Stetson University's second year offensive coordinator, Stan Clayton, will get an early start on football this year. The Chicago Bears announced on Thursday that Clayton is one of five coaches who will work training camp on head coach Matt Nagy's staff as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
 
For Clayton, the Bears' training camp, which is being held at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., will not be a new experience. Clayton is participating in the Diversity Coaching Fellowship program for the seventh time, with three of his previous years (1997-99) coming with the Bears.
 
He worked with former Bears head coaches Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron in his previous stints with the Bears. Clayton also spent camps with the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans.
 
The Bears opened training camp on Thursday and are coming off a 12-4 record and an NFC North title last year.
 
The teams' rookies and quarterbacks reported to camp on Monday with the rest of the squad reporting yesterday. Practice sessions begin today (Friday) at 3 p.m. in a practice that is closed to the public.
 
The Bears will hold eight open practices at Olivet Nazarene starting on Saturday morning. The open practices are scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on July 27, 28 and 29 and August 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10. The club will hold its preseason opening game on Thursday, August 8, when they host Carolina at Soldier Field.
 
In his first year at Stetson, Clayton helped the Hatters establish modern program records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, pass efficiency, average per pass play, average per completion and passing yards per game in addition to numerous individual offensive records.
 
Clayton will only spend a week at Bears camp before returning to DeLand for the start of Stetson's fall camp.
 
The 2019 Hatters will report to campus next Thursday, August 1, and will begin preparations for the season opener against Presbyterian on Friday evening, August 2. Practices will be held at Watson Field at the ATC on campus at 7 p.m. on August 2, 3, 4, 5 and at 2 p.m. on August 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Scrimmages are scheduled for August 10 at Watson Field (2:30 p.m.), August 17 at Spec Martin Stadium (6:30 p.m.).
 
The Hatters will play eight home games this fall. For information on tickets, visit www.GoHatters.com/tix, email HatterTickets@Stetson.edu or call 386-738-HATS (4287) during regular business hours. The Stetson Athletics Ticket Office is open at the Edmunds Center from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
Stetson Football fans who are interested in supporting the program can also do so by participating in the 7^th Annual Stetson Football Kickoff Fundraiser. That event is scheduled for Friday, August 30, at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood. Registration for the golf tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start set for 10 a.m.
 
Stetson and Presbyterian are scheduled to get the season started on Saturday, August 31, at 7 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.