FIRST ANNUAL INDIO – COYOTES YOUTH MINI-CAMP DELIVERS ‘UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY’

(INDIO) – Over 100 junior All-Americans between ages 6-16 representing the Indio Junior Rajahs and Desert Elite Football teams were the stars today at the First Annual Indio – SoCal Coyotes Youth Mini-Camp at Indio High School, with all proceeds used to support those youth programs.

Coyote partners General Air Conditioning & Plumbing and The City of Indio put America’s #1 Developmental Pro Football Program on display in a four-hour youth football camp that delivered education, motivation and inspiration.

A pack of superstar Coyotes led by Utah State linebacker Cade Cowdin, North Carolina State linebacker Robert Caldwell, and Arizona State defensive end Jake Sheffield offered participating kids identity and opportunity, positive influence and powerful role models.

Sheffield, Cowdin and Caldwell anchor a feared ‘Darkside Defense’ that led the defending champion Coyotes to an 11-1 record and 2015 title. Cowdin and Caldwell are recent Cleveland Browns prospects and owners of Official Strength & Athletics, where they train elite athletes from all over the nation. Sheffield is the Coyotes all-time sack leader (49), and had a club-record 19 sacks and 18 tackles-for-loss in 2015.

“We believe the consistent presence of caring adults in local youth is the solution to changing the direction of entire communities,” said Hall of Fame head coach J David Miller, a three-time coach of the year. “Our desert communities can count on the Coyotes to keep building these positive relationships between youth, peers and adults.”

Former New England Patriots and USC star Oscar Lua, a one-time prep standout at Indio High School, opened the camp by telling the young players “everything started for me, right here, on this very field.”

Other Coyotes present included SVP Ron DiGrandi, AD Sean Tully, assistant coach Kelsey Stephenson, and defensive back Juan Valencia. Volunteers included Tj White, Brayden Bailey, Joel Felix and Rafael Lamas.

The four-time champion SoCal Coyotes non-profit sports leadership organization is a conveyor belt of character, competence, and connection, delivering life-changing leadership skills to more than 30,000 Coachella Valley youth each year through an array of programs, camps, clinics and expos.

Other participating local sponsors included El Mexicali Cafe, Universal Fitness, Torre Nissan, Forest Lawn, Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control, Toyota of the Desert, 24 Hour Urgent Care of the Desert, JRC Construction, M&M Mortgage, and Dr. Jose Fernandez.

EVERY MINI-CAMP PLAYER was rewarded with tickets for him and his family to attend the Coyotes home opener at Shadow Hills August 13, against the Central Coast Seminoles of Oxnard. It will be the debut of the most talented rookie class in Coyote franchise history, with five incoming All-Americans from around the country.

PUNT, PASS AND KICK -For the fourth consecutive year, the Coyotes will host the annual Palm Springs Boy’s & Girls Club Punt, Pass & Kick on Saturday, September 17.

SEVENTY PLAYERS EACH YEAR earn the distinction of ‘Defending the Shield’ in the uniform of the SoCal Coyotes. Many will earn a shot with NFL, CFL or AFL opportunities, or graduate into business careers.

THE SOCAL COYOTES affect every community they touch. Coyote programs reach thousands of youth through coordinated efforts with numerous local charitable and civic organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, the Desert Strength Academy, the Boys & Girl Scouts of America, and Rotary International.

DISCOVER how The Pro Football Educator, operated by former Denver Broncos GM and two-time Super Bowl winner Ted Sundquist, selected the SoCal Coyotes as America’s #1 Developmental Pro Football Program. Visit www.thesocalcoyotes.com.