HAMPTON, Va. (May 14, 2026) … Hampton University assistant football coach Cedric Whitaker has been chosen to participate in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program with the Miami Dolphins. The long-standing NFL initiative is aimed at increasing opportunities for coaches of color to join NFL training camps and gain experience. The program is celebrating 30+ years of helping outstanding coaches gain exposure to NFL training camps and offseason workout programs.
 
Whitaker joined Coach Van Malone's Hampton staff in January after three seasons at Slippery Rock. He has coaching experience on all three NCAA levels as well as in the NFL. He began his career at Texas Lutheran from 2015-17. He moved to Baylor from 2017-19 under Head Coach Matt Rhule. Whitaker spent the 2019 season at Houston Baptist before rejoining Rhule with NFL's Carolina Panthers from 2020-22.
 
The program's objective is to use NFL clubs' training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps to give talented coaches opportunities to observe, participate and gain experience.
 
"This is an opportunity for me to learn and see how things are run at an NFL camp. It is like getting a doctorate in coaching football," Whitaker said. "I will be a part of the Dolphins coaching staff, shadow coaches and have a hands-on role."
 
Whitaker was part of the NFL Panthers staff when current Hampton tight ends and special teams coach Dwyan Luckey was part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship program. Whitaker saw first-hand how the program can help develop young coaches.
 
Whitaker reports to the Miami Dolphins Camp from May 25-June 12.