a result of his relentless training and hard work, he began to garner interest from some Arena League teams. During a three year period from 2003-2006, George had short stints with four different teams, the Chicago Rush, Bossier – Shreveport Battle Wings, Louisville Fire, and the now defunct Memphis Xplorers. After the 2007 season George made what he has called “one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” and hung up his cleets for good. During the summer of 2007 he was an intern under Cam Cameron, who at the time was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. George worked with all the quarterbacks on the Chargers’ roster including a young standout rookie quarterback named Philip Rivers. It was the countless hours on the field and film room with Coach Cameron and quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell, that George learned the meticulous approach and understanding in building a fundamentally-sound quarterback from scratch. Spending months absorbing the teaching and tutoring of Rivers by Cameron and Ramsdell, George learned the importance of communication, precision and most importantly, leadership. During his 4 game suspension at the beginning of the 2010 NFL season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger worked with Whitfield as the NFL Mandate prevented him in participating in any team activities. In 2011, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and first overall selection Cam Newton began working with George Whitfield, Jr. in preparation for the NFL Draft. In 2012, Stanford University quarterback, and NFL first overall Selection Andrew Luck began working with George Whitfield, Jr. in preparation for the NFL Draft. In 2012, NFL veteran and free agent Donovan McNabb sought out Whitfield’s services to aid in offseason weight loss and to prepare for the upcoming season.
Perhaps Whitfield’s greatest professional accomplishment is reflected in the Heisman Trophy awarded to Johnny Manziel (aka “Johnny Football”) whom he groomed in the summer of 2012. Manziel’s rise from obscurity to becoming the first player in history to win the prestigeous award as a freshman can, in large part, be credited to his work under Whitfield’s guidance.
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HANK SPEIGHTS
Assistant Quarterback Coach
January 2012 Joined Whitfield Athletix _____________________________________________________________________________________________________MATT JOPE
Assistant, Quarterback Coach
January 2012 Joined Whitfield Athletix_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tara Iguidbashian
Director of Operations
2013 Joined Whitfield AthletixTara Iguidbashian is from Portland, Oregon. She loves sports and grew up playing volleyball and basketball. Tara studied communication and marketing at the University of San Diego. Throughout her years in college, she gained valuable work experience at the USD Athletics Department, Deuce Brand- sports watch company, VAVi Sport and Social Club, and the San Diego Padres. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Tara was one of three students chosen from University of San Diego to serve on the Collegiate Advisory Board for the San Diego Padres. She pitched and marketed Padres College Nights to USD through social media and on campus advertising.
Tara served as athletic ambassador while interning for the USD Athletics Department. She worked game days for NCAA Division 1 sports including the 2012 Women’s Soccer College Cup Finals. Tara also helped USD athletics in areas such as event management, promotions planning, sponsorship coordination, and advertising.
Tara had a marketing internship with Deuce Brand sports watches in Pacific Beach, California. While there, she assisted in designing Deuce U; University Brand Ambassador Program. She recruited and continually communicated with over 60 ambassadors nationwide. Tara created content and managed social media sites for Deuce Brand; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. She also was involved with editing photos, designing marketing campaigns, sales, event planning, customer service, and overall public relations efforts.
Her first work experience came from VAVi Sport & Social Club. She worked directly with the New Business Director in the Growth Department assisting with VAVi’s current programs and creating new programs throughout San Diego County. She conducted research, assisted with facility negotiations, and managed critical projects for the company. Tara called prospective clients; wrote scripts for promotional videos, worked numerous events, proofread and edited press releases, and assisted in overall marketing and public relations efforts for VAVi. She coordinated a large team of volunteers while serving as captain manager for part of the ROC Race which is 12,000 person 5k run. One notable accomplishment from Tara’s work at VAVi is that she increased forecasted volleyball league sales by 150% in month of March 2012 by making 100+ persuasive phone calls.
Tara runs all operational aspects of the hundreds of quarterbacks within the Whitfield Academy in San Diego. Her work also includes, but is not limited to website construction, videography, social media marketing, photography, financial accounting and most importantly ensuring premium client support from across the country.
When Tara isn’t working with Coach Whitfield, you can find her traveling, going to country concerts, and spending time with her family.
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JAMES H. WOO
Camps and Marketing
2010
Joined Whitfield Athletix
James Woo’s humble and ambitious career started when he was just 16 years young at Rancho Bernardo High School. Woo quickly rose the ranks through the school’s esteemed Digital Media program. He would go on to become an integral part of the program, leading camera operations in live play-by-play athletics, as well as winning several emmy award winning motion pictures.
After graduating from California State University at San Marcos, Woo linked up with coach Whitfield on the Whitfield Rock Tour in 2010. As the trip’s videographer, Woo was able to capture the relentless effort of the athletes on the intense 10 day trip. From the Big House at the University of Michigan to the legendary Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama, Woo documented why college football is so special.
Due to his uncanny and relentless dedication, Woo was promoted to director of operations at Whitfield Athletix in 2011. With Woo’s help, Coach Whitfield was able to train Ben Roethlisberger to his best season ever. But, he would not stop there. Cam Newton then came to San Diego, and Woo coordinated every aspect in facilitating Cam and his family’s everyday needs.
Today, James runs all operational aspects of the hundreds of QBs in the Whitfield Academy in San Diego. His work also includes, but is not limited to website construction, multi-media management, videography, photography, financial accounting and most importantly ensuring premium client support from across the country.
When Woo isn’t working with Coach Whitfield, you can find him volunteering for JITLI, a non profit organization founded by the Jacobs’ family.
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