about
Attention to Detail Creates a Foundation for Success!
D1 Coaching
Our coaches are passionate about the game of football and are students of
the game. Our full-time coaches include former D-1 athletes and NFL
scouting personnel in addition to their youth sports coaching experience.
We also utilize a group of football advisors and part-time coaches that
include:
- Former Division 1 Coaches (Head coaches, coordinators, position
coaches) - Former Power 5 players.
- Recruiting and position-specific specialist.
BE E.L.I.T.E. // E.ducation - L.eadership - I.ntegrity - T.eamwork - E.ffort
Our passion is the development of young leaders, both on and off the field, to become a select group that
is superior in terms of ability and qualities to the rest of society – in everything they do. In addition to being
student athletes, we strive to develop Elite Men and Women (regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion or
economic status) – Elite in their approach to Education, Leadership, Integrity, Teamwork, and Effort.
Education: Most student athletes do not play professional sports, or even college sports. Rather, they must
rely on education to ensure their future success and stability. With that, we expect that our players to be
elite in the classroom in addition to the football field.
Leadership: True leaders take responsibility for their own actions and those of their teammates. We stress
the difference between taking accountability for your own actions, rather than placing blame on others.
A good leader will often command the attention of an entire room, sometimes without even speaking –
actions are far more powerful than words.
Integrity: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change.” We
reinforce the significance of integrity in all aspects of life.
Teamwork: Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a team to achieve a common goal or to complete a task
in the most effective and efficient way. This concept is seen within the greater framework of a team, which
is a group of interdependent individuals who work together towards a common goal. To develop
teamwork, we must instill a sense of trust amongst each other, the foundation of which is integrity,
accountability, reliability.
Effort: Effort begins with the mindset that nothing will be given to you. Football mirrors life – anything you
want in life; you must earn it.
The E 3 - Balance, Accountability, Discipline
To reach the status of Elite, we focus on our three pillars – BALANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DISCIPLINE.
Our logo not only represents Erie Elite but also incorporates “3” representing these three core pillars of our organization.
Without balance, accountability or Discipline one cannot be Elite.
Balance: Our objective is to win on the field, in the classroom, in the community, and at home – which is not possible without balance. Wherever your feet are – we expect you to be there. Without balance, you can be great at one thing, but never be considered elite.
Accountability: Accountability is the acceptance of responsibility for one’s own actions. Those who strive to be elite must be accountable to themselves, their teammates, family, co workers, and community. As a pillar of our organization, we strive to teach the importance of accountability in all aspects of life.
Discipline: “the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.” To be elite, one must master self-discipline, lacking self-discipline only results in mediocrity.
Values
To reach the status of Elite, we focus on our three pillars – BALANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DISCIPLINE.
Our logo not only represents Erie Elite but also incorporates “3” representing
these three core pillars of our organization
Our Board
We are fortunate enough to have board members with extensive experience in competitive football from the early years, all the way through college.
Clay Barnett
Former NFL Scout , Sports Law Attorney, Youth Coach and Founder of Erie Elite Sports.
Gary Barnett
Former Head Coach of Both University of Colorado and Northwestern Universities, as well as decades of coaching at all levels.
Darian Hagan
Former CU standout quarterback, longtime coach at the University of Colorado, and current running backs coach at San Diego State University
James Hill
Member of the 1990 National Championship Colorado Buffaloes Football Team, Former High School Coach & Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at Boulder Valley School District