The Secret to Birmingham Stallions’ Success: A Winning Formula
ARLINGTON, Texas — When it comes to the Birmingham Stallions, the question on everyone’s mind is: What exactly is their secret sauce? How have they managed to dominate the field so consistently?
According to Stallions coach Skip Holtz, the answer is simple yet profound. “Great players. Great coaches. And overcoming your head coach,” Holtz quipped earlier this month at the UFL media days. “That’s how we’ve been able to win.”
While Holtz might downplay his role, there’s no denying that he is a significant factor in Birmingham’s success. The Stallions clinched the inaugural UFL championship in 2024 and previously secured USFL championships in 2022 and 2023. Holtz’s leadership has been instrumental in these victories.
Quarterback Alex McGough offers insight into Holtz’s coaching style. “He’s a teacher, then he’s a coach,” McGough said. “You can respect that. When someone makes a mistake, he’s not just going to completely destroy them.”
Over the past three regular seasons, the Stallions have achieved an impressive 26-4 record, including a 9-1 mark last year. They’ve managed to win with three different quarterbacks: McGough, J’Mar Smith, and last year’s MVP, Adrian Martinez, who is now with the New York Jets.
Martinez’s stats speak volumes: he passed for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 528 yards and three TDs. McGough is back after two seasons on and off the Green Bay Packers‘ practice squad, where he spent time as a quarterback and wide receiver. Holtz isn’t ready to name McGough the starter just yet, citing Matt Corral‘s experience.
“You need two quarterbacks in this league,” Holtz emphasized, highlighting the importance of depth in the roster.
Holtz is acutely aware of the challenges that come with being a top team. “When there’s a team that’s winning at that stage, everybody circles the calendar,” Holtz said. “It’s like, ‘OK, when do we play the (Kansas City) Chiefs? When do we play the Stallions?’ Back in the ’70s, it was, ‘When do we play the Cowboys, the Steelers or the Dolphins?’ The teams that are winning have that target on their back and you’ve got to be at a really high level. You’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”
Despite the past successes, Holtz’s message to the players is clear: the franchise’s three championships don’t apply to this year’s team. “We’ve got to go from scratch and we’ve got to find a way to win one game and a tough game with DC on the road to start the season,” Holtz said.
The players are embracing the challenge of a potential four-peat. “I always say pressure is a privilege,” McGough said. “Not a lot of people get to say that they have a target on them. I think that’s a privilege. We got by on hard work and winning and sustained success, so I think we’ll be ready for it. We accept all challenges.”
Wade Phillips: A Coaching Legend Still Going Strong
Wade Phillips’ coaching career began in 1969 at Orange (Texas) High School, and he has been a fixture in football ever since, with only five years away from the game. At 77, Phillips is back for his second year with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, making him the oldest head coach across major sports leagues, according to ESPN Research.
“It’s great fun for me,” said Phillips, who has previously been the head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys, as well as an interim head coach at three different spots. “It’s a perfect setting. I get to coach football for four months and I’m off the rest of the year. Do what I love to do and then get to have some time off and be with family.”
Could Phillips make an NFL return, much like Pete Carroll, who is 73 and coaching the Las Vegas Raiders? “Well, they hadn’t called me,” he laughed.
Phillips, known for his defensive prowess, isn’t sure how long he’ll continue coaching. “As long as I enjoy it,” Phillips said, “and as long as they’ll keep me around.”
St. Louis Battlehawks: Finding the Right Quarterback
The St. Louis Battlehawks have had a reliable quarterback in AJ McCarron over the past two seasons, with a 12-5 record and 3,732 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. This year, they’re evaluating Manny Wilkins, Max Duggan, and Chevan Cordeiro.
“Three guys that can throw the ball really well, can make all the throws, but all of them have the ability to pull it and run and do some extra things,” St. Louis coach Anthony Becht said. “I just think that’s important in this league, and I’m tired of getting crushed on that by other teams. So now that’s a problem they have to deal with from us with all the other things we have on offense.”
- Wilkins started two games last year and was with the Packers in 2019 before a stint in the music industry.
- Duggan led TCU to the national championship game against Georgia in 2022 and spent the past two summers with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Wilkins is confident in his approach. “To know the type of attitude I have when we go into battle is probably a little easier on their minds, knowing the level of detail, focus, all those things that I have,” Wilkins said. “I think maybe that puts some ease on their minds when it comes to having a new quarterback that’s not been your starter for two years. For me, having those two starts, first time starting a game in six years, took a break from ball for a little bit, but to have that opportunity to get the anxieties out, the butterflies out, all the things that are natural, you just need reps.”
Duggan is excited about the opportunity. “If you told me back then what my career was going to be like, I really didn’t know,” Duggan said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs and things. Just staying true to the game, working hard, seeing what happens, I’m excited to be here. It’s a great league and a place for guys to develop.”
Bob Stoops: Time to Win
Bob Stoops, who never had a losing record at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2016, is ready to win as he begins his fourth season with the Arlington Renegades. Stoops has a 9-16 record in three seasons (two in the XFL, one in the UFL), but he does have a championship, having won the 2023 XFL championship despite a 4-6 record.
His quarterback then was Luis Perez, who remains the starter and is coming off a season in which he led the UFL in passing yards, touchdowns, passer rating, and completions. It earned him a training camp invite to the Chargers, where he was one of the final cuts.
“It’s understood,” Perez said of the mandate to win. “Coming in this year when we had our first meeting, it was, ‘All right, guys, last year’s in the past, turn the page, it’s time to move on.’ We made some mistakes, and we’ve got to fix them this year and move forward and start 1-0 every week.”
Tom Cable: Back on the Sidelines
After more than 30 years in coaching, including 16 as an NFL head coach or offensive line coach, Tom Cable was enjoying life in Idaho. “I caught more fish, shot more elk than most people,” Cable said.
But a visit to his son, Zach, who is an assistant coach with the Chicago Bears, reignited his passion for coaching. “I was on the field for like five minutes and I was like, ‘I miss teaching,'” Cable said. “So, yeah, you can say I missed that part of it for sure.”
Cable is now the run game coordinator/offensive line coach for the Houston Roughnecks. Head coach Curtis Johnson is thrilled to have him on board. “He’s going to make our guys better,” Johnson said.
Cable, 60, is happy to be back coaching. “It’s football. It’s teaching,” he said. “Specifically, you’re trying to take and help young people go where they want to go. It’s really a purpose-driven journey. That’s always been my thing. Some guys are trying to find their way in the game, find their way back to the NFL or find their way into the NFL. All you want to do is help them do that and see production on the field.”
Originally Written by: Todd Archer
