JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A retired NFL player who spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals has been named the head coach of the football team at a Catholic high school in western Pennsylvania.

Artrell Hawkins will coach at Bishop McCort High School in his hometown of Johnstown. He graduated from the school in 1994.

The 38-year-old Hawkins played four seasons at the University of Cincinnati before the Bengals picked him in the second round of the 1998 draft.

He played nine seasons in the NFL as a cornerback and safety, finishing with the New England Patriots in 2006.

Hawkins told The Tribune-Democrat (http://bit.ly/1G48ERL ) that the job is a big opportunity for him. He says he feels like he was just named head coach at Notre Dame.

He replaces Jerry Davitch, who resigned Tuesday.