New Assistant Coach Bios

[Metal Militia]

Clancy Pendergast
Defensive Coordinator

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Clancy Pendergast was named the Browns linebackers coach on January 14, 2003. He joined the Browns after spending the previous seven years with the Dallas Cowboys (1996-2002). During his coaching career with the Cowboys, Pendergast climbed the ranks from a defensive assistant working primarily with the linebackers his first four years to guiding the Dallas defensive nickel package in 2000 and serving as secondary coach in 2001 and 2002. Pendergast has coached defenses that have ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in total defense in six of his eight seasons.

Pendergast led the Cowboys’ 2002 secondary that was the youngest starting defensive secondary in the league with two rookies (Roy Williams, Derek Ross), a second-year player (Tony Dixon) and a third-year player (Mario Edwards). Williams, a first round pick (8th overall) and Ross, a third-round pick (75th overall), tied for the club lead with five interceptions. The Dallas defense ranked 13th in the NFL in pass average per play, 13th in interceptions and 13th in 3rd down efficiency.

The 2001 season was the first year for Pendergast at the controls of the Dallas secondary. The Cowboys secondary responded as a unit and finished the season third in the NFL in pass defense for the second straight season. Darren Woodson led the unit with 131 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. Starting at corners were two first-time starters, second-year player Mario Edwards and NFL Europe veteran Duane Hawthorne. This pair combined to hold opponents to 180.6 passing yards per game.

After four years (1996-99) serving the dual role of defensive assistant/quality control for the Cowboys, Pendergast oversaw the club’s defensive nickel package in 2000. Despite starting five different line-ups and eight different players in the secondary over the course of the 2000 season, the Dallas defense finished the year third in the NFL in pass defense. Darren Woodson (123) and Ryan McNeil (101) each topped the 100-tackle plateau, while Phillippi Sparks, who joined the team the week of the season opener, led the team with five interceptions.

In his first four seasons with Dallas, Pendergast’s work as a defensive assistant, helping with the linebackers in particular, was an integral part of the defense’s success. During that time, he helped incorporate youngsters Dexter Coakley, Randall Godfrey, Darren Hambrick and Dat Nguyen into the lineup as valuable contributors. Coakley evolved from a rookie third-round choice in 1997 to a Pro Bowl selection in 1999 and 2001. In 1999, Coakley also led the club with four interceptions.

The play of the Dallas linebackers in 1998 helped the Cowboys improve their run defense from 24th to 12th in the NFL. Coakley ranked second on the team with 127 tackles, Fred Strickland finished third with 117 stops and Godfrey totaled 115 tackles to finish fourth.

Cowboys’ linebackers also finished 1997 as the team’s second, third and fourth leading tacklers. Godfrey led the club with 149 stops, and Coakley started all year at weakside linebacker and recorded 136 tackles, the club-record for tackles by a rookie.

In 1996, the Dallas linebackers were led by Fred Strickland who recorded a team and career-high 153 tackles. Pendergast worked closely with rookie draft pick Godfrey and helped him earn a starting spot at strongside linebacker by Week 11 against Green Bay (11/18/96).

Pendergast spent the 1995 season with the Houston Oilers as a defensive assistant and quality control coach. He joined the Oilers from Alabama-Birmingham, where he was named the tight ends coach in January of 1995. Prior to his stint at UAB, Pendergast spent the 1993-94 seasons working with the tight ends and as an advance scout at Oklahoma. In 1992, Pendergast was a defensive assistant at Southern Cal. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Arizona (1990), Pendergast worked the 1991 season as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, helping the receivers and working as an advance scout.

Pendergast was born Nov. 29, 1967 and is a native of Phoenix, Ariz.

1991 Mississippi State, graduate assistant
1992 Southern Cal, defensive assistant
1993-94 Oklahoma, tight ends
1995 Houston Oilers, defensive assistant/quality control
1995 University of Alabama-Birmingham, tight ends
1996-99 Dallas Cowboys, defensive assistant/quality control
2000 Dallas Cowboys, defensive nickel
2001-02 Dallas Cowboys, secondary
2003-04 Cleveland Browns, linebackers

 

[Metal Militia]

Alex Wood
Offensive Coordinator

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Alex Wood brings 26 years of coaching experience to the Valley, including five at the professional level with the Minnesota Vikings (1999-2002) and Cincinnati Bengals (2003).

