Washington, DC – Willie Bennett, Eric Evans, and Greg Gaskins have been named as coordinators on the D.C. Divas 2015 coaching staff, the team announced today. The announcement was made by Divas head coach Alison Fischer. Bennett, Evans, and Gaskins have all served on Coach Fischer’s staff in previous years, and all three have outstanding track records in women’s football.
Willie Bennett has agreed to return for his second season as the defensive coordinator of the D.C. Divas. Bennett played college football at Hampton University before embarking on his coaching career. He coached college football for 12 seasons at Alabama A&M and North Carolina A&T. While at Alabama A&M, Bennett coached Robert Mathis, the NFL’s 2013 AFC Defensive Player of the Year and the all-time career sack leader for the Indianapolis Colts.
Last season, the D.C. Divas defense improved greatly under Coach Bennett’s tutelage. The Divas surrendered fewer than 24 points per game last season after giving up 32 points per game the year before Bennett’s arrival. Coach Bennett is currently an assistant athletic director for the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) system.
“Coach Bennett has a history of building and implementing successful defenses everywhere he has coached, and his defensive system is a perfect fit for the D.C. Divas,” Coach Fischer said. “I look forward to working with Coach Bennett again this year and expect our defense to thrive under his leadership.”
On the offensive side of the football, Coach Eric Evans and Coach Greg Gaskins will be co-offensive coordinators for the Divas this season. “We are very fortunate to have these two outstanding coaches leading our potent offense in 2015,” Fischer noted.
Eric Evans played quarterback at Morgan State University. He was the Divas’ quarterbacks coach in 2009 and 2011 before serving as offensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013. The Divas’ offense exploded during Evans’ two-year, 20-game stint as coordinator; the offense topped 34 points in 17 of those contests and surpassed 40 points 13 times. After a one-year hiatus, Evans has agreed to return to the Divas as a co-coordinator in 2015, his fifth season with the team.
Greg Gaskins has also earned a promotion to the co-coordinator role after coaching the Divas’ offensive line the past two seasons. Coach Gaskins played on the offensive line at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a teammate of future Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy. Under Coach Gaskins’ leadership, the Divas’ offensive line has played an integral role in the team’s offensive success the past two seasons. He currently coaches at Gonzaga College High School in northwest DC.
