INDIANAPOLIS – The ticket requests from overseas have already started for new running backs coach Jemal Singleton.
Living in London for 10 years, Singleton still has plenty of family in England.
Singleton arrives to Indianapolis this year after making his way through the college ranks, including time at the Air Force where he thought aviation might be his initial career path.
Get to know new Running Backs Coach Jemal Singleton:Describe your journey to Indianapolis
"I've got to go back to where I started at the Air Force Academy my first year after graduation. I was going through the introductory flight-training portion of becoming a pilot. At the same time, I was down at the Air Force Academy prep school. I was coaching at the prep school program as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach. They play some junior colleges and (are) kind of a lead in to the Academy. I liked flying, but I liked coaching. It was at that point, it was a 10-year commitment to go through the whole training. I knew if I was going to fly, chances of being able to coach football were going to be slim to none. I still had a military commitment to fill and obviously wasn't sure if coaching was going to fall into those few years early on. But I was fortunate enough to get back to the Academy after a couple of years and be a military coach on staff there and that's where it started. I then got a contract coach position and from there I went to Oklahoma State, then to Arkansas."Most memorable moment in football
"Probably one of the best moments was 1996, my sophomore year of college. We were playing Notre Dame, in South Bend. We ended up beating them in overtime. I just remember storming the field after the field goal we made in overtime we made to win the game. That's probably one of the best moments really there. We (Air Force) won a conference championship at BYU, beat Washington in a bowl game. I think as a coach, (at Oklahoma State) winning the Big 12 championship, against your archrival. Playing at (Oklahoma), really one of the things that stands out about it is after we won, the first ever conference championship for the school, they storm the field. It's crazy. Somehow, someway, my older daughter and my wife, we run into each other on the field. We've got a picture of that moment together. It was awesome."When did you know you wanted to be a coach?
"I hadn't really thought about it. I was pilot qualified. That was the plan. I was going to fly. My wife and I had even had our bonuses that we would be getting for flying and everything was on that path. It was kind of a scary deal. Really, I joke that it took an act of Congress for me to give up my pilot's license. Just being with the guys and after I was playing, I went right into coaching. There was something about it that got my blood going. I loved it as a player. I loved every thing about it. I loved the game. I think coaching was the natural transition for me."Favorite part about coaching
"The relationships. Sitting in a room, working with the guys. The players, the coaches, all of that. It's pretty neat. You've got a bunch of guys, in most cases, have come on and are trying to achieve a common goal and I think those things, the team aspect of it is great."Describe your coaching style
"Energetic. I have fun. I really do. I love football. I love what I do. I joke that I haven't worked a day in my life. I'm going to have fun, laugh, cut up. And we are going to work hard. I think you can play and really enjoy what you do and have fun about it."Who was your biggest influence growing up?
"Obviously my dad. Being a military guy, just some of the life lessons growing up that he kind of taught me along the way. It's amazing."Favorite hobby
"I have three things. I have a Harley, so I like to ride my motorcycle. I love to fly fish. And I like to golf. I don't get to them much but I'm trying for the trifecta---where I can ride my motorcycle to a golf course, play golf and then fish when I'm done. That's the dream bucket-list day."Favorite food
"I love British food. Most people consider it bland, but my mother was British so my first memories are of England. I love British candy. It's different. Shepherd's pie."Favorite movie
"Rocky 1-5. Growing up, I had them all on VHS. I like sports movies."Favorite music/genre
"I'm a Christian hip/hop guy."Favorite quote
"They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."Favorite place you've traveled
"England, because it feels like home. I don't see that as traveling. I lived there for about 10 years."Why Indianapolis?
"Obviously the opportunity to do it differently. I think in college I was fortunate enough to be on some really good teams, both coaching and playing. You wonder what it's like. Can I coach at that level? Is it the same? Obviously the intrigue of the NFL was big. I think Coach Pagano, too. The side stories I saw coming up. Obviously his battle. It just seemed like an organization and program that kind of fit what I believe in and my philosophies."Favorite Spot/Part about Indy/Colts
"(Laughs) I live in Danville, so I live out in the country. There's a place called the Bee Hive. It's kind of all homemade, fresh sandwiches. Their chicken noodle soup is unbelievable. On Sunday's, it's church and then the Bee Hive. That's become our family deal. It's kind of a local deal."What do you want fans to see out of your running backs?
"I want (fans) to see guys that take care of the football. Hands down. The flash, the running, all that good stuff is great and hopefully they will see that as well, but hopefully at the end of the day and at the end of the season, I want that position group to be the best at taking care of the football. We can change an outcome of the game by taking care of it."Family
Wife: Jennifer. Daughters: Morgan, Mallory.
