Israel Woolfork is in his first season with Arizona after being hired to coach quarterbacks on 3/1/23.
He came to the Cardinals from Cleveland where he assisted Browns quarterbacks last season under Drew Petzing, now Arizona's offensive coordinator. Woolfork spent the 2022 season with Cleveland as the recipient of the team's Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship.
The Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship was created by the Browns as an opportunity for rising minority coaches with a focus on the offensive side of the ball. The fellowship was named after Willis, who along with Browns teammate Marion Motley, were two of the first African-American professional football players in the modern era. Willis played with the Browns from 1946-53 and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Woolfork started with the Browns in the 2021 offseason as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship and worked with Cleveland's tight ends.
Woolfork began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Miami (OH) University from 2013-14. He then coached running backs (2015-17) and wide receivers (2018-21) with the RedHawks prior to joining the Browns. RBs Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young broke multiple school records under Woolfork's tutelage. Smith finished his career ranked 8th all-time with 2,613 rushing yards and Young was 10th in school history with 3,259 all-purpose yards, 13th with 1,989 rushing yards and was one of only two players in school history with 1,900+ rushing yards and at least 100 receptions in his career.
Miami WR Jack Sorensen earned All-Mid-American Conference honors in both 2018 (third-team) and 2020 (second-team) while working with Woolfork. He was named the Offensive Player of the Game in the MAC Championship in 2019 after catching eight passes for 123 yards and a TD.
Woolfork played wide receiver at Grand Valley State University (2008-12). A three-year starter, he was a team captain as a senior in addition to earning all-conference honors. As a sophomore, Woolfork helped lead the Lakers to the D-II National Championship.
He graduated from Grand Valley State with a degree in Sports Leadership in 2013.
