When it comes to success, JoJo Townsell can put down being the mentor of the current UCLA football coach on his resume.
He can also put down that he helped the current San Francisco 49ers general manager to his first Rose Bowl title when he was the Bruins' coach. With that kind of pedigree, it figures that Townsell would be helping youth to become more successful.
Townsell, who lives in Gardnerville, operates the MEFIYI Foundation. The program began in 1997 as a way to expose local youth to instruction from professional athletes through sports camps.
The progam has now grown into a foundation that teaches life skills through sports.
"We're not interested in devloping professional athletes," Townsell said.
Instead, the program is designed to develop quality citizens, Townsell said. The foundation has also grown to offer afterschool programs and other programs such as fine arts.
Before entering a vocation of helping youth, Townsell had a successful college and pro football career. During his senior year at UCLA, he was a star receiver that helped lead the Bruins to a 10-1-1 season which climaxed with a 24-14 win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
There was also a freshman receiver on that team who was placed at Townsell's position to learn from him. That receiver, Karl Dorrell, is now the Bruins' coach.
"I know him well," Townsell said. "He was kind of my protege. I was basically his mentor. We were very close."
Dorrell took over for Bob Toledo, who was released after the 2002 regular season.
"I was pleased to see him get the opportunity," said Townsell about Dorrell. "I thought it was something that was needed. I thought that there needed to be a change."
At UCLA, Townsell played under then coach Terry Donahue. "I have a lot to thank coach Donahue for," Townsell said.
Donahue is now the 49ers' general manager. "His best asset is his humility," Townsell said. "He has the humility to ask for assistance."
Besides, Townsell said Donahue has one of the great football minds to ask for assistance in Bill Walsh. "He's got a great supervisor in Bill Walsh," Townsell said.
Townsell said the 49ers still have their share of weaknesses. "Obviously that will be up to coach Donahue to try to get that fixed," Townsell said.
In 1983, Townsell was a third round draft pick of the New York Jets. But Townsell opted to play in the United States Football League with the Los Angeles Express. With the express, Townsell caught passes from Steve Young.
Townsell said he opted for the Express because of two reason. One was that the Express had a "better offer on the table" than the Jets. The other was "I didn't have to change surroundings. There wasn't a big gap as far as what was offered."
"It was a fun league. We had a fun team. I thought the league had a lot of upside to it."
But Townsell said the league's owners had a different agenda. "Their main objective was trying to find a cheap way into the NFL," he said. "I thought the league had a chance to make it."
Another mistake made by the Express was playing at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Townsell said. He said the team should have played in a place such as Anaheim or Pasadena.
After the USFL folded, Townsell joined the Jets where he played from 1986-1990.
Townsell has also followed the career of another local product, Douglas High graduate Chris Griffith, who followed in the footsteps of Townsell at UCLA. Townsell served as a volunteer assistant while Griffith was at Douglas. "I've got to know Chris pretty well," Townsell said.
While Griffith had his struggles during his senior year last season, Townsell said he was glad to see Griffith make his mark as the Bruins' placekicker.
"Obviously he's going to be in the record books for a long time," said Townsell about Griffith.
