Steadily becoming a coach on the field after starting at free safety as a rookie for the Jets in the fall of 2004, Erik Coleman moved to the sideline to do the same as a volunteer coach at Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Florida, last fall, 21 years later.
"My kids go to the school, and we started going to the football games, just really supporting the team. And my wife, after the games, she would hear me talk about the game, what could have been done different, and what I would have done. And she's like, 'Well, why don't you stop talking about it and go do something about it?' She kind of called me out," Coleman laughed.
"And so last year, I asked the coach if they needed any help, and he said that they would love to have me. My schedule was a little busy, so I couldn't commit to a full-time position, but I agreed to volunteer with the defensive backs and give some knowledge wherever I could to the coaching staff.
"I had an amazing time. And to be frank, after I was done playing, I kind of fell out of love with football for a while. And coaching these kids really ignited the flame in me. I love coaching these kids. I love teaching the game.
"I wasn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest player, and so I had to use my mental edge to get ahead, to get the jump on plays, to have an understanding of where I needed to be, to get guys lined up, because I was a vocal leader on the team. So I had to really study the game a lot. And for me to be able to pass on that knowledge of what I've learned to play nine years in the NFL, it's really a true blessing."
Posting a 10-2 record last year, Saint Andrew's reached the quarterfinals of the Florida Class 1A State Playoffs.
This upcoming season, Coleman, who spent four of his nine seasons in the NFL with New York and collected seven of his 11 career interceptions, will have a new role with the team – defensive coordinator.
"As a position coach, there were probably some adjustments that I wanted to make that I couldn't. I didn't really have the voice that I wanted," Coleman said. "When I start talking to the kids on the sideline, it was always fun because I'll talk to a safety about where his eyes need to be. I'll help out the linebackers, and I'll talk to the D-linemen before the game and tell them, 'You guys are the ones that set the tone.' I'm communicating with the whole defense.
"And me teaching that to the kids, it's like, man, I think I could really make an impact on the on the entire defense. And what happened was, the defensive coordinator got hired somewhere else, so the spot opened up. And I was like, 'I would love to take over the position, if you'll have me.' And Coach Jim Robertson was kind enough to give me the opportunity.
"So I've been studying. I'm trying to figure out my defense right now. I've been talking to some former coaches of mine, just getting knowledge. And talking to some teammates about what kind of defense I want to run. What is the terminology of the defense? It's a little more complicated than I expected."
As he was as a player with the Green & White, Coleman will undoubtedly be up for the challenge as a high school coach.
"I love being a mentor. I love being someone who they can lean on," Coleman said. "A lot of times in sports, I think that people have good intentions, but they don't listen to the kids. And that's really my strong suit, listening to the kids, understanding how to communicate with each one of them and getting through.
"And when you coach up a kid and he goes out there and makes a big play, it makes such a difference. You see the excitement in their eyes. That's what really keeps me coming back. That's what keeps me enthused about the game and wanting to continue to help them.
"And then seeing them make the play and celebrate with their teammates, that's like heaven for me. Just helping these kids out, helping them live their dreams is a big motivator for me."
Making their home in South Florida, Coleman, and his wife Sabrina, an on-air ambassador for the HSN Network, have three children: Carmella, Castelli and Enzo.
Outside of coaching, Coleman works as a private client advisor at HUB International, an insurance brokerage that provides employee benefits, business, and personal insurance products and services.
"I find insurance solutions for people and their families or their businesses," he said. "The way I got started with that was when I played in the NFL, I was a union rep for about three or four years. I was voted by my teammates to represent them, be their voice in the union meetings, to vote, to bring up issues, and to be that middleman between the union and the players.
"What happened was, I became the person that everyone would call when they had concerns, when they wanted to know about the benefits, when they wanted to know about what they do after football.
"And not a lot of people know this, but in the NFL, your health insurance is only covered for five years after you're done playing if you're vested. And so what happens is, after those five years, everyone started calling me, 'What do I do for my insurance?' And I was helping people find the solutions, connecting them with the right people.
"And my wife said, 'Why don't you go into insurance? Why don't you do this as a business? Find a way to help people more effectively, find better solutions for them.' And I was given that opportunity, and I love it. I'm a salesperson. I work really hard to maintain relationships, to help people. It's really been a blessing to go from the game of football and be able to help people in their lives. Protect what they worked so hard for."
