Rams finally announce coaching staff (expanded & supplemented a little by zn for posting here)
BY JIM THOMAS | Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 12:25 pm
Nearly three months after he was hired as Rams head coach, Jeff Fisher has announced his coaching staff.
Actually, all but a couple of the names have been known for some time on what is a 20-member coaching staff. The only two new names are assistant special teams coach Paul Boudreau Jr. — the son of offensive line coach Paul Boudreau Sr. — and assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden, who spent eight seasons playing linebacker for Fisher in Houston/Tennessee.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, in the midst of his indefinite "Bountygate" suspension from the NFL that will keep him out of coaching for at least the 2012 season, is not listed among the staff members.
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Fisher’s offensive staff will consist of Rob Boras (tight ends), Paul Boudreau Sr. (offensive line), Frank Cignetti (quarterbacks), Andy Dickerson (assistant offensive line), Ray Sherman (wide receivers), Ben Sirmans (running backs) and Andy Sugarman (offensive quality control).
Making up the defensive staff are Joe Bowden (assistant linebackers), Chuck Cecil (secondary), Brandon Fisher (assistant secondary), Clyde Simmons (assistant defensive line), Mike Waufle (defensive line), Blake Williams (linebackers) and Dennard Wilson (defensive quality control).
Gullickson, Bailey and Sugarman are the only holdovers from the previous coaching staff. Sugarman makes sense as a holdover; he is responsible for the film breakdown of opponents, self-scouting and leading the scout defense in practice. He also helps with receivers. Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Rock Gullickson returns for a fourth season with the Rams, and Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Bailey enters his third season with the club.[/i]
Below is a brief look at each of the Rams’ 2012 assistant coaches.
Coordinators:
Assistant head coach Dave McGinnis – Brings 39 seasons of coaching experience to St. Louis. Spent the past eight seasons with the Titans and worked under Jeff Fisher for seven of those seasons. Was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2000-03 after serving as the club’s defensive coordinator. Extensive college background includes three seasons at the University of Missouri (1975-77).
Special teams coordinator John Fassel – Was Oakland’s special teams coordinator the last four seasons after spending three seasons on Brian Billick’s staff with the Baltimore Ravens. Coached in college for five seasons prior to joining the Ravens and spent one season coaching in NFL Europe. Is the son of former Giants Head Coach Jim Fassel.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer - Comes to the Rams following a six-year stint as the offensive coordinator with the New York Jets. Was previously the quarterbacks coach with the San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. Broke into the NFL in 1997 as an assistant on Dick Vermeil’s staff in St. Louis. Played quarterback at Kansas before transferring to Florida. Is the son of longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer.
Assistants:
Asst. strength and conditioning coach Adam Bailey – Enters his ninth NFL season and third with the Rams. Previously worked in the same position with the New Orleans Saints and was also the head strength coach of the New Orleans Voodoo of the Arena Football League.
Tight ends coach Rob Boras – Spent the previous two seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ tight ends coach. Held the same position with the Chicago Bears from 2004-09. A native of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Boras played center at DePauw University.
Assistant special teams coach Paul Boudreau, Jr. – enters his first NFL season after coaching at the collegiate level for the past 16 years. Served as quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator at Widener University in Chester, Pa. last year and has also spent time at Massachusetts Maritime, Brown, Cincinnati and Central Connecticut State.
Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, Sr. – Enters his 26th NFL season in 2012 as he returns for a second stint with the Rams. Spent the last four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Was the Rams’ offensive line coach from 2006-07. Has worked with eight different NFL teams since entering the league in 1987.
Assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden – Played linebacker for the Oilers/Titans from 1992-99 and started against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV. Was an All-American at Oklahoma. Coached at Central Oklahoma and in high school in Oklahoma prior to joining the Rams.
Secondary coach Chuck Cecil – Was a member of Coach Fisher’s staff in Tennessee for 10 seasons, including two as defensive coordinator. Coached Titans defensive backs for six seasons. Played seven NFL seasons at safety, mostly with the Packers, and was a Pro Bowler in 1992. Played college ball at Arizona.
Quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti – Served as the offensive coordinator at Rutgers last year and has also been the offensive coordinator at Fresno State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and California. Was San Francisco’s quarterbacks coach in 2008 and held the same position with the Saints from 2000-01. Played at Indiana University in Pennsylvania.
Asst. offensive line coach Andy Dickerson – Was a coaching assistant with the New York Jets last season, where he worked with Brian Schottenheimer. Served as a quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns under Eric Mangini. Also worked on Mangini’s staff in New York from 2006-08. Played offensive line at Tufts University in Boston.
Special teams coordinator John Fassel - Fassel spent the previous three seasons as the special teams coordinator with the Oakland Raiders and has also coached with the Baltimore Ravens.
Asst. secondary coach Brandon Fisher – Comes to St. Louis after spending last season as a defensive assistant with the Detroit Lions. Was an All-Big Sky Conference performer as a linebacker at the University of Montana. Is the oldest son of Jeff Fisher.
Strength and conditioning Rock Gullickson – Is in his fourth season with the Rams. Held a similar position with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2008 and with the Saints (2000-05). College experience includes stops at Louisville, Texas and Rutgers.
Wide receivers coach Ray Sherman – Enters his 23rd season as an NFL assistant, with his most recent post coming with the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-10. Was on Fisher’s staff in Tennessee for two seasons. Has been an assistant with 10 different NFL teams. Players who have reached the Pro Bowl under Sherman’s guidance include Terrell Owens, Donald Driver, Javon Walker and Jerry Rice. Played wide receiver and defensive back at Fresno State.
Asst. defensive line coach Clyde Simmons – Two-time Pro Bowler collected 121.5 sacks during his 15-year playing career with the Eagles, Cardinals, Jaguars, Bengals and Bears. Was a coaching intern with the Jets in 2010.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans – Coached running backs at Boston College the last four seasons. Has held positions at Michigan State, Kent State and Maine. Played running back at Maine under current Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz.
Offensive quality control coach Andy Sugarman – Is in his fourth season with the Rams. Is responsible for breaking down film of upcoming opponents, self scouting the Rams and leading the scout team defense in practice, as well as assisting with the wide receivers. Worked with the 49ers, Lions and Falcons before coming to St. Louis.
Defensive line coach Mike Waufle – Coached Oakland’s defensive line that last two seasons after six seasons in same position with the New York Giants. Was part of Tom Coughlin’s staff that led the Giants to a win over New England in Super Bowl XLII. Played defensive line at Utah State. Has coached Richard Seymour, Darrell Russell, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck to Pro Bowls.
Linebackers coach Blake Williams – Joins the Rams after three seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Worked as a defensive assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008 and was a coaching intern with the Washington Redskins from 2006-07.
Defensive quality control coach Dennard Wilson – Comes to St. Louis after spending four seasons as a scout with the Chicago Bears. Spent one season as a graduate assistant at Maryland where he worked with defensive backs, linebackers and punt returners. Played defensive back at Maryland.
