Westfield, Ind. – The Indianapolis Colts today announced the team's 2025 Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellows – Willis Sands Jr. and Shane Tucker. Sands Jr. will assist with the defense, while Tucker will work with the offense.
Sands Jr. is entering his second season at the University of Saint Francis as co-defensive coordinator. He was a graduate assistant at Carthage College for two years (2022-23), where he worked with the defensive backs. Sands Jr. was a student assistant working with the linebackers at his alma mater, Manchester University (Ind.), in the spring of 2022. As a linebacker at Manchester (2018-21), he played in 28 career games and compiled 108 tackles (56 solo), 17.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, seven passes defensed and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). In 2021, Sands Jr. earned Honorable Mention All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recognition. He missed the 2020 season due to injury and served as a student assistant. Sands Jr. earned his master's degree in sports leadership education from Carthage and his bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in communications from Manchester.
Tucker is entering his second season at Austin Peay State University as pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach. He previously served as pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach at Middle Tennessee State (2022-23), running backs coach at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (2021), tight ends coach at Austin Peay (2021), graduate assistant (inside receivers coach) at Middle Tennessee State (2020), wide receivers coach at Dodge City Community College (2019), wide receivers coach at Middle Tennessee State (2018) and student coach (inside wide receivers coach) at Middle Tennessee State (2016). From 2013-17, Tucker played multiple positions at Middle Tennessee State, including running back, wide receiver, tight end and kick returner. He appeared in 39 career games (17 starts) and registered 271 carries for 1,162 yards (4.3 avg.) and 15 touchdowns. Tucker totaled 67 receptions for 869 yards (13.0 avg.) and seven touchdowns. He also compiled seven kickoff returns for 207 yards (29.6 avg.). In 2014, Tucker garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference USA recognition at running back. He earned his master's degree in organizational leadership and his bachelor's degree in leisure, sport and tourism management from Middle Tennessee State.
The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship provides NFL coaching experience to talented college coaches, high school coaches and former players. Designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL clubs have participated since its inception in 1987.
