ITTA BENA – Mississippi Valley State University offensive coordinator Ray Caldwell has been chosen as a participant for the 2017 NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. The Fellowship will take place this summer, with Caldwell being assigned to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The program's objective is to use NFL clubs' training camps, offseason workout program and minicamps to give talented coaches opportunities to: observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position.

The program was designed to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, now all 32-teams participate each year. Several current NFL head coaches, including Super Bowl winning coach Mike Tomlin and current Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn, are graduates of the program.

Caldwell, who is in his third season as offensive coordinator, will travel to Los Angeles in both June and July. In June, he will attend the minicamp and in July, he will take part in the Chargers' training camp.

The Frankfort, Kentucky, native has participated in three Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowships: including the Pittsburgh Steelers (2002), Detroit Lions (2007) and the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.