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Forming the Braintrust (Updated Feb. 17, 2010 to Include WR Coach)
As the Pittsburgh Steelers transition to the off-season and begin to prepare for free agency, the draft, mini camps and the 2010 season, a few transitions have been made to the coaching staff. Some faces are gone and some new faces enter the UPMC practice facility. Below is some information on some of the new hires.
OFEENSIVE LINE COACH: Sean Kugler (pronounced COOG-ler) is a product of the Buffalo Bill's off-season fire sale in which the entire staff was canned after a 6-10 finish in 2009. He replaces Larry Zierlein.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Promoted to offensive line coach in January 2008 with the Buffalo Bills and tutored LT Jason Peters to his second consecutive Pro Bowl…previously served as the assistant offensive line coach, working primarily with the tackles…Peters earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and became the first Bills tackle named to the Pro Bowl since Howard Ballard in 1992…line set a team record by allowing just 26 sacks – the fewest in team history since stat became official in 1982…same offensive line started 15 consecutive games – longest team streak since 1989…spent the 2006 football season as the assistant head coach/offensive line coach for Boise State…Broncos were the only undefeated Division I-A NCAA team, finishing the season with a 13-0 record and a dramatic 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl…offensive line opened holes for the sixth-ranked rushing attack in the country as the Broncos averaged 222.8 yards per game…team finished 5th in the Associated Press poll…helped sophomore OL Ryan Clady (a 2008 NFL Draft 1st round pick) and junior OL Jeff Cavender earn All-WAC honors…line paved the way for RB Ian Johnson who rushed for 1,755 yards to rank second in the nation and led the country with 25 touchdowns…spent 2001-2005 on the Detroit Lions coaching staff working with both the offensive line and tight ends…TE Marcus Pollard led the team in receptions in 2005 and TE Stephen Alexander ranked 2nd in 2004…TE Mikheal Ricks was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2002 and TE David Sloan led the team in receptions in 2001…worked in Detroit for two seasons with Bills Head Coach Dick Jauron.
PERSONAL: Kugler is a native of Lockport, NY…was a four-year letter winner at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) from (1984-88)…played one season in the WLAF with the Sacramento Surge…earned his degree in Education from the University of South Florida in 1991…coached at UTEP from 1993-2000 and helped school win only conference title in 2000…prior to UTEP, coached three years of high school football in Tampa, FL (1990-92)…Kugler and his wife Patsy have two sons, Robert and Patrick, and a daughter, Kali.
Source: Buffalobills.com
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR: Al Everest comes to Pittsburgh from San Francisco where he led the 49er's Special Teams. He replaces perenial whipping boy Bob Ligashesky after the 2009 Steelers had horrid special teams performances. Everest reportedly went rogue on Mike Singletary in San Francisco, calling for a reverse on a punt return without telling his boss. The ensuing fumbled exchange didn't help Everest's chances for having his contract renewed, although San Francisco's return units struggled across the board. The 49ers had the worst punt return average of any team in the league last season.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Everest began his coaching career at his alma mater, SMU, as a graduate assistant coach in 1972. He then served as a graduate assistant coach at North Texas in 1973. From there, he was the secondary coach at NCAA Division II's Cameron in 1974 and 1975 (he also was Cameron's head baseball coach). He then became the head coach and athletic director at the American School Foundation in Mexico City for 5 years (1976-80). He switched sports for the next 7 years (1981-87), serving as the head baseball coach at U.S International. He then entered the pro ranks, coaching 4 seasons in Italy. He was the defensive coordinator with the Legnano Frogs for the first 3 years (1988-90) and spent 1991 as the head coach of the Pesaro Angels. Legnano won the Italian championship in 1988 and 1989, and was the national runner-up in 1990 (the Frogs also won the European championship in 1989, finished second in 1990 and third in 1988). He also spent part of 1991 as a scout for the Pro Spring Football League before becoming the secondary coach with the PSFL's Arkansas Miners in 1992. Also in 1992, he was the offensive coordinator of the San Antonio Force in the Arena Football League. He went back to Legnano in 1993 as the defensive coordinator before returning to America to serve as an assistant at The Colony (Tex.) High in 1993 and 1994. He then was the special teams coordinator with the CFL's Birmingham Barracudas in 1995 before moving to the NFL. Pro coaching experience: Arizona Cardinals 1996-99, New Orleans Saints 2000-05, joined 49ers in 2007. In 2004, five of Everest's players won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards. In 2002, his unit had three touchdown returns and five blocked kicks.
PERSONAL: Born August 22, 1950 and from Santa Barbara, Calif. Played safety at Southern Methodist from 1970-71. No pro playing experience.
Source: Multiple
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH: Scottie Montgomery was hired by the Steelers on February 16, 2010 to fill the vacancy when Randy Fichtner moved to coach the Steelers' QBs.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Montgomery began his coaching career at his alma mater, Duke University, where he served as the wide receivers coach for four seasons (2006–2009).