Last year, Wood's tutelage of the Bengals' wide receivers was instrumental in the club's resurgence and postseason contention through the final weekend of the regular season. Under Wood's guidance, Chad Johnson led the AFC with 1,355 receiving yards on 90 receptions and the Bengals were the only team to place two receivers among the AFC's top 10-Johnson (90) and Peter Warrick (79). Johnson was selected a Pro Bowl starter.

Prior to joining the Bengals, Wood served as quarterbacks coach for the Vikings where he developed Daunte Culpepper into one of the NFL's bright young stars. A first-round draft choice in 1999, Culpepper became the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2000, led the NFC with 33 touchdown passes, and set team quarterback rushing records for yards (470) and touchdowns (7) as Minnesota advanced to the conference title game. Culpepper was named a Pro Bowl starter in 2000 without a pass attempt as a rookie in 1999.

A college running back at Iowa from 1975-77, Wood began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1978, then served on staffs at Kent State (1979-80), Southern Illinois(1981), Southern University (1982-84), Wyoming (1985-86), Washington State (1987-88, Miami, Fla. (1989-92), and Wake Forest (1993-94) before a four-year stint as head coach at James Madison (1995-98 where he compiled a 23-22 overall record. While at Miami under head coach Dennis Erickson, Wood helped the Hurricanes earn national championships in 1989 and 1991.

 

[Metal Militia]

Steve Wetzel
Strength and Conditioning

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Steve Wetzel joined the Minnesota Vikings as strength and conditioning coach in 1992 and was a key member of Green's coaching staff that compiled a 101-70 (.591) composite record in 10 seasons as the Vikings earned eight postseason berths and two NFC championship games appearances.

In his 14 NFL seasons (Washington 1990-91, Minnesota 1992-03), Wetzel has been associated with teams that boast a 136-88 (.607) composite record and made 10 playoff appearances, including 1991 when he was on the Washington Redskins' Super Bowl XXVI championship staff. In his two seasons (1990-91) as assistant strength coach for the Redskins, the team posted a 28-9 (.757) all-games record.

Before joining Washington, Wetzel spent four months as George Mason's first strength. He was the assistant strength coach at the Maryland from 1985-89. In his first season, the Terrapins finished 9-2, won the Atlantic Coast Conference title, and defeated Syracuse in the Cherry Bowl.

Wetzel earned his bachelor's degree in physical education/sports management from Slippery Rock University where he was a power lifter. He is a former record holder in the bench press in the American Drug Free Power Lifting Association. In 1998, Wetzel received the President's Award for contributions to his profession as selected by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.

 

[Metal Militia]

Kirby Wilson
Running Backs

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A native of Los Angeles, Wilson owns 16 years coaching experience at the college and professional levels, including the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A running back and wide receiver at Pasadena (Calif.) Community College (1979-80) and the University of Illinois (1980-81), Wilson played two seasons in the Canadian Football League as a defensive back and kick returner for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1983) and Toronto Argonauts (1984).

He entered the coaching arena on the staffs at Pasadena C.C. (1985) and Los Angeles Southwest Community College (1989-90), then spent two seasons at Southern Illinois as linebackers coach (1991) and secondary coach/passing game coordinator (1992).

While secondary coach at the University of Wyoming (1993-94), the Cowboys won the 1993 Western Athletic Conference title and earned an appearance in the Copper Bowl. Wilson then coached running backs at Iowa State for two years (1995-96). Under his guidance, Troy Davis earned all-America honors and led the nation with over 2,000 yards rushing in both 1995 and '96, the only player in NCAA history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark in consecutive seasons.

Wilson spent the next four years in the NFL as running backs coach with the New England Patriots (1997-99) and Washington Redskins (2000), tutoring a trio of Pro Bowl performers in Patriot running backs Curtis Martin (1997) and Robert Edwards (1998, and later Redskin running back Stephen Davis (2000). In addition, Wilson honed the skills of Washington fullback Larry Centers, who led his team with 80 pass receptions in 2000. Centers (827 receptions) and Keith Byars (610 receptions), who Wilson coached in New England in 1997, rank first and third, respectively, in career receptions by an NFL running back. St. Louis Ram Marshall Faulk ranks second with 673 catches.

