New London — Dominique Rogers, a member of the Coast Guard Academy football coaching staff, has been awarded the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rogers, a Yeoman Third Class Petty Officer in Cadet Administration, will report to the Eagles on Saturday, July 22, and return to Coast Guard following Philadelphia's first preseason game at the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 10.

The Walsh Fellowship, now in its 30th year, helps outstanding minority coaches gain exposure to NFL training camps and offseason workout programs with the goal of using the experience as a tool to increase the number of fulltime NFL minority coaches.

"I am blessed and beyond grateful to be able to participate in this prestigious fellowship," said Rogers, a graduate of Trinity International University (Deerfield, Ill.) who is entering his second season at CGA. "I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about the game of football at the highest Level, the NFL. I am going to represent my family, myself, and Coast guard the best way possible."

Coast Guard head coach Bill George said, "Dom had the unique ability to transfer his military leadership skills onto the football field last season as an assistant coach here. He developed a personal relationship with our football team by being a very demanding and enthusiastic coach. I am excited he has this opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles and looking forward to him helping on the field again this season."

Coast Guard opens its 2017 season on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at home against Alfred State.