Check out the amazing men and women that are responsible for assisting the teams and production of this year’s Global Ireland Football Tournament!
TEAM GIFT GLOBAL 2023
Dwight Thomas
- 33 years of coaching experience; 25 years recruiting service for major colleges
- Member of Florida Coaches Hall of Fame
- Emmitt Smith’s High School Football Coach (Smith attended University of Florida, played for Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, and NFL All-Time Leading Rusher)
- Two State Championships as head coach, 1 State Championship and 1 State Runner-up as Defensive Coordinator
- Three-time winner of the Florida ACA Coach of the Year
- First man to run a high school football “Combine”
John Story
- 59 years Football and wrestling coaching career, 1964 to present
- Coached at Cleveland State, John Carroll University, St. Joseph High School, Lakewood High School, St. Edward High School, Cleveland VASJ High School
- Ohio football & wrestling championships St. Joesph HS
- Named Ohio football and wrestling ‘Coach of the Year’; Inducted into Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Coached 3 Super Bowl Champion players – Desmond Howard, Elvis Grbac, London Fletcher
- Coached Heisman trophy award winner – Desmond Howard; Notre Dame Stars – Mike & Bob Golic
- Coached in 12 Stars & Stripes Global Football games
Bill Gallagher
- 38 years of high school coaching experience
- Won 6 Inter Academic League titles in Philadelphia; teams consistently ranked in the City Top Ten
- Overall career head coaching record of 162 – 67
- Member of four High School Halls of Fame
- Played halfback at University of Notre Dame under Ara Parseghian
- Coach of Team Stars and Stripes for Global Football
Mike Creaney
- Parade Magazine HS All-American
- 3-Year Starter at ND Tight End – 32 Consecutive starts
- 46 Receptions for 892 Yds and a 19.4 yds/catch average for a career – still the all-time best for a TE with more than 25 receptions
- Senior Year – Street and Smith’s, AP & UPI All American Teams
- 6th Round Draft Choice – Chicago Bears – Center
- Graduate Assistant @ Notre Dame – National Championship 1973
- HS Football Coach – Loyola High School 1996 – 1999 ; 2001 – 2007
Patrick Steenberge
- High School All-American QB Erie Cathedral Prep, PA
- Notre Dame QB 1970-’72 Monogram; 2-0 as starter; Joe Theismann backup 1970; Injured 1972
- Father of 3, each college graduates and athletes, 2 of them at Notre Dame in track and swimming
- 1996 created Global Football, has organized educational tours and games in 28 countries, 6 continents
- Produced first American football game on African Continent, 2011 Global Kilimanjaro Bowl
- Partnered with NFL 1997-2007 to produce the NFL Global Jr Championships at 11 Super Bowls
- Partnered with Mexico to produce 20 NCAA D3 All-Stars vs Mexico Universities
- Created and produced the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT); 2012, 2014, 2016, 2023.
John Roslien
- Certified Athletic Trainer since 1985
- Worked with Global Football for 26 years. Traveled with American football teams to 36+ countries.
- Global Football Director of Operations for 20 Division III all-star games (Aztec Bowl/Tazon de Estrellas) in 14 different Mexican cities
- With Patrick produced first American football game on African Continent, 2011 Global Kilimanjaro Bowl
- In 2012 served as Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) Director of Daily Football Operations
- International experience teaching physical education, coaching team handball and foreign Vice-Principal at Tarsus Amerikan College in 1993-94. Tarsus, Turkey
Jeff “Blitz” Balitsos
- Played college football at Carson-Newman University (4 years) under legendary Coach Ken Sparks
- Ran two years of track at Carson-Newman University
- Coaching high school football for 20 years, currently 7th season at Hendersonville High School
- TSSAA High School Baseball Official for 18 years
- Big supporter of the Chicago Bears, Notre Dame Football, and the New York Yankees
- Wore #34 in high school and college in honor of Walter “Sweetness” Payton
Joe Colgan
- Honorable Mention All-State High School Quarterback
- Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp – 2003 / 2005 / 2008
- Fantasy Bowl I MVP – 2008
- GIFT 2012, 2014, 2013 – Global Football Ambassador
- Successful Sales Management career in Power Electronics Industry
Jess Gryder
- Recent graduate from Stephen F. Austin, Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design/Photography
- Studies abroad in Florence, Italy and taught intro to art classes in Nacogdoches,Texas
- Went to McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, also in Graphic Design
- Varsity swimmer at McMurry University, competing in the 50 and 100 freestyle
- Marketing Manager for the National Cutting Horse Association in Fort Worth
- Has worked with Global Football since 2021