Defensive coordinator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League or college football who is in charge of the defense. This position aids the head coach a great deal in many ways by delegating play calling to other coaches and allowing the head coach to focus on overall play and more important issues during games and practice sessions. A defensive coordinator in the NFL typically has a number of assistant coaches working under him; usually a defensive line coach, a linebackers coach, and a secondary coach. At lower levels the defensive coordinator may also coach one or more of these positions, or one assistant coach may be in charge of more than one position. The defensive coordinator oversees all of these coaches and all the defensive players. He is usually responsible for all defensive play calling during the game; he calls certain plays depending on what the game situation is and what he expects the opposing offense to do, among other factors.
[edit] Noted Defensive Coaches
- Tony Dungy, Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts
- Monte Kiffin, Defensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Lovie Smith, Head Coach, Chicago Bears
- Dick Lebeau, Defensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jim Johnson, Defensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles
- Mike Tomlin, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Buddy Ryan, Head Coach 1986-1990, Philadelphia Eagles
- Tom Landry, Head Coach 1960-1988, Dallas Cowboys
- Bill Belichick, Head Coach, New England Patriots