STWF Sports | ARLINGTON, Texas | Jan. 29, 2026 — The Dallas Renegades continued shaping their identity for the 2026 United Football League season on Thursday, as head coach Rick Neuheisel announced the team’s offensive and defensive coordinators. The moves bring a blend of NFL pedigree, spring-football experience, and decades of coaching knowledge to a staff tasked with guiding Dallas into a pivotal season.
Neuheisel named Mike Gillhamer as defensive coordinator and Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator, solidifying the leadership on both sides of the ball as the Renegades prepare for training camp and a highly anticipated season opener.
Gillhamer arrives in Arlington with 15 years of NFL coaching experience, adding a resume steeped in defensive production and adaptability. His professional career includes stops with the Indianapolis Colts (2012–15) and the Carolina Panthers (2004–10), where he was part of units that consistently emphasized takeaways and disruptive play. The Panthers’ 2004 defense, in particular, led the NFL with 26 interceptions and finished second in the league with 38 total takeaways, underscoring Gillhamer’s reputation for aggressive, opportunistic schemes.
Before establishing himself as a defensive coach, Gillhamer also gained experience on the offensive side of the ball. He served as an offensive assistant with the New York Giants (1997–2000), contributing to a stretch that included an NFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV. That dual-sided background has long been viewed as an asset, providing Gillhamer with a broader understanding of game planning and situational football.
Beyond the NFL, Gillhamer is no stranger to alternative professional leagues and the college ranks. He coached with the DC Defenders of the XFL in 2020 and the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football in 2019, experiences that align closely with the unique demands of the UFL. His collegiate stops include the University of Louisville (2003) and the University of Oregon (2001–02), adding further versatility to his coaching profile.
On offense, Neuheisel turned to one of the most experienced minds in the game. Noel Mazzone brings nearly five decades of coaching experience, with a career that spans the NFL, multiple spring leagues, and a wide array of college programs. Mazzone most recently served as an analyst at UCLA in 2025, but his familiarity with spring football is extensive and recent.
During the 2025 spring season, Mazzone was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the UFL’s Memphis Showboats. Prior to that, he held the same roles with the Pittsburgh Maulers (2023) and the New Orleans Breakers (2022) in the USFL, giving him a deep understanding of roster construction, offensive efficiency, and rapid installation — all critical elements in the spring-football environment.
Mazzone’s coaching journey also includes stops at UConn (2021), Arizona (2018–20), Texas A&M (2016–17), UCLA (2012–15), and Arizona State (2010–11), as well as time in the NFL with the New York Jets (2006–08). Earlier in his career, he coached at Ole Miss, NC State, Oregon State, Auburn, Minnesota, TCU, Colorado State, and New Mexico, building a reputation as a quarterback developer and offensive innovator across multiple eras of the game.
Together, Gillhamer and Mazzone provide Neuheisel with a staff anchored by experience and adaptability, a combination the Renegades believe will translate to consistency and competitiveness in 2026.
The Renegades will open their season at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m. CT, renewing their in-state rivalry against the Houston Gamblers. The opener will feature the team’s “MOUNT UP and go FULL THROTTLE” theme, highlighted by a stadium-wide blue out as Dallas begins its season in its new home.
Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, February 2, at 11 a.m. ET. Season ticket packages, starting at $40, are also available and include preferred seating and additional benefits. Fans can find information on season, group, and suite tickets at www.theUFL.com/tickets.
With its coordinator positions now set, Dallas turns its focus toward building momentum on the field — and reconnecting with its fan base — as the 2026 season approaches.
