The USA Football Regional Development Camps are underway for 2017. This year, the program will reach more athletes (and three additional camp locations) than ever before.

The Regional Development Camps start an athlete’s journey towards the U.S. National Team’s international competitions and a chance to represent the U.S. on the football field.

USA Football has assembled an all-star staff of camp directors to lead these 30 Regional Development Camps across the country.

These six camp directors are the engines that power all aspects of the camps. They oversee all aspects of the camps, including the management of the position coaches, athlete wellness and drill operations.

Although they come from different locations and backgrounds, they share a common love and knowledge for the game of football—a love and knowledge they wish to pass down to each athlete on the journey to earning a spot on the U.S. National Team.

Aaron Ingram, senior manager of football at USA Football, has worked with these coaches throughout their football careers and is proud to have them on board for the 2017 Regional Development Camp season.

We are pleased to introduce the 2017 Regional Development Camp Directors:

Frank Priami

Manager, U.S. National Team - Football Operations

If we consider each camp director as the heart of the Regional Development Camps, Priami would be considered the brains as well. Being one of the masterminds behind the whole National Team program, he is going on his eighth year with USA Football. His passion for the game and dedication to educating our youth shines brightly at every camp stop he is a part of. Priami sees these camps as more than just an opportunity to guide and lead these young athletes in their journey through football. He views them as an opportunity to influence an athlete’s life.

“Frank is the godfather of the U.S. National Team. He is the senior camp director and sets the tone. Every moment with Frank Priami on a football field becomes a magical event. There is no one better in the business. Frank has helped to build the U.S. National Team into the program that it is today. The future is very bright for the U.S. National Team when Frank Priami is on the football field.” – Aaron Ingram

Ben Hammer

Rock Island High School (Ill.) - head coach

An Illinois native, Hammer was part of the team of coaches that won the gold medal in 2014 at the Under-19 World Championship in Kuwait. Before becoming a coach, he played football at Woodruff High School football and Illinois Wesleyan College. For Hammer, football is all about teaching and preparing young people for life.

“There are so many parallels to things you encounter in life that are mirrored in the game,” he said.

Hammer is honored to be given the opportunity to give back to the game that has given so much to him.

“Ben has won a Gold Medal in Kuwait as part of the U19 World Championship Staff. He has been a head coach for several teams at the International Bowl. Ben has been through every aspect of our program. The next few months with Ben at the helm are going to awesome.” – Aaron Ingram

Matt Hennesy

Locust Grove High School (Okla.) - head coach

A former linebacker at Kansas State, Hennesy has won three state titles and 14 division titles as a coach. He started his U.S. National Team career at the Regional Development Camps and continued on to coach the Under-18 National Team in the inaugural North American Championship in January. For Hennesy, coaching football comes down to one thing: relationships.

“I feel that is the greatest part of coaching and being involved with this many great coaches and players is going to make me a better coach, father, and person,” he said.

Hennesy’s goal for this season is to help develop young athletes into confident and successful adults.

“Matt has proven himself both on and off the field to be the gold standard in what we are looking for as a football coach to help lead the U.S. National Team Regional Development Camps to the next level. His experience coaching at the World Championship and North American Championship will help breed the next wave of great players for the National Team. Matt is extremely organized and I look forward to watching him lead the way.” – Aaron Ingram

Mike Ridings

Marian College (Indianapolis) - safeties coach

As a veteran National Team coach, Ridings has been involved in Regional Development Camps, Development Games and the International Bowl. He’s coached at a number of stops, including Lindsey Wilson College, University of Indianapolis, University of Kentucky, and St. Francis (Ill.).  Currently, he serves as safeties coach at Marian University.

Ridings looks forward to playing his part in growing the sport.

“I’m a big believer in the mission of USA Football and the U.S. National Team,” he said.

 “Anytime you get a college football coach with the resume of Michael Ridings to help lead your program you win as a program. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michael Ridings as a college head coach in the near future. He’s had stops in the SEC and powerhouse programs in college football. Michael Ridings is a win for the U.S. National Team program.” – Aaron Ingram

Geneo Riley

Former NFL Player /scout

A graduate of Ball State, Riley played in the NFL in the early ‘90s as a tight end for both the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. Today, he owns his own sports training company and uses his professional football knowledge to help young athletes reach their maximum potential both on and off the playing field. He plans to carry that mentality with him as a camp director.

“Geneo is a guy you just want to be around. Geneo finds a way to coach every player at every camp. Being a former NFL Player for the Indianapolis Colts, he has the experience, the pedigree, and the enthusiasm to make every experience with the U.S. National Team a huge one for every level of player.” – Aaron Ingram

Jason Tenner

Sheldon High School (Sacramento, Calif.) – assistant coach

Born and raised in Sunnyvale, Calif., Tenner played on scholarship at Villanova before playing professionally with the San Francisco 49ers and in Europe. For the last 17 years, he has been coaching at the high school level and is honored to represent our country, as well as promote the growth of our game. Football is a huge part of Tenner’s life and he is looking forward to continuing to take advantage of the opportunities to grow as a coach and give back to the game.

“My only hope is that I am doing enough to give back to the game,” Tenner said.

“We are very excited that Jason is continuing his journey through football with us. Jason brings an outstanding resume of instruction and leadership to each and every phase of our program. I am pumped to watch his role grow within our program.“ – Aaron Ingram

Brandon Younger

Oak Grove High School (San Jose, Calif.) – JV head coach

Younger, another veteran of U.S. National Team program, is currently the junior varsity head coach at Oak Grove High School. He is excited to explore his leadership skills as a camp director this season and be a fundamental component in building the U.S. National Teams.

Younger wants to give back to a sport that has taught him so many life lessons.

“Football means everything to me,” he said. “It helped me find myself when I had nothing else in life.”

“The Swag Doctor is what I like to call ‘BY.’ Brandon brings endless energy and enthusiasm to the football field. His energy bleeds over to his fundamental teaching. He is an outstanding fundamental football coach. He is one of the young rising coaches in the U.S. National Team Program. I don’t like to go anywhere without BY. “– Aaron Ingram

Brittany Harlos contributed to this report.