Former LSU Tigers player strengthens the Panthers coaching staff!

The Panthers Wrocław coaching staff is being bolstered by Seth Newsome. The American will take over the position of defensive line coach for the team competing in the AFLE competition.

Seth Newsome is a former defensive lineman for the prestigious LSU university, which plays in the strongest college football conference in the USA (SEC). As a “Tigers” player, he gained experience in the very heart of American football, competing at the highest level and facing off against the best players in the country.

He drew his coaching knowledge from absolute icons of the discipline. He trained under the eye of Pete Jenkins, recognized as the best defensive line coach in the history of the NCAA and NFL, as well as under the guidance of the duo Ed Orgeron and Dave Aranda. These outstanding strategists taught him not only tactical craft but, above all, the ability to build lasting relationships with players and to maximize their individual strengths on the field.

In his coaching work, Newsome relies on two key pillars. The first of these is mental resilience - the coach believes that the defensive line is the most exhausting position on the field, requiring players to fully “get comfortable with discomfort”. The second foundation is perfect technique, based on speed and “cat-like reflexes”, which must remain impeccable even in the decisive moments of a match when the players are struggling with the greatest fatigue.

What motivated you to choose Panthers Wrocław and take on the challenge of coaching in the European league?

I was motivated by Coach Likins’ belief in me as a coach and what I can bring to the table as far as coaching defensive line. 

You played at LSU under Ed Orgeron and Dave Aranda. What is the most important lesson regarding defensive technique or tactics that you’ve brought with you from Baton Rouge to Wrocław?

I learned so much from Coach Orgeron and Coach Aranda that it is hard to narrow it down to a single important aspect. In all honesty, I am still learning from them. They are tremendous coaches, and their careers speak for themselves. Coach O taught how important it is to have a good relationship with players. It helps build trust. He also taught me how important it is to delegate responsibility as a head coach, which I watched him do very effectively. Coach Aranda taught me how to properly utilize the skill sets of the players you have in your organization and on your defense. I felt like when I was playing at LSU, we had the best players at each position, and they were placed there for a reason. We saw their full potential at each position come to fruition and we had many players thrive because they were put into positions to succeed. 

How does your background as a former defensive lineman help you in coaching players who compete at that exact position?

It helps tremendously. I understand how tough it is to play defensive line. It is the most exhausting position on the field to play. It is also the most physically demanding. I know how tiring it is, and when you are tired, that is when it is the most important time to execute your technique and play hard. The only way to be able to sustain playing at the highest level is to be in great shape, which will be one of the bricks in our foundation as a unit. 

- I also was fortunate enough to play for the greatest defensive line coach in the history of not only collegiate football, but also the NFL, Pete Jenkins. He taught me everything that I know when it comes to defensive line play, and I understood it even as a player. That’s how I know being a player for Coach Pete helps me be a better coach for my players. 

Beyond physical skills, what character traits must an ideal defensive lineman possess?

Above all things, I put mental toughness at the pinnacle of intangible traits when evaluating, recruiting, developing, and coaching defensive linemen. Being mentally tough allows you to take coaching, become comfortable with being uncomfortable, and pushing yourself to be the very best player that you can be. Playing defensive line is not for the feint of heart, it is reserved for the most mentally tough players. 

Which technical aspects do you pay the most attention to when evaluating or developing players on the defensive line?

When I am evaluating potential recruits, I look for athleticism, for quickness, for speed, for explosiveness. I look for cat-like quickness. 

When I am developing players, I am looking to identify areas in which they need to improve. I am taking both mental and physical notes so that I may later refer to them and prescribe a drill that will fix their problem. 

What will be your primary goal for this relatively short preseason leading up to the 2026 campaign?

My primary goal, aside from any that come from Coach Likins, will be coaching the defensive line to be as fundamentally sound as possible before playing our first game. We will be working on fundamental techniques and skills that will allow us to play closer to our full potential. This goal, however, will be ongoing and will never cease. You never should go away from the fundamentals.