New Titans' coach Brian Callahan flies Serra High School football coach from California to Tennessee for press conference
Serra High School football coach Patrick Walsh said Monday night that Brian Callahan "will bring life into the building,' and 'is a perfect coach for the city of Nashville too — great family man whose values match the values of the state of Tennessee."
On Thursday — at his introductory press conference as new head coach of the Tennessee Titans — Callahan brought Walsh into that very same building.
A day following his 49th birthday, Walsh took a red-eye 2,000 miles across the country to attend the ceremony that made the 39-year-old the sixth-youngest head coach in the NFL.
Callahan not only flew out Walsh, but he singled him out with a hearty thank you for giving him his first paid coaching job at Serra in 2008. As an assistant at De La Salle-Concord, Walsh coached Callahan in the early 2000s. He took over
Patrick Walsh, Serra High School head football coach since 2001
Photo: Mitch Stephens
"I fett it was important that he be here for this," said Callahan, who choked up several times during the hour-long press conference. "He came all the way out from California and took the red-eye last night. So thank you. He's one of my closest friends and incredible mentors. I wouldn't be sitting here in front of you now without his love, support and guidance.
"He always been there for me. Thank you PW."
Walsh said Monday when word came out that the Titans had offered Callahan the job: "Brian always believed he would get to this point, and nothing was going to stop him. ... What makes Brian unique is his ability to get into the hearts of his players. He builds a bond that is the foundation of trust. (He) has the innate and rare trait to make all of his players feel like he is the coach that can help them grow and become great players."
