hawaiianboy
01-20-2009, 03:43 PM
Broncos fill out defensive coaching staff
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 20, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
Former Broncos assistant coach Ed Donatell, who went on to be defensive coordinator in Green Bay and Atlanta, has returned to the Broncos as defensive backs coach.
MOBILE, Ala. — Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, with the help of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, has filled out his defensive staff in recent days.
Wayne Nunnely, whose contract was not renewed by the San Diego Chargers, will coach the defensive line, Raiders assistant Don Martindale will coach linebackers and longtime NFL assistant Ed Donatell the defensive backs.
McDaniels could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Martindale had interviewed with Raiders brass earlier this month after his contract expired — the Raiders routinely sign their people to one-year deals that must renewed — but the team publicly denied a report he had interviewed to be head coach.
Some in the league said Martindale had hoped to be the Raiders’ defensive coordinator.
Donatell served as a defensive coordinator with the Packers and Falcons earlier in his coaching career but spent this past season as the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator.
He is also a former Broncos assistant, having worked on Mike Shanahan’s staff during the team’s two Super Bowl wins during a 1995-99 stint.
Donatell endured one of the more difficult seasons in college football history in 2008. The Huskies defense finished 116th out of 119 Division I teams, leading to the firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham and all his assistants, including Donatell.
Donatell has also coached the secondary for the New York Jets.
With the flurry of hires McDaniels has made on the offensive side of the ball — adding offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and wide receivers coach Adam Gase and retaining offensive line coach Rick Dennison and running backs coach Bobby Turner from Shanahan’s staff — the Broncos staff is almost entirely in plac
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 20, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
Former Broncos assistant coach Ed Donatell, who went on to be defensive coordinator in Green Bay and Atlanta, has returned to the Broncos as defensive backs coach.
MOBILE, Ala. — Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, with the help of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, has filled out his defensive staff in recent days.
Wayne Nunnely, whose contract was not renewed by the San Diego Chargers, will coach the defensive line, Raiders assistant Don Martindale will coach linebackers and longtime NFL assistant Ed Donatell the defensive backs.
McDaniels could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Martindale had interviewed with Raiders brass earlier this month after his contract expired — the Raiders routinely sign their people to one-year deals that must renewed — but the team publicly denied a report he had interviewed to be head coach.
Some in the league said Martindale had hoped to be the Raiders’ defensive coordinator.
Donatell served as a defensive coordinator with the Packers and Falcons earlier in his coaching career but spent this past season as the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator.
He is also a former Broncos assistant, having worked on Mike Shanahan’s staff during the team’s two Super Bowl wins during a 1995-99 stint.
Donatell endured one of the more difficult seasons in college football history in 2008. The Huskies defense finished 116th out of 119 Division I teams, leading to the firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham and all his assistants, including Donatell.
Donatell has also coached the secondary for the New York Jets.
With the flurry of hires McDaniels has made on the offensive side of the ball — adding offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and wide receivers coach Adam Gase and retaining offensive line coach Rick Dennison and running backs coach Bobby Turner from Shanahan’s staff — the Broncos staff is almost entirely in plac