INDIANAPOLIS – General Manager Ryan Grigson and Head Coach Chuck Pagano have completed the process of building the assistant coaching staff for the 2012 season.
Identified as job one by Grigson and Pagano, the newly-formed staff features 15 new assistants, while three coaches – Clyde Christensen (quarterbacks), Richard Howell (assistant strength and conditioning) and David Walker (running backs) – return to the club.
Grigson and Pagano previously announced Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator), Greg Manusky (defensive coordinator), Marwan Maalouf (special teams), Roy Anderson (secondary/safeties), Harold Goodwin (offensive line) and Roger Marandino (strength and conditioning) had joined Indianapolis.
The remainder of the staff includes Brant Boyer (assistant special teams), Gary Emanuel (defensive line), Jeff FitzGerald (linebackers), Joe Gilbert (assistant offensive line), Mike Gillhamer (secondary), Frank Giufre (quality control offense), Alfredo Roberts (tight ends), Brad White (quality control defense) and Charlie Williams (wide receivers).
"We've assembled a group of coaches full of experience and success at all levels of football, who possess strong character and leadership traits," said Pagano. "I'm excited to embark on the 2012 campaign with a tremendous group of men as we work to achieve our ultimate goal."
Boyer enters his first season as an assistant coach following a 10-year NFL playing career as a linebacker with Miami (1994), Jacksonville (1995-2000) and Cleveland (2001-03). He competed in 129 career games and totaled 13.0 sacks, six interceptions, one forced fumble and 15 passes defensed.
Emanuel spent last season as the defensive coordinator for Purdue in addition to his defensive line duties. He made his first stop at Purdue from 1997 to 2004 guiding defensive tackles (1997-99) and defensive ends (2000-04). From 2005-06, Emanuel coached the defensive line for the San Francisco 49ers. He made a one-year stop at San Jose State (2007) prior to joining the Rutgers coaching staff as the defensive line coach from 2008-09. Emanuel's experience also includes stints at Washington State (1994-96), Syracuse (1991-93), Dartmouth (1988-91), Massachusetts (1986-88), West Chester (1985-86) and Plymouth State (1981-84). In his first season at Purdue, Emanuel mentored a defense that finished first in the Big Ten in both sacks (33.0) and tackles for loss (91.0). He also guided the development of 2010 All-America selection Ryan Kerrigan who led the nation in tackles for loss and led the conference in sacks en route to Big Ten Defensive Player and Lineman of the Year honors. Emanuel has coached 12 players who have gone on to play in the NFL and has been part of 13 teams that have played in bowl games, including nine at Purdue.
FitzGerald holds 18 years of NFL coaching experience, spending the last four as the linebackers coach with Cincinnati. In 2010, he coached Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga who all finished in the top three on the team in tackles. FitzGerald directed Baltimore's linebackers from 2004-07 and in 2006 became only the second linebackers coach in NFL history to have four of his players named to the Pro Bowl in the same season (Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas. FitzGerald's experience also includes stops with Arizona (2000-03), Washington (1998-99), San Diego State (1994-97), Tampa Bay (1990-93), Alabama (1986-89) and the University of Cincinnati (1985). He played linebacker for four seasons at Oregon State and helped develop and coach the linebacker drills at the annual NFL Scouting Combine for the last 13 years.
Gilbert spent the last three seasons (2009-11) at the University of Illinois serving as the school's offensive line coach while adding assistant head coaching responsibilities from 2010-11. His coaching experience dates back to 1989 where he earned his start as the offensive tackles and tight ends coach for the University of Pennsylvania. After two seasons at Penn, Gilbert made stops at Northeastern (1991-93), Maine (1994-99), Mansfield as the school's head coach (2000), Toledo (2001-03), UCF (2004-06), his second stint at Toledo (2007) and Houston (2008).
