Inside The Bills | Coaches with ties to Gailey

Coaches with ties to Gailey

Posted by Chris Brown on January 21, 2010 – 10:01 am

With the hiring of a coaching staff first on the ‘to do’ list for Chan Gailey here are some coaches that have ties to the Bills head coach at a few different assistant positions.

We’ll start with possible defensive coordinators since that’s largely viewed as the most pivotal hire for Gailey’s staff.

Defensive coordinator
Jim Bates – Coached his defense in Dallas, and with him in Miami on Wannstedt’s staff as DC. Recently relieved of DC duties in Tampa.

Dave Campo – DC under Gailey, replaced him as head coach, currently secondary coach in Dallas

Tim Lewis – was secondary coach with Steelers when Gailey was there – has been a DC for Steelers and Giants 2000-2006 – most recently DBs coach for Seahawks

John Mitchell – Steelers Asst. HC/D-line coach, was D-line coach when Gailey was there under Cowher, was a DC at LSU.

Clancy Pendergast – Was DC in KC, but relieved of duties this season and re-assigned. Coached on Chiefs staff with Gailey in 2008 and was a defensive assistant under him in Dallas.

Jon Tenuta – Ran Gailey’s defense at Georgia Tech, long time college coach with 16 years of experience as a defensive coordinator.

Others available with no connection
Ed Donatell – no connection, former coordinator (Atl, GB) currently secondary coach Denver.

Jim Mora Jr. – Former HC of Falcons and Seahawks, has been a DC as well.

Dave McGinnis – Former coordinator and HC (Ariz), currently Asst. head coach/LBs coach with Tennessee.

Defensive line
Bob Sanders – former DC (GB) and was Bills D-line coach last season. Was LBs coach with Gailey in Miami under Wannstedt. Could also be defensive coordinator candidate as he was a DC for Green Bay.

Clarence Brooks – coached with Gailey in Miami under Wannstedt (D-line coach), currently D-line coach in Baltimore, so doubtful a lateral move would be made.

Offensive coordinator
Pete Mangurian – coached with Gailey in Denver as TEs coach, was an OC for one year with Atlanta under Gailey’s former mentor Dan Reeves. Currently assistant in Tampa.

Special teams
Joe Avezzano – special teams with Cowboys for years including two years under Gailey. A 3-time special teams coach of the year. Currently retired (67 yrs. old).

Joe DeCamillus – coached special teams in Denver when Gailey ran offense for Reeves – currently special teams coach in Dallas so would need additional title (like assistant head coach) to make it realistic.

QBs coach/Receivers coach
Buddy Geis – coached under Gailey at Georgia Tech (receivers coach) and in Dallas (QBs coach).

LBs coach
Dat Nguyen – played for Gailey as a rookie in Dallas. Currently asst. LBs coach in Dallas.