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Defensive coordinator

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Revision as of 00:41, 2 October 2024 by Jweiss11 (talk | contribs) (ce in image caption)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense
Defensive coordinator Richard Smith with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015

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).

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, the Arizona Coyotes from 2019 to 2022, and currently the New York Rangers since 2023.

See also

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

NFL defensive coordinators
American Football Conference
AFC EastAFC NorthAFC SouthAFC West
National Football Conference
NFC EastNFC NorthNFC SouthNFC West
* Head coach


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