Dennis Green Names Four Assistant Coaches
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Tempe, Arizona — New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach
Dennis Green has named four assistants to his coaching
staff — Alex Wood (offensive coordinator), Richard
Solomon (defensive backs), Steve Wetzel (strength and
conditioning), and Kirby Wilson (running backs).
“Alex Wood has been destined to be one of the top
coaches in the NFL for a long time,” Green offers. “He
has touched every base throughout his career. He was
at Miami (Fla.) when its program was revitalized, he
was a head coach at James Madison, and he’s been very
successful in the NFL with the Vikings and Bengals.
He’s ready for the next step. He’ll be outstanding.
“Our other new coaches, Richard Solomon, Steve Wetzel,
and Kirby Wilson, all meet our criteria of being good
teachers with positive approaches to making Cardinal
players better.”
Alex Wood — 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.
Richard Solomon — 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.
Steve Wetzel — 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.
Kirby Wilson — 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.
— cards —
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Tempe, Arizona — New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach
Dennis Green has named four assistants to his coaching
staff — Alex Wood (offensive coordinator), Richard
Solomon (defensive backs), Steve Wetzel (strength and
conditioning), and Kirby Wilson (running backs).
“Alex Wood has been destined to be one of the top
coaches in the NFL for a long time,” Green offers. “He
has touched every base throughout his career. He was
at Miami (Fla.) when its program was revitalized, he
was a head coach at James Madison, and he’s been very
successful in the NFL with the Vikings and Bengals.
He’s ready for the next step. He’ll be outstanding.
“Our other new coaches, Richard Solomon, Steve Wetzel,
and Kirby Wilson, all meet our criteria of being good
teachers with positive approaches to making Cardinal
players better.”
Alex Wood — 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.
Richard Solomon — 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.
Steve Wetzel — 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.
Kirby Wilson — 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.
— cards —
