In this latest installment of "After Hours" — a series about faculty and staff who balance their work lives with fascinating hobbies or side jobs — meet Brigham Harwell, a development assistant for the UCLA Fund who spends his weekends molding young men into dominant defensive linemen. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because Harwell was a standout UCLA defensive tackle from 2004-2008 and had short stints with the NFL’s Washington Redskins, the UFL’s New York Sentinels and the AFL’s Spokane Shock. Name: Brigham Harwell Logistics: "I charge $25 per session and $40 per weekend, for Saturday and Sunday. And then I have packages. If they do a weekend and a T-shirt, that’s $50. A monthly package would be $135. And I sell T-shirts. Each T-shirt is $20, so it’s reasonable. I hold the sessions in Hacienda Heights — at La Puente High School and at Los Altos High School — alternating the fields. The kids travel from Alhambra, Chino Hills, all over." Life as a UCLA staffer: "I’ve been here almost four months now, and what I’ve learned is that young alumni are excited about UCLA. They had a great time here as undergrads, and they’ll do anything to give back. [Donating] is a way to give back to UCLA and to help the students who are here now. As for students, we ask for small amounts. We understand that they’re still in school and it’s tough. For example, we had a booth at the UCLA-USC bonfire, and we had a lot of students donate $5. You’d be surprised by how much students will give to UCLA, even though they’re paying for tuition. It’s awesome."
Brigham Harwell
Day job: Development assistant for the Young Alumni and Student Giving programs at the UCLA Fund.
Second life: Founder and CEO of Trench Hogs, a weekend program that teaches boys (ages 13 to 18) the skills to become defensive linemen.
How it all started: "In 2011, I was done playing pro football and I wanted to give back. All throughout my football-playing career, people playing my position were known as being ‘in the trenches.’ So I decided I wanted to start a company called Trench Hogs." In January 2012, Harwell began to visit high schools in his Hacienda Heights neighborhood, telling them about Trench Hogs. The program started out with just 12 kids — meeting every weekend from January through August — but soon built up steam. The second season of Trench Hogs began on Jan. 5, and Harwell estimates he’s trained about 30 kids already.
In the trenches: Each two-hour session is divided into 10-15 minutes of warm-up, 35-40 minutes of agility drills and 35-40 minutes of run-game technique, terminology and jargon. "If the kids go to any summer camps — because USC and UCLA and all the major colleges offer camps — we do all the drills to help them get noticed by scouts. When they come to college, these kids don’t understand the jargon. I teach them this verbiage so that when they get to college, they won’t be behind."
Harwell demonstrates the hurdle drill, in which the player places one foot outside the hurdle, then two feet inside the hurdle. The drill helps to develop quick feet and running technique.
Staff of three: "I have one other trainer. His name is LaDarrius Robinson. He ended up going to Grambling State to play football there, and then he joined the Marines and played football for the Marines. Another person who helps me out a lot is [chief operating officer] Cecilia Cuaresma. She does my website. People ask me, ‘How do you do your website?’ I say, ‘I don’t do it.’ She’s my backbone. She’s my support."
Successes: Last year, Harwell’s Trench Hogs program produced one high school Player of the Year, two Defensive Players of the Year and two Linemen of the Year, with a Division II scholarship in the offing. "One kid, his name is Zach, when he came out for his first session last year, I thought, oh my God, he has two left feet. I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. He ended up winning Lineman of the Year at Damien High School [in La Verne, Calif.], and I think I almost cried. He worked so hard. He was dedicated, and he’s back this year, too."
Why he does it: "I felt like I had to get back in the community. I wanted to give back to kids so they’ll have the opportunity that I had. I didn’t know what college was until I was in the 10th grade. Then I realized the life it gave me, just through hard work and dedication. I traveled; I had an amazing career in high school and college and a short time in the pros, and I wanted these kids to have an opportunity. That’s what drives me every weekend. I focus on school and let them know that they can’t go anywhere without their grades. I have parents calling me, thanking me: ‘My kid actually studies now,’ or ‘He’s losing weight because he’s eating right.’ "
Harwell during his UCLA playing days
Spare time: "To be honest with you, Trench Hogs is my life. Once August hits, the kids start their high school training, and that’s when I get my break. So from August through December, my weekends are free again. Right now, my weekends are filled, but you know what? I enjoy this. I’m so excited to see these kids. I came from nothing; I had a rough childhood. I want them to understand that they may have it rough, but they can definitely make it. They’ll be successful through hard work and dedication."