After one season (2001) as wide receiver coach at Southern California, Wilson joined head coach Jon Gruden's staff in Tampa Bay in 2002 and the Buccaneers' trio of running backs-Michael Pittman, Mike Alstott, and Aaron Stecker-collectively gained over 1,400 rushing yards and helped the Bucs to the NFC title and a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over Oakland.

 

[Metal Militia]

Richard Solomon
Defensive Backs

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A native of New Orleans, La., Solomon owns 24 years in the coaching fraternity, including 10 on Green's staff with the Minnesota Vikings (1992-2001)and five seasons (1987-91) as a scout for the N.Y. Giants. He also assumed responsibilities as director of pro personnel for the Vikings in 2001.

During his decade with the Vikings, Solomon coached the outside linebackers (1992-93), defensive secondary (1994-2000) and inside linebackers (2001). Under his direction, safety Robert Griffith (1998 and cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock (1998 earned all-pro status, safety Orlando Thomas led the league with nine interceptions as a rookie (1995), cornerback Anthony Parker set an NFL record with three consecutive games with a defensive touchdown (1994), and cornerback Dewayne Washington was selected NFL defensive rookie-of-the-year (1994).

After three seasons (1969-71) as a defensive back and teammate of Green at Iowa, Solomon began his coaching career tutoring defensive backs and serving as defensive coordinator at the University of Dubuque (1973). Solomon joined the staff at Southern Illinois for one season (1976) before working with the wide receivers at Iowa from 1977-78. In one season as receivers coach at Syracuse (1979), he honed the skills of future NFL star Art Monk.

From 1980-86, Solomon was the defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois and helped turn around a program that hadn't posted consecutive winning seasons since the mid-1960s. During his stay in Champaign, the Illini strung together five consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 1920s and appeared in the 1982 Liberty Bowl, 1984 Rose Bowl, and 1985 Peach Bowl.

 

[Metal Militia]

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 with the 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).

Pollard's 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.

 

[Metal Militia]

Robert Ford
Wide Receivers

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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 Dallas.

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.

 

[Metal Militia]

Frank Bush

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Frank Bush enters his ninth year with the Broncos and his third as special teams coach. Bush moved into that role in 2000 after one year as the club's nickel package/secondary coach, which followed five years as linebackers coach. In that role he was highly successful in molding a unit that played an integral role in Denver's back-to-back World Championships in 1997 and '98.

In 2002, Bush's special teams continued to thrive, with the Broncos ranking third in the AFC in kickoff coverage and fourth in the AFC in kickoff return average. Denver held its opponents' average starting drive to its own 27.8-yard line, while posting a 23.5 kickoff return average of its own. Individually, Jason Elam finished second in the AFC in scoring among kickers with 120 points, hitting 26 of 36 field goals and converting 42 of 43 extra points. His 86 percent accuracy on field goals was the best in Broncos history. In addition, running back Reuben Droughns ranked third in the AFC with a 25.8 kickoff return average (20 for 516 yards) on the season.

In both 1998 and '99 Bush's linebacking corps produced the team's top three tacklers, and the top two in '97. The 1999 accomplishment was even more remarkable, and showed the club's depth at the position, considering that 1997-98 tackle leader John Mobley missed nearly the entire season because of a knee injury.

In 1999 Glenn Cadrez (97), Bill Romanowski (94) and rookie Al Wilson (88 paced the team, combining to contribute nearly one-third of the Broncos' total tackles. Wilson was elevated into the starting lineup in the wake of Mobley's injury, and proceeded to show the kind of promise that was expected when he was made the team's No. 1 draft choice.

In 1998 Mobley (132), Cadrez (105) and Romanowski (95) paced the club, as Romanowski was voted to his second Pro Bowl in three years at strongside linebacker, and Denver ranked No. 3 in the NFL against the rush. Bush also successfully implemented Cadrez into the starting position at middle linebacker in 1998, while continuing to mold Mobley into one of the game's brightest young defensive stars at the weakside position.

