Mike Tomlin - Steelers Head Coach

With the Steelers' recent 2009 victory in Super Bowl XLIII, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to ever win the Super Bowl. This makes him a very notable newsworthy neighbor!

While most recognize Mike Tomlin for his role in NFL coaching, not many are aware of his Virginia roots. Tomlin was born in Hampton, Virginia in 1972. He attended high school at Denbigh High in Newport News, Virginia. He then went on to attend college at the College of William and Mary where he played football for three years. This is also where he met his wife Kiya who was studying at William & Mary as well.

After college, Tomlin began his career as a football coach in 1995 as wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute. He then worked with the Tiger defensive backs and special teams units at the University of Mephis, where he spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant. He joined the coaching staff at Tennessee-Martin for a short while before spending the '97 and '98 seasons at Arkansas State, coaching wide receivers then defensive backs. He then spent two seasons coaching the Bearcats at the University of Cincinnati before going Pro.

Tomlin was hired as a defensive backs coach in the NFL by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. After spending five seasons with Tampy Bay, he went on to become the defensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2006. It wasn't long before his talent was further recognized, and he became the 16th head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2007, leading them to their 6th Super Bowl championship two years later.

The recent Super Bowl victory swept Tomlin up in a flurry of media attention while making those of us in Virginia very proud to call him neighbor!

Meet more of your newsworthy neighbors!

Image courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette