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former FOOTBALL Coach
Green Names Five More Assistants
New Arizona Head Coach Dennis Greenhas named five more assistants to his first Cardinals coaching staff-Clancy Pendergast (defensive coordinator), Frank Bush(linebackers), Robert Ford(wide receivers), Deek Pollard (defensive line), and Bob Wylie (offensive line).
"We've completed our defensive staff, and we're excited about the group's chemistry," Green offers. "Clancy Pendergast has the potential to be an outstanding defensive coordinator. He has been with some of the top defenses as an NFL assistant coach."
Clancy Pendergast - Pendergast's coaching dossier includes nine NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns(2003), Dallas Cowboys (1996-2002), and Houston Oilers(1995). Prior to joining Cleveland last year as linebackers coach, Pendergast spent seven seasons in Dallas, first as defensive assistant/quality control/linebackerscoach (1996-99), later handing responsibilities in nickel defense packages (2000) and the secondary(2001-02). Dallas fielded the NFL's youngest defensive backfield in 2002 when Pendergast developed first-rounddraft pick Roy Williams who earned numerous all-rookie honors and an eventual Pro Bowl selection in 2003. In 2000 and '01, the Cowboys finished third in the NFL inpass defense. During his first four seasons with the Cowboys(1996-99), Pendergast helped mold a unit that was part of a defense which improved from 24th in 1997 to 12th in 1998. Born in Phoenix, Pendergast attended Tolleson High School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 1990, before serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State (1991) and defensive assistant at Southern California (1992). He spent the next two seasons (1993-94) at the University of Oklahoma as a graduate assistant advance scout and coaching tight ends, then was named tight-ends coach for one season at Alabama-Birmingham (1995) before joining the Oilers.
Frank Bush - Bush accepts an assignment with
his third NFL team after tenures with the Denver Broncos(1995-03) and Houston Oilers (1992-94). Bush served the previous nine seasons with the Broncos,three as special-teams coach (2001-03), one overseeing the defensive secondary/nickel packages (2000), and five as linebackers coach (1995-99). Originally a fifth-round draft choice by Houston in 1985 after an outstanding college career at North Carolina State, Bush earned all-rookie acclaim in 1985, starting 11 of 16 games for the Oilers before a spinal injury prematurely ended his pro career a year later. After serving as a college scout for the Oilers for six years (1987-92), he was the team's linebackers coach for three seasons, bringing his association with Houston as a player, scout, and assistant coach to 10 years. In 1995, his first season with Denver, the Bronco defense improved from 28th to 15th, then skyrocketed to the fourth overall (first against the run) in the league in 1996. Bush's linebackers continued to play an integral role the following two seasons as the Broncos forged consecutive NFL championships with victories in Super Bowl XXXII over Green Bay following the 1997 season and Super Bowl XXXIII over Atlanta after the '98 campaign. In 2002, his special teams ranked among the best in the league as Denver ranked third in the AFC in kickoff coverage and fourth in kickoff return average.
Robert Ford - Ford enters his 14th season as an NFL assistant after serving on staffs in Dallas (1991-97)and Miami (1998-2003). Ford joins Green's staff after six seasons as wide receivers coach for the Dolphins where he developed Chris Chambers, who led all NFL rookies in 2001 with 48 pass receptions and a team-high 883 yards and seven touchdowns, led the club with 52 receptions in 2002,then added a team-best 64 catches for 963 yards last year and led the AFC with 11 touchdown receptions. The Belton, Texas native broke into the NFL as anassistant with the Cowboys in 1991. During his seven seasons as tight ends coach, Jay Novacek was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and recorded 280 receptions, more than any NFL tight end during that span (1991-95). While a member of the Jimmy Johnson (1991-93) and Barry Switzer (1994-97) coaching staffs, Ford helped the Cowboys qualify for postseason play six times, playing four NFC championship games, and win three Super Bowl titles. Ford also spent the 1990 training camp with the Cowboys as part of the NFL's minority coaching fellowship program. Prior to joining the Cowboys, Ford spent 16 seasons asan assistant at the high school and collegiate levels. He began his coaching career in 1973 at Saginaw (Mich.) High School, then joined the staff at Western Illinois in 1974 for three seasons, followed by stops at New Mexico (1977-79), Oregon State (1980-81), and Mississippi State (1982-83). After one season (1985) as wide receivers coach for the USFL Houston Gamblers, he returned to the college arena to hold posts at Kansas (1986), Texas Tech (1987-88),and Texas A&M (1989-90) before his first NFL position in D
all as. Ford earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Houston and a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois. At Houston, he led the Cougars in receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns as a senior. He remains the only player in NCAA history to catch two 99-yard pass receptions.
