When it comes time to hanging it up, it can be tough for a professional athlete to figure out what to do next. But sometimes, they don’t have to go far to find that next chapter.

Dwayne Hollis has always been in charge of the defense.

“Honestly, throughout my whole career I was more of a leader and kind of a student of the game,” Hollis said. “So I kind of was coaching a little bit as a player, but it's just a different aspect now.”

It wasn’t that long ago when the defensive back was making plays himself in arena football.

“I’m still getting fired up on the field and things like that,” he said. 

It was the same thing for defensive lineman Brandon Sesay.

“That's always been my dream," Sesay said. "And I never wanted to leave the game."

Sesay and Hollis were teammates the last few years, even winning a championship together with the 2022 Albany Empire.

After stellar playing careers, the pair have now made the transition to coaching. Hollis is the defensive coordinator for the Albany Firebirds, while Sesay helps coach the defense and special teams. 

“All the things that I was blessed to be able to do, [including] back-to-back to back championships, being on stellar teams [and] being with stellar coaches, it was only right to go ahead and transition over," Sesay said.

“Honestly, it was my time to give back to the younger guys,” Hollis said. “And this is my way of doing that.”

It’s been a natural progression trading in the helmet and shoulder pads for a whistle and a clipboard. The two continue to bring the same energy and passion, just now from the sideline.

“I feel I can make way more decisions, and use my creativity to another level,” Hollis said. 

Hollis and Sesay are both grateful to head coach Damon Ware for this opportunity. So far it has paid off, as the Firebirds sit at the top of the Arena Football League standings.

“You just come together knowing what we need to do, and how to prep. these guys up because we got great athletes [and] great competitors,” Sesay said. “Just showing them the right way [and] showing them this is the avenue to take to be successful.”

Champions as players, now hoping to be champions as coaches, as they look to have the team playing their best football with the playoffs approaching.