August 19, 2010

Football Program Adds Beal to Coaching Staff

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Jimmy Beal has joined the Northern Arizona University football staff as the running backs coach, Head Coach Jerome Souers announced Thursday. Beal replaced Chris Taylor, who left the staff over the summer.

“I am excited to join the staff,” said Beal. “It is a great group of coaches to work with and I am excited to be here.”

Beal joins the program from the University of Redlands, where he worked with the defensive backs in the spring of 2010. Prior to Redlands, he was a graduate assistant at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas in 2009 and worked as the running backs coach at Rocky Mountain College in Billings under current NAU assistant David Reeves in 2008.

Beal began his football coaching career at Rocky Mountain coaching the receivers from 2005-07. He also coached the sprints at Montana State-Billings from 2006-09.

Beal played collegiately at Montana State from 2002-04 before joining Reeves’ team at Rocky Mountain College. He was named the most valuable player and most valuable running back in 2006.

“Jim’s addition to this staff is going to be fantastic,” said Reeves. “He has played and coached at this level and brings excitement and joy to the field. He is one of the young guys you want to follow and emulate because he is such a great role model.”

The Los Angeles, Calif., native also worked for Yellowstone Youth Services in Billings from 2005-08 and Skyhawks Sports Camps from 2006-07, as well as a coach at the YMCA in Billings from 2005-06.

He graduated from Montana State with a major in art education and minor in coaching in 2006. He received his master’s degree in sport management from Montana State-Billings in 2009.