Deek Pollard - Donald "Deek" Pollard boasts 39 years incoaching, including 12 at the professional level and 16 in college football. His NFL tenures include the St.Louis Rams (1995-96), Cleveland Browns (1988-89), and N.Y. Giants (1979-81). Born in Roodhouse, Ill., Pollard served on the staffs at Western Illinois (1971-73), Florida State (1974-75), and Oklahoma State (1976-79) before his first professional assignment in 1979 with the N.Y. Giants as defensive backs coach. Following the 1982 season withthe USFL Denver Gold, Pollard was defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the USFL Chicago Blitz/Arizona Wranglers from 1983-85 as the club advanced to the league championship game in 1984. The NFL called again in 1988 when he served as aspecial assistant to Head Coach Bud Carson with the Cleveland Browns for two seasons, then returned to the college ranks as defensive coordinator at Central Florida (1990-93) and defensive line coach at Boston College (1994) before his two-year stop with the Rams(1995-96). His most recent coaching assignment was from 1998-99 as defensive line coach at Syracuse University when the Orangemen won a Big East Conference title and appeared in the Orange Bowl. In addition, Pollard owns a legendary high school coaching career with a 55-4-3 mark at Pittsfield (Ill.) High School from 1961-71, a span that included a 54-game winning streak.
Bob Wylie - Wylie's resume contains 24 years of coaching experience, including 13 in the NFL with the N.Y. Jets (1990-91), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992-94), Cincinnati Bengals (1997-98), and Chicago Bears(1999-2003).A native of West Warwick, Rhode Island, Wylie's 2001 Bear offensive line led the league in fewest quarterback sacks allowed, surrendering a league-low 17, more than 21 below the NFL average (38.6) and 17 fewer than the team allowed in 2000 (34). His offensive line paved the way for running back Anthony Thomas to be named NFL offensive rookie-of-the-year,the first Chicago running back to achieve the honor since legendary Gale Sayers in 1965. Thomas' 1,000-yard rushing season marked the sixth time Wylie's offensive line has cleared the way for a 1,000-yard rusher. Wylie began his coaching career in 1980 as offensive line coach at Brown (1980-82), served in the same capacity at Holy Cross for two years (1983-84), then was named offensive coordinator at Ohio University from 1985-87. After two seasons at Colorado State (1988-89), Wylie headed to the NFL as tight ends coach for the N.Y. Jets (1990-91), spending four seasons as offensive line coach at Tampa Bay (1992-95). In 1996, he returned to the college ranks as offensive line coach at the University of Cincinnati where they led Conference USA in rushing (181.4 yards per game) as four Bearcat linemen earned postseason honors. Wylie returned to the professional ranks in 1997 with a two-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals when running back Corey Dillon rushed for over 1,000 yards each season. In 1999, he joined Dick Jauron's staff in Chicago.
New Arizona Head Coach Dennis Greenhas named five more assistants to his first Cardinals coaching staff-Clancy Pendergast (defensive coordinator), Frank Bush(linebackers), Robert Ford(wide receivers), Deek Pollard (defensive line), and Bob Wylie (offensive line).
"We've completed our defensive staff, and we're excited about the group's chemistry," Green offers. "Clancy Pendergast has the potential to be an outstanding defensive coordinator. He has been with some of the top defenses as an NFL assistant coach."
Clancy Pendergast - Pendergast's coaching dossier includes nine NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns(2003), Dallas Cowboys (1996-2002), and Houston Oilers(1995). Prior to joining Cleveland last year as linebackers coach, Pendergast spent seven seasons in Dallas, first as defensive assistant/quality control/linebackerscoach (1996-99), later handing responsibilities in nickel defense packages (2000) and the secondary(2001-02). Dallas fielded the NFL's youngest defensive backfield in 2002 when Pendergast developed first-rounddraft pick Roy Williams who earned numerous all-rookie honors and an eventual Pro Bowl selection in 2003. In 2000 and '01, the Cowboys finished third in the NFL inpass defense. During his first four seasons with the Cowboys(1996-99), Pendergast helped mold a unit that was part of a defense which improved from 24th in 1997 to 12th in 1998. Born in Phoenix, Pendergast attended Tolleson High School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 1990, before serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State (1991) and defensive assistant at Southern California (1992). He spent the next two seasons (1993-94) at the University of Oklahoma as a graduate assistant advance scout and coaching tight ends, then was named tight-ends coach for one season at Alabama-Birmingham (1995) before joining the Oilers.
Frank Bush - Bush accepts an assignment with
his third NFL team after tenures with the Denver Broncos(1995-03) and Houston Oilers (1992-94). Bush served the previous nine seasons with the Broncos,three as special-teams coach (2001-03), one overseeing the defensive secondary/nickel packages (2000), and five as linebackers coach (1995-99). Originally a fifth-round draft choice by Houston in 1985 after an outstanding college career at North Carolina State, Bush earned all-rookie acclaim in 1985, starting 11 of 16 games for the Oilers before a spinal injury prematurely ended his pro career a year later. After serving as a college scout for the Oilers for six years (1987-92), he was the team's linebackers coach for three seasons, bringing his association with Houston as a player, scout, and assistant coach to 10 years. In 1995, his first season with Denver, the Bronco defense improved from 28th to 15th, then skyrocketed to the fourth overall (first against the run) in the league in 1996. Bush's linebackers continued to play an integral role the following two seasons as the Broncos forged consecutive NFL championships with victories in Super Bowl XXXII over Green Bay following the 1997 season and Super Bowl XXXIII over Atlanta after the '98 campaign. In 2002, his special teams ranked among the best in the league as Denver ranked third in the AFC in kickoff coverage and fourth in kickoff return average.
