Chip Kelly's coaching staff is finalized… and it includes an alternative training specialist who spent three years on the staff of the Nebraska Power program, Shaun Huls— which should make JB-Sage-Lion veeery proud and happy.
Huls has been hired as the team's "Sports Science Coordinator," tasked with heading up an alternative training program for the Eagles partly based on his experience training Navy SEALs…but mostly based on his strength and conditioning training experience with the football program at Nebraska.
Huls previously served as the strength, conditioning and "combatives" coordinator for Navy Special Warfare, per USA Today, but now joins forces with Eagles strength coach Josh Hingst. Kelly is believed to be the first in the NFL to hire someone in this capacity, a move likely inspired by his previous experience with Navy SEAL training.
Kelly put his Oregon players through a regimen known as "Judgment Day" back in 2010, so expect the Eagles roster to get a taste of the same this spring and summer. I'm connecting some dots here, but Andy Reid's last few OTA's and training camps were alleged to have been "soft". Don't take it from me, though…I'm sure I would have been gasping for air after even one of Andy's easiest camp days.
Just to set the coaching lineup in proper order for the first time in 2013, here is a direct lift from the official Eagles PR email I received today (Feb.9)~~~
NOVACARE COMPLEX – The Philadelphia Eagles have finalized their coaching staff by hiring a team of coaches with diverse experience at both the collegiate and professional level.
Pat Shurmur will return to Philadelphia as the team’s offensive coordinator after serving as head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2011-12 and as offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2009-10. Shurmur originally spent 10 seasons as the Eagles tight ends coach (1999-01) and quarterbacks coach (2002-08).
During his seven seasons as the Eagles quarterbacks coach, Shurmur helped guide Donovan McNabb to three Pro Bowl berths and saw him break nearly every franchise passing record. While in St. Louis, Shurmur oversaw an offense that featured Sam Bradford, who set NFL rookie records in attempts and completions, and Steven Jackson, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons as coordinator.
The defense will be coordinated by Bill Davis, who has 21 years of NFL coaching experience after most recently serving as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach from 2011-12. Davis has also held two defensive coordinator jobs, first with the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-06 and with the Arizona Cardinals from 2009-10. Davis has worked with many highly-regarded defensive coaches during his career, including Dick LeBeau, Wade Phillips, Dom Capers, Vic Fangio, Mike Nolan and Marvin Lewis.
Under Davis’ tutelage, D’Qwell Jackson blossomed into one of the NFL’s most productive linebackers over the last two seasons, registering 277 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions. He has also helped guide seven players to the Pro Bowl: Adrian Wilson (2008-10), Darnell Dockett (2010), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2009), Walt Harris (2006), Keith Brooking (2001-02), Kevin Greene (1996) and Lamar Lathon (1996).
Dave Fipp was named the team’s special teams coordinator. Fipp, 38, is coming off of successful stints as an assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins (2011-12) and the San Francisco 49ers (2008-10). During his time in Miami, the Dolphins ranked 2nd (2011) and 4th (2012) in the NFL in overall special teams rankings according to data compiled by esteemed Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin. Fipp will be assisted by Matt Harper, who was an intern and a graduate assistant at Oregon for the last four seasons.
The Eagles also hired a number of position coaches and assistants. On the offensive side of the ball, former running backs coach Ted Williams will continue to be the Eagles longest-tenured assistant, as he will now coach the team’s tight ends after spending 16 seasons working with the running backs. Duce Staley, who was the special teams quality control coach since 2011, was named the new running backs coach. Staley ranks fourth on the Eagles all-time rushing list with 4,807 yards.
The rest of the offensive staff is as follows: Bill Lazor (quarterbacks), Bob Bicknell (wide receivers), Jeff Stoutland (offensive line), Justin Peelle (assistant tight ends), Greg Austin (assistant offensive line) and Press Taylor (offensive quality control).
Lazor joins the Eagles following three years as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UVA. He also has NFL experience, most recently as a quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks (2008-09). Bicknell is coming off of a three-year stint with the Buffalo Bills as their wide receivers and tight ends coach. Stoutland had been Alabama’s offensive line coach for the last two seasons following four years in the same role with Miami (FL). He was also the team’s interim head coach in 2010. Peelle is making his coaching debut after a 10-year NFL career as a tight end, most recently with the 49ers in 2011. Austin worked under Chip Kelly as a graduate assistant and intern over the last three seasons.
The Eagles also hired seven position coaches on the defensive side of the ball. Jerry Azzinaro will be the team’s defensive line/assistant head coach. He served in the same role on Kelly’s staff at Oregon from 2009-12 and has extensive experience at the college level. Bill McGovern (outside LBs) and Rick Minter (inside LBs) will coach the team’s linebackers. McGovern is coming off of a 12-year stint as the linebackers coach/defensive coordinator at Boston College and Minter has more than three decades of coaching experience in the collegiate ranks. He was the defensive coordinator at Kentucky for the last two seasons. John Lovett will be in charge of the Eagles secondary after a one-year stint as the defensive backs coach at Texas Tech. He also has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including defensive coordinator positions at the college level with Miami (2009-10), Clemson (2002-04), Auburn (1999-01), Maine (1994) and Cincinnati (1989-92).
Todd Lyght (assistant defensive backs), Erik Chinander (assistant defensive line) and Mike Dawson (defensive quality control) were also added to the staff. Lyght is a former first-round draft pick and a Pro Bowl safety who spent the last two seasons as a defensive intern at Oregon. Chinander was a graduate assistant at Oregon during that same time. Dawson was a special teams coach at Boston College from 2009-11.
The team also hired Josh Hingst (strength and conditioning) and Shaun Huls (sports science coordinator).
So it is written. All aboard for the shakedown cruise? Get in!…perk up!…carry on.
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