Defensive coordinator

Last updated

A defensive coordinator is a coach responsible for a gridiron football (American football) team's defense. Generally, the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator represent the second level of a team's coaching structure, with the head coach being the first level. The primary role of the defensive coordinator is managing the roster of defensive players, overseeing the assistant coaches, developing the defensive game plan, and calling plays for the defense during the game. The defensive coordinator typically manages multiple position coaches, each of whom are responsible for various defensive positions on the team (such as the defensive line, linebackers, or defensive backs). [1]

Contents

While the job of defensive coordinator is largely similar at the collegiate and professional level, college coaches are more involved in the recruitment process. A successful defensive coordinator is often a stepping stone to the position of head coach.

Other major sports with strong delineation between offensive and defensive positions use similar coaching positions. For example, Phil Housley is a defensive coordinator in the National Hockey League, working for the Nashville Predators from 2013 to 2017, [2] the Arizona Coyotes from 2019 to 2022, [3] and currently the New York Rangers since 2023.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Housley</span> American ice hockey player & coach (born 1964)

Phillip Francis Housley is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who is currently an associate coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously served as assistant coach for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2019 to 2022. Housley was the head coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres from 2017 until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Williams</span> American football coach (born 1958)

Gregg Williams is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He recently served as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) from 2019 to 2020. Previously, he was head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2001 to 2003, and defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints from 2009 to 2011, and the Cleveland Browns, acting as an interim head coach in the 2018 season. Williams is known for running aggressive, attacking 4–3 schemes that put heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks and for his key role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, also known as "Bountygate".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dom Capers</span> American football player and coach (born 1950)

Ernest Dominic Capers is an American football coach who is a senior defensive assistant for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously the inaugural head coach of the Panthers and the Houston Texans for four seasons each. Capers is the only head coach to lead two different NFL expansion teams during their first seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eight-man football</span> Form of gridiron football

Eight-man football is a form of gridiron football, generally played by high schools with smaller enrollments. Eight-man football differs from the traditional 11-man game with the reduction of three players on each side of the ball and a field width that can be reduced to 40 yards, 13 1/3 yards narrower than the 53 1/3-yard 11-man field. Most states continue to play on a field 100 yards long, whereas a few states opt for 80-yard lengths. Reduced-player football, which consists of eight-man, six-man, and nine-man football has gained popularity across the United States. As of 2015, 1,561 schools in 30 states sponsor reduced-player football, with 1,161 of those teams participating in eight-man leagues, whereas 284 teams play six-man football and 116 teams play nine-man football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovie Smith</span> American football coach and former player (born 1958)

Lovie Lee Smith is an American football coach. He has served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL), and as the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and as head coach for the Bears in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Shannon</span> American football player and coach (born 1966)

Randy Leonard Shannon is an American football coach and former player who is currently the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles football program. Shannon was the head coach at the University of Miami from 2007 to 2010 and has served as an assistant coach for the National Football League (NFL)'s Miami Dolphins and several college teams, including stints as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes, the Florida Gators, and the UCF Knights. He won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top collegiate assistant coach while at Miami in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Spagnuolo</span> American football coach (born 1959)

Stephen Christopher Spagnuolo is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He rejoined Andy Reid in 2019 after being a defensive assistant with him from 1999 to 2006 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Spagnuolo is one of the most decorated defensive coordinators in NFL history. He has won three Super Bowls as defensive coordinator, one with the New York Giants and two with the Kansas City Chiefs, making him the only coordinator in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3–4 defense</span> American football defensive formation

In American football, the 3–4 defense is a common defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers. It is called a "base defense" because it will readily switch to other defensive alignments as circumstances change. Alternatively, some defenses use a 4–3 defense: four down linemen and three linebackers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4–3 defense</span> American football defensive formation

In American football, a 4–3 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of four down linemen and three linebackers. It is called a "base defense" because it is the default defensive alignment used on "base downs". However, defenses will readily switch to other defensive alignments as circumstances change. Alternatively, some defenses use a 3–4 defense.

Edward Charles Foley Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He was the assistant special teams coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2020 until mid-2022, working under head coach Matt Rhule, who he had previously worked with at Temple University. Prior to coaching the Panthers, Foley primarily coached college football, including head coach positions at Fordham University and Temple University.

John Lovett is an American football coach. He was the defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) from 2013–2014. He was the defensive coordinator for Maine in 1994, Auburn from 1999–2001, Clemson from 2002–2004, Bowling Green from 2005–2006, and Miami from 2009–2010.

Phillip Galiano, is an American football coach who is the assistant special teams coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Galiano played college football for the Shippensburg University Raiders.

Jeff Jarnigan is an assistant general manager and coach for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL).

A quality control coach is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team whose primary job is preparing the team for a game, beginning sometimes two or three weeks before the actual game. Their primary duties include preparing for the game by analyzing game film for statistical analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Collins (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1971)

William Geoffrey Collins is an American football coach and former player. He is currently serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to the Tar Heels, he was the head coach at Georgia Tech from December 7, 2018, to September 25, 2022. He was previously the head coach at Temple University, and had served in the past as defensive coordinator for the University of Florida and Mississippi State University.

The 2017–18 Buffalo Sabres season was the 48th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres missed the playoffs again, finishing last in the division for the second straight year and last overall in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Position coach</span> Team official in charge of coaching a specific position group

In American football, a position coach is a team official in charge of coaching a specific position group. Position coaches have more specialized duties than the head coach, associate and assistant coach, and the offensive and defensive coordinators.

Stacy Collins is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coordinator, outside linebackers, and nickels coach at Penn State University. Collins served as the head football coach at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology from 2012 through 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Bowen</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Shane Andrew Bowen is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans.

The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the fifth season of his second stint at North Carolina and 15th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

References

  1. "The Coaching Staff in American Football," Dummies.com. Retrieved: 6 October 2014.
  2. Bove, Matt (June 15, 2017). "Bove: Housley – the perfect fit for the Sabres". WKBW. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  3. Phil Housley happy for Sabres’ success, doesn’t want to dwell on past

Further reading