Former Detroit Lion Brock Olivo Joins Coastal Carolina Football Staff
CONWAY – Coastal Carolina head football coach Joe Moglia has named former NFL running back and special teams standout Brock Olivo assistant coach. The announcement marks the fourth hire Moglia has made to his initial staff with the Chanticleers.
Olivo spent the 2011 season as running backs coach, as well as working with the special teams, for the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks with Moglia. He will continue in those roles with Coastal Carolina.
“Brock was incredibly respected by the players at Omaha,” Moglia said. “The reasons he was so respected is because, one, he is a good a very good coach and, two, because he treats the players with great dignity. At the end of the day, those players respect what he has been able to do as a football player. To show what kind of a player he was, Brock not only was a star on offense, but he volunteered to play on every special team for the Tigers. In addition to his football knowledge, he has a great understanding of conditioning and nutrition and will work with our student-athletes on that aspect as well. “
Prior to his time in Omaha, he served as head coach and offensive coordinator of the Italian National Football team. He was also the head coach, offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator of a Series A team, the S.S. Lazio Marines, which competes in Italy's IFL, the highest level of American Football competition in the country.
Olivo began his coaching career after six years of playing professionally, both in the NFL and IFL. He spent five seasons (1998-2002) with the Detroit Lions, serving a running back as well as being captain of the Lions’ special teams. The last year of his professional career was spent playing for the S.S. Lazio Marines, where he led the league in rushing and touchdowns.
Olivo is a 1998 graduate of the University of Missouri, receiving his degree in English, creative writing and literature. He was the Big Eight Freshman Offensive Player of the Year in 1994, a two-time All-Big 12 selection and nation’s first recipient of the Mosi Tatupu Award, going to college football’s top special teams player. Olivo set the Mizzou career record for rushing yards (3,026 from 1994-97) and led the team in scoring in 1994, ’95 and ’96. Olivo led the Tigers to the 1997 Holiday Bowl, marking the school’s first bowl berth since 1983. Later, Olivo became just the seventh player in Missouri football history to have his number (27) retired.
Following his NFL career, Olivo worked three years at the National Italian American Foundation and later enroll at the University of Bologna’s Alma Graduate School of Business, receiving his master’s degree in marketing and communications.
He has a three-year-old daughter, Sofia.
2012 Coastal Carolina University Football Staff (as of Jan. 9)
Joe Moglia – Head Coach
Patrick Covington – Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
Mike Gallagher – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Brandon Noble – Assistant Coach/Defensive Line/Special Teams
Brock Olivo – Assistant Coach/Running Backs/Special Teams
