There’s a new regime in the Motor City for 2018, as Matt Patricia takes over as head coach of the Detroit Lions. He has been busy putting together his coaching staff this offseason.
As we are ramping up toward free agency and the NFL Draft, Patricia is starting to finalize his staff. There are plenty of new faces in Detroit for the 2018 season. Here is the current makeup of the coaching staff:
Head Coach: Matt Patricia
Previous Role: Defensive coordinator, New England Patriots
NFL Coaching Experience: 15th season, first as head coach
You’ve probably done your research on Patricia by now, but you can get some background on him from an earlier post on Full Press Lions.
Coordinators
Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bob Cooter
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: 10th season, third full season as OC (half season in 2015)
Defensive Coordinator: Paul Pasqualoni
Previous Role: Defensive Line Coach, Boston College
NFL Coaching Experience: Ninth season, fourth season as DC
You can read more on Pasqualoni here.
Offensive Coaches
Offensive Line: Jeff Davidson
Previous Role: Offensive line coach, Denver Broncos
NFL Coaching Experience: 24th season, 15th season working with offensive linemen (per www.detroitlions.com)
Quarterbacks: George Godsey
Previous Role: Defensive assistant and special projects, Detroit Lions
NFL Coaching Experience: Eighth season, second season as QBs coach (offensive coordinator for Houston Texans from 2015 through 2016 as well).
Wide Receivers: Robert Prince
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: 11th season, seventh season coaching wide receivers
Running Backs: David Walker
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience:13th season, 13th season as a running backs coach
Tight Ends: Chris White
Previous Role: Senior quality control director of football research and special projects, UConn
NFL Coaching Experience: Fifth season, first as tight ends coach
Assistant Offensive Line: Hank Fraley
Previous Role: Offensive line coach, UCLA
NFL Coaching Experience: Fourth season, fourth season coaching offensive linemen
Offensive Assistant/Quality Control: Brian Picucci
Previous Role: Offensive line/run game coordinator, University of Maine
NFL Coaching Experience: First season
Offensive Assistant: Derius Swinton
Previous Role: Assistant special teams coach, Chicago Bears
NFL Coaching Experience: 10th season, first as offensive assistant
Defensive Coaches
Linebackers: Al Golden
Previous Role: Tight ends coach, Detroit Lions
NFL Coaching Experience: Third season, first as linebackers coach
Defensive Line: Bo Davis
Previous Role: Defensive line coach, University of Texas-San Antonio
NFL Coaching Experience: Third season, second coaching defensive line
Defensive Backs: Brian Stewart
Previous Role: Defensive coordinator/interim head coach, Rice University
NFL Coaching Experience: Eighth season, sixth season coaching defensive backs (also spent two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys).
Defensive Quality Control: Steven Williams
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: Fourth season, fourth as defensive quality control coach
Defensive Assistant: Steve Gregory
Previous Role: Special teams quality control coach, Syracuse
NFL Coaching Experience: First season
Special Teams
Special Teams Coordinator: Joe Marciano
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: 33rd season, all of which involved coaching special teams
Special Teams Coordinator: Devin Fitzsimmons
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: Sixth season, fifth as a special teams assistant
Strength and Conditioning
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach: Harold Nash Jr.
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: 14th season, all of which are within the strength and conditioning department
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach: Josh Schuler
Previous Role: Same
NFL Coaching Experience: Third season, third season as assistant strength and conditioning coach
So, there you have it. The Lions have 10 new coaches on the staff so far, and many of which have ties to Matt Patricia either through Syracuse University or the New England Patriots. Additionally, George Godsey and Al Golden are taking on new roles this season.
For a full list of the Lions administration, coaching staff and personnel office, check here.
-Follow @RyanOBleness and @FPC_Lions on Twitter!