Gillhamer holds more than 30 years of coaching experience, 11 of which coming in the NFL. As the secondary coach for the University of Illinois last season, he assisted a unit that ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense and pass defense. He joined Illinois from the Carolina Panthers where he was the safeties coach for seven seasons (2004-10). In his first year with Carolina, Gillhamer's defense led the NFL with a team-record 26 interceptions and ranked second in the league with 38 takeaways. Prior to his stint with Carolina, Gillhamer was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Louisville in 2003, following two seasons at Oregon (2001-02). He guided the Ducks to a Fiesta Bowl victory and a number two national ranking in 2001. Gillhamer began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the New York Giants in 1997. He took over as the running backs coach in 2000 when the Giants advanced to Super Bowl XXXV. Gillhamer's coaching career includes stops at Rutgers (1996), Nevada (1994-95), San Jose State (1990-93), Utah (1985-89), Weber State (1984) and College of the Sequoias (1979-83).
Giufre joins the Colts from the University of Maine, where he spent the last five seasons as the run game coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach. He has guided five offensive linemen who have earned All-CAA honors and the line ranked among the top 18 nationally in fewest sacks allowed in each of his first three seasons. Prior to joining Maine, Giufre served as the offensive line coach at Sacred Heart for three seasons (2004-06). He also held the offensive and defensive graduate assistant position at Miami (Fla.) from 2001-03. He helped led the Hurricanes to the 2001 national championship over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.
Roberts holds 13 years of coaching experience, nine of which were spent in the NFL. He was most recently with Tampa Bay for three seasons (2009-11) as the tight ends coach. Last year, Roberts guided Kellen Winslow who ranked ninth in the NFC among all tight ends in receiving yards (763). With Cleveland as tight ends coach from 2007-08, Roberts first guided Winslow as well as Steve Heiden, who recorded 125 receptions for 1,534 yards and eight touchdowns over that span. Roberts was the tight ends coach for Jacksonville (2003-06) following four seasons (1999-2002) as an assistant and wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic. He attended the University of Miami (1983-87) where he was a member of two national championship teams. Roberts was drafted by Kansas City in 1998 and spent three seasons with the Chiefs prior to joining Dallas, where he was a part of two Super Bowl championships (1992 and 1993).
White joins the Colts after spending the last two seasons (2010-11) at Air Force coaching linebackers. In his first year with the Falcons, he guided linebackers Jordan Waivaiole and Brady Amack. Waivaiole led the school in tackles in 2010, while Amack led the defense in stops in 2011. White coached safeties at Murray State in 2009 following a two-year tenure with Wake Forest as the school's defensive graduate assistant (2007-08). Williams spent the previous five seasons at North Carolina serving as the school's wide receivers coach. He developed Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, Brooks Foster and Dwight Jones. Nicks finished his three-year Carolina career with 14 school records, including single-season receiving yardage.
Williams served in the same capacity at the University of Arizona (2004-06) following one season at South Carolina (2003). His most recent NFL experience came with Tampa Bay, where he was the team's wide receivers coach from 1996-2001. In his last two seasons with Tampa Bay, the team set several franchise offensive records. Williams was also part of four Tampa Bay playoff appearances during his tenure. Williams made previous coaching stops at Miami (Fla.) from 1993-95, Minnesota (1992), TCU (1988-91), New Mexico State (1986-87) and Long Beach City College (1984).
2012 COLTS COACHING STAFF
Chuck Pagano, Head Coach
Bruce Arians, Offensive Coordinator
Greg Manusky, Defensive Coordinator
Marwan Maalouf, Special Teams
Roy Anderson, Secondary/Safeties
Brant Boyer, Assistant Special Teams
Clyde Christensen, Quarterbacks
Gary Emanuel, Defensive Line
Jeff FitzGerald, Linebackers
Joe Gilbert, Assistant Offensive Line
Mike Gillhamer, Secondary
Frank Giufre, Quality Control Offense
Harold Goodwin, Offensive Line
Richard Howell, Assistant Strength and Conditioning
Roger Marandino, Strength and Conditioning
Alfredo Roberts, Tight Ends
David Walker, Running Backs
Brad White, Quality Control Defense
Charlie Williams, Wide Receivers
