49ers Announce Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellows

The San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan today announced the team’s 2024 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellows – Ronald Blair III, Pierre Cormier, Salvador Delgado, Jordan Holland, Angel Matute, Rusty McKinney and Drew Smith.

Blair III will work with the 49ers defensive line. Blair spent five seasons in the NFL with the 49ers (2016-20) and New York Jets (2021) where he appeared in 55 games (five starts) and registered 116 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and 14.5 sacks. Blair attended Appalachian State University where he played defensive end for five years (2011-15).

Cormier, who will work with the 49ers defensive backs, currently serves as a special teams analyst at Arizona State University. Cormier has previously worked as an assistant football coach for Idaho State University (2022-23) and San Diego State University (2021-22). Cormier was a graduate assistant football coach at the University of Arizona (2018-21). Prior to his time coaching the collegiate level, Cormier attended the University of Arizona where he received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration (2013-20).

Delgado will work with the 49ers wide receivers. He’s currently the offensive line quality control coach at San Jose State University. Delgado previously served as the graduate assistant at SJSU and spent his time coaching the wide receivers (2021-24) and as a recruiting specialist (2018-21). Prior to his coaching career, Delgado worked in football operations at Foothill College (2016-18). Delgado received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise sciences and master’s degree in sports studies from San Jose State University (2017-22).

Holland will work with the 49ers defensive backs. Holland attended Texas A&M Kingsville and Prairie View A&M where he played defensive back for three seasons (2014-16). After graduating, Holland worked in the equipment department for the Cleveland Browns. Following his stint with the Browns, Holland participated in training camp with the 49ers prior to the 2019 season. He played indoor football for the Billings Wolves and arena football for the Cleveland Gladiators before a brief stint with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (2017-18).

Matute will work with the 49ers offensive line. He currently is the offensive analyst for Purdue University. Matute previously served as an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota (2021). Prior to his coaching career, Matute started his collegiate career at Golden West College before transferring to Mt. San Antonio College and University of Missouri (2016-20).

McKinney will work with the 49ers tight ends. McKinney served as a defensive assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals (2019-22) following three seasons with the Miami Dolphins as a defensive quality control coach (2016-18). McKinney previously served as a coaching intern for two seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2014-15). Prior to his time coaching in the NFL, McKinney served as the linebackers coach, strength and conditioning coach, special team coordinator and defensive coordinator for Bentley University (2009-13). McKinney graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Towson and an associates in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales University (2004).

Smith, who will work with the 49ers strength and conditioning staff, worked as the assistant director of football sports performance for the University of Southern California (2022-23). Prior to his time with USC, Smith served as an assistant football strength and conditioning coach at the University of Oklahoma (2021). Smith was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Connecticut for two seasons (2019-20). Before his time at Connecticut, Smith was a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Southern Mississippi (2018-19). In 2017, Smith served as an intern of football strength and conditioning coach at the Rutgers University. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Kean University in 2018 and his master’s degree in kinesiology from Southern Mississippi in 2019.