Bush's troops produced the team's No. 1 and No. 2 tacklers in 1997-Mobley (162) and Romanowski (117)-as Denver won its first-ever Super Bowl. Mobley was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, leading a defensive unit that raised its level of play over the latter part of the season and was crucial to the club's title run.

The linebacking corps was much improved in 1996, following the addition of Romanowski through free agency and Mobley through the draft. They joined Allen Aldridge to form an outstanding starting group that played a major role in the Broncos' improvement to the No. 4 defensive ranking in the NFL, including a No. 1 ranking against the rush. Romanowski's impact was immediate as he earned his first Pro Bowl invitation in nine NFL seasons.

In his first year in Denver, 1995, Bush's linebackers were part of a defensive unit that improved its league ranking by 13 places to figure 15th overall in the NFL.

Bush joined the Broncos staff in 1995 after spending the previous 10 years with the Houston Oilers as a player, scout and assistant coach. He began his coaching career in 1992, when he coached the Oilers linebackers. Under Bush's tutelage, several members of the linebacking corps earned postseason honors as Houston boasted one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL.

Before his coaching tenure with Houston, Bush was a college scout for the Oilers from 1987-92. During that period Bush was the primary college scout in the Western states, helping to bring in some of the players who made the Oilers a very successful team during his tenure.

Bush, 40, was considered one of the most talented young players during his two years in the NFL until a spinal injury prematurely ended his career. In 1985, he played in all 16 games with 11 starts and contributed 114 tackles and four sacks (including two of John Elway). For his efforts, he was selected to UPI's first-team All-NFL rookie squad.

Bush was a fifth-round draft choice of the Oilers in 1985 out of North Carolina State. As a three-year starter for the Wolfpack he recorded 247 tackles, 15 sacks and four interceptions. He majored in communications while at N.C. State.

A native of Athens, Ga., Bush was born Jan. 10, 1963. He and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Centennial, Colo.

 

[Metal Militia]

Bob Wylie
Offensive Line

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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.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Wylie

Me likey Wylie!!!

Coached at my alma mater (avatar).

 

[Cards Czar]

Here is the only Photo that I can find of Bob Wylie. You should add it to your bio of him.

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[BuckeyeCardinal]

Wrong Picture

Me thinks that the Pendergast picture is of the new Browns lber coach.

Pendergast is white.

 

[JeffGollin]

Here is the only Photo that I can find of Bob Wylie. You should add it to your bio of him.

You must be registered for see images

Kind of looks like a younger version of Wilford Brimley.

Any way we can isolate the bios (w.photos) on this thread and make it a sticky?

 

[arthurracoon]

The RB coach Kirby looks like a good fit!

He also was a DB coach in the past!

 

[Renz]

Re: Wrong Picture

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
Me thinks that the Pendergast picture is of the new Browns lber coach.

Pendergast is white.

Yeah. That's a photo of George Edwards.

 

[Renz]

Here is a photo of Pendergast:

 

[Metal Militia]

Re: Wrong Picture

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
Me thinks that the Pendergast picture is of the new Browns lber coach.

Pendergast is white.

Yeah, that was strange. I lifted that pic from the Borwns website and it was correct at first. However when they filled their LB position they added the pic of the new coach and it changed the pic here.

It should be fixed now.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Re: Re: Wrong Picture

Originally posted by Metal Militia
Yeah, that was strange. I lifted that pic from the Borwns website and it was correct at first. However when they filled their LB position they added the pic of the new coach and it changed the pic here.

It should be fixed now.

Not your fault.

Thanks a bunch MM.....great stuff.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by Snausages
Here is the only Photo that I can find of Bob Wylie. You should add it to your bio of him.

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He looks like the guy from Office Space who created "Jump to Conclusions" and eventually got his big payday from the car wreck!

 

[Stout]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
He looks like the guy from Office Space who created "Jump to Conclusions" and eventually got his big payday from the car wreck!

Aaaaaaaaaaah! You're right! Remember, good things can happen...just look at me!