Patrick Crayton will serve as a wide receivers coach for the Hornets as part of the NFLPA Coaching Internship program.  Crayton was an NAIA All-American for Coach Garin Higgins at Northwestern Oklahoma before getting selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

The NFLPA Coaching Internship is an opportunity, built in collaboration with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), which provides former and transitioning NFL players an in-depth, foundational coaching experience. Selected interns are able to spend an entire season coaching on the sidelines of an NCAA Division II, Division III, or NAIA institution.

"I had the opportunity to coach Pat and this is great for both him and for Emporia State," said Higgins. "He gets to find out if he really wants to get into coaching and at the same time it's great for us because I know the invaluable lessons he's learned playing in the NFL. Not only from a playing standpoint but also from the work ethic and how he got his degree."

A 2004 graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma, Crayton was a wide receiver and return specialist for the Cowboys from 2004-09 before being traded to San Diego for the 2010 season. He finished his career with the Chargers in 2011. Crayton enjoyed a productive NFL career as a receiver and was remarkably consistent. He topped 500 receiving yards in five straight seasons between 2006 and 2010 and averaged a strong 14.8 yards per catch. He finished with 3,650 career receiving yards and 25 touchdown catches. He also returned two punts for touchdown.

"Anytime you get someone who played eight years in the NFL on your staff your current players are going to listen to him," said Higgins. "I also think it's important to our current players that he isn't from a big D-I school but that he played at a smaller school."

A four-time all-conference selection at Northwestern Oklahoma, Crayton was used as a weapon all over the field, playing quarterback and wide receiver on offense. He also returned punts and kickoffs on special teams and still holds several Ranger return records. Crayton set Northwestern single-season and career touchdown records with 46 total TDs (21 of them as a senior) and scored them in a variety of ways. Crayton became the first and only player in NAIA history to score a touchdown as a passer, rusher, receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner in a single season. He ended his career second on the all-time NAIA list with 10 punt returns for TD and amassed more than 5,600 yards. He was named Honorable Mention NAIA All-American in 2000 and 2002 and First Team NAIA All-American in 2001 and 2003.

Applicants for the NFLPA Coaching Internship are appointed to a Division II, Division III, or NAIA football program that best meets the interests and qualifications of the applicant and the needs and interests of the host institution for an entire season. The host institutions are responsible for providing a positive, quality experience for the intern coach, supplying the intern with housing and meals from his initial report date through the end of training camp, and completing an intern evaluation to be returned to the NFLPA at the end of the season.

Interns in the program are expected to facilitate a position meeting, take the NCAA recruiting test and/or be exposed to recruiting, handle academic issues or interact with university staff directly about player progress, be involved with scheduling and planning practice, lead drills in practice, have input in game plans, assist with opponents' film analysis, execute game day responsibilities, and evaluate talent.

“We are excited to celebrate the 10th year of the NFLPA Coaching Internship with the largest intern class to date,” said Leslie Satchell, NFLPA Senior Manager of Player Affairs & Development. “The internship offers former players a comprehensive career-development experience that can lead to a full-time career in coaching at any level.”

This is an unpaid opportunity, however, the NFLPA will provide a modest stipend broken up into two payments at the beginning and end of the program to help offset travel expenses.