PERSONAL: Scottie Montgomery entered the National Football League in 2000 as a rookie free agent with the Carolina Panthers. From there, he would play for the Denver Broncos for 3 years (2000-2002) and the Oakland Raiders (2003). In 2005 he would play for the Georgia Force in the Arena Football League. Montgomery attended Duke University from 1996-99, finishing his career with 171 receptions (ranking second in Duke's history) for 2,379 yards (third), four 100-yard receiving games (seventh), and 13 touchdowns (eighth). He earned the team's MVP award in 1998 and 1999, becoming just one of five two-time team MVPs in Duke history. Montgomery attended Burns High School in Lawndale, North Carolina, and was a standout in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a two-time Team MVP, and as a senior, helped lead his team to the State 3A title. In basketball, he won an All-Conference honors and was named the Team MVP. In track, he won All-Conference honors and was the conference champion on the 200 and the 400 meter dashes. He is married to the former Ebony McDuffie of Detroit, Mich.
Source: Multiple
DEFENSE QUALITY CONTROL COACH: Jerry Olsavsky. In his new position, Olsavsky will assist all areas of the defensive staff in their daily operations.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Olsavsky spent the past seven seasons coaching linebackers for Youngstown State. Prior to coaching at Youngstown State, Olsavsky spent one year as an assistant strength coach at University of North Carolina, and he also coached at his alma mater Chaney High School in Youngstown and at Duquesne University.
PERSONAL: Olsavsky, 42, was drafted by the Steelers in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played linebacker with the team from 1989-97. He finished his playing career in 1998 with the Baltimore Ravens. Olsavsky’s Pittsburgh roots extend back to his college days when he was named a first-team Kodak All-American as a senior in 1988 at the University of Pittsburgh. He became the Panthers’ first player since 1976 to record more than 100 tackles in three straight seasons. Despite being considered undersized as a player, Olsavsky was known for being a fearless competitor and a tireless worker. He played in 108 games for the Steelers and made 227 tackles while also excelling on special teams throughout his career. Olsavsky battled back from a career threatening knee injury in 1993 to become a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
Source: Steelers.com
WR COACH TO QB COACH: Randy Fichtner moved to Quarterbacks Coach following Ken Anderson's retirement announcement.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Randy Fichtner finished his third season coaching the Steelers’ wide receivers before taking the QB coaching position. He joined the Steelers after serving the previous six seasons at the University of Memphis. Fichtner was hired by Mike Tomlin on Jan. 29, 2007, to coach the team’s wide receivers. Fichtner’s receiving core had an excellent season in 2008 as Hines Ward topped 1,000 yards (1,043) for the fifth time in his career, and Santonio Holmes was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII after catching nine passes for 131 yards (14.6 avg.), including the game-winning touchdown reception with 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Under the tutelage of Fichtner, Ward and Holmes matched their reception total from 2006 (123), while increasing their TD catches from eight in 2006 to 15 in 2007.Fichtner, who instituted the spread offense at Memphis, was an integral part of the Tiger football team for six years. He was hired in 2001 to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and his offense re-wrote the Memphis record book for six seasons. Under Fichtner’s direction, former Tiger quarterback Danny Wimprine emerged as one of the top passers in Conference-USA in 2003. In 2004, the Tiger offense received much attention heading into the season with a veteran quarterback, an All-American running back in DeAngelo Williams, a seasoned offensive line and a deep receiving corps. That offense lived up to the billing and finished the year ranked ninth nationally in total offense and 10th in the nation in scoring. In 2005, Fichtner’s talent was heavily tested as the Tigers lost their two starting quarterbacks by the third game of the season. Fichtner had to make adjustments and instructed true freshman Billy Barefield, who led
PERSONAL: Fichtner, 45, worked as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Purdue (1985-86) and at Michigan (1986-87), before serving as a volunteer coach at Southern California in 1988. He landed his first full-time position in 1989 as the tight end coach at UNLV and worked for the Rebels for one season before coming to
Source: Steelers.com
PRO SCOUTING COORDINATOR: Brandon Hunt, who broke into the NFL as an intern in the Steelers player personnel department, replaces Whaley as the team’s Pro Scouting Coordinator.
EXPERIENCE: Hunt’s professional career began as a graduate assistant at IUP in 2004, and after a year there he was hired by the Steelers to work in their player personnel department, headed by Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert. During his first stint with the Steelers during the 2005 and 2006 NFL seasons, Hunt assisted with both the college and pro scouting, and he was on board when the team won Super Bowl XL to give the franchise its fifth Lombardi Trophy. When his internship concluded in the spring of 2007, Hunt quickly was hired by the Houston Texans. He started there in June 2007 and served as a pro scout for the team until being hired by the Steelers as their new Pro Scouting Coordinator.
PERSONAL: Hunt was born in Los Angeles, but attended high school at Pine-Richland and he attended college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania .At IUP, Hunt was a four-year starter at guard and center at IUP from 2000-03. He captained the team as a senior and earned first-team All-PSAC and All-Region honors at guard. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management information systems in December 2003 and a Master of Business Administration degree in August 2006.
Source: Steelers.com