Robert Ford - Ford enters his 14th season as an NFL assistant after serving on staffs in Dallas (1991-97)and Miami (1998-2003). Ford joins Green's staff after six seasons as wide receivers coach for the Dolphins where he developed Chris Chambers, who led all NFL rookies in 2001 with 48 pass receptions and a team-high 883 yards and seven touchdowns, led the club with 52 receptions in 2002,then added a team-best 64 catches for 963 yards last year and led the AFC with 11 touchdown receptions. The Belton, Texas native broke into the NFL as anassistant with the Cowboys in 1991. During his seven seasons as tight ends coach, Jay Novacek was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and recorded 280 receptions, more than any NFL tight end during that span (1991-95). While a member of the Jimmy Johnson (1991-93) and Barry Switzer (1994-97) coaching staffs, Ford helped the Cowboys qualify for postseason play six times, playing four NFC championship games, and win three Super Bowl titles. Ford also spent the 1990 training camp with the Cowboys as part of the NFL's minority coaching fellowship program. Prior to joining the Cowboys, Ford spent 16 seasons asan assistant at the high school and collegiate levels. He began his coaching career in 1973 at Saginaw (Mich.) High School, then joined the staff at Western Illinois in 1974 for three seasons, followed by stops at New Mexico (1977-79), Oregon State (1980-81), and Mississippi State (1982-83). After one season (1985) as wide receivers coach for the USFL Houston Gamblers, he returned to the college arena to hold posts at Kansas (1986), Texas Tech (1987-88),and Texas A&M (1989-90) before his first NFL position in D
all as. Ford earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Houston and a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois. At Houston, he led the Cougars in receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns as a senior. He remains the only player in NCAA history to catch two 99-yard pass receptions.
Deek Pollard - Donald "Deek" Pollard boasts 39 years incoaching, including 12 at the professional level and 16 in college football. His NFL tenures include the St.Louis Rams (1995-96), Cleveland Browns (1988-89), and N.Y. Giants (1979-81). Born in Roodhouse, Ill., Pollard served on the staffs at Western Illinois (1971-73), Florida State (1974-75), and Oklahoma State (1976-79) before his first professional assignment in 1979 with the N.Y. Giants as defensive backs coach. Following the 1982 season withthe USFL Denver Gold, Pollard was defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the USFL Chicago Blitz/Arizona Wranglers from 1983-85 as the club advanced to the league championship game in 1984. The NFL called again in 1988 when he served as aspecial assistant to Head Coach Bud Carson with the Cleveland Browns for two seasons, then returned to the college ranks as defensive coordinator at Central Florida (1990-93) and defensive line coach at Boston College (1994) before his two-year stop with the Rams(1995-96). His most recent coaching assignment was from 1998-99 as defensive line coach at Syracuse University when the Orangemen won a Big East Conference title and appeared in the Orange Bowl. In addition, Pollard owns a legendary high school coaching career with a 55-4-3 mark at Pittsfield (Ill.) High School from 1961-71, a span that included a 54-game winning streak.
Bob Wylie - Wylie's resume contains 24 years of coaching experience, including 13 in the NFL with the N.Y. Jets (1990-91), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992-94), Cincinnati Bengals (1997-98), and Chicago Bears(1999-2003).A native of West Warwick, Rhode Island, Wylie's 2001 Bear offensive line led the league in fewest quarterback sacks allowed, surrendering a league-low 17, more than 21 below the NFL average (38.6) and 17 fewer than the team allowed in 2000 (34). His offensive line paved the way for running back Anthony Thomas to be named NFL offensive rookie-of-the-year,the first Chicago running back to achieve the honor since legendary Gale Sayers in 1965. Thomas' 1,000-yard rushing season marked the sixth time Wylie's offensive line has cleared the way for a 1,000-yard rusher. Wylie began his coaching career in 1980 as offensive line coach at Brown (1980-82), served in the same capacity at Holy Cross for two years (1983-84), then was named offensive coordinator at Ohio University from 1985-87. After two seasons at Colorado State (1988-89), Wylie headed to the NFL as tight ends coach for the N.Y. Jets (1990-91), spending four seasons as offensive line coach at Tampa Bay (1992-95). In 1996, he returned to the college ranks as offensive line coach at the University of Cincinnati where they led Conference USA in rushing (181.4 yards per game) as four Bearcat linemen earned postseason honors. Wylie returned to the professional ranks in 1997 with a two-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals when running back Corey Dillon rushed for over 1,000 yards each season. In 1999, he joined Dick Jauron's staff in Chicago.
