The New York Jets have finalized Adam Gase’s coaching staff and it includes some familiar names to the green and white faithful.
One of the most important offseason priorities for the New York Jets is finally complete. Adam Gase has completed his coaching staff, per the team.
The staff features 21 members including Brant Boyer, the Jets special teams coordinator, who was retained from the previous regime. Including Boyer, eight members of the coaching staff are returning from last season, while 13 other members are brand new additions to the green and white.
Offensively:
Shawn Jefferson — Assistant Head Coach, Offense/Wide Receivers
Shawn Jefferson is an accomplished former wide receiver who played 13 seasons in the pros and played in two Super Bowls. Beyond his playing career, he has coached Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Jarvis Landry during his time with Adam Gase.
-Have heard great things about WRs coach Shawn Jefferson
-Dennard Wilson is back – I know the young safeties are a big fan of his
-Andre Carter is the wildcard of this group, excited to see how he works with #Jets DL group that could have a few new pieces this year https://t.co/PfDJteO4HK
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) February 8, 2019
Jim Bob Cooter — Running Backs
This is a phenomenal hire from an offensive and experience standpoint. Jim Bob Cooter was a Matt Stafford whisperer and really seemed to get the most out of him.
While his focus with the Jets will be the running backs (a regression from his prior experience as an offensive coordinator), he will certainly have an influence on Jets’ signal caller Sam Darnold.
John Dunn — Tight Ends
Last season, Dunn was in college as the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut. There is some prior connective tissue with Jets offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains from their time together with the Chicago Bears.
Frank Pollack — Offensive Line
Pollack is widely respected in the league as an offensive line guru. He did absolute wonders last season with Cincinnati’s O-line. Want more proof of his work? He received some nice pleasantries from star running back Joe Mixon.
Because we’re just gunna let the best line coach in the league go right?? Makes sense?? https://t.co/0BuhoiBvLt
— ?Smoakin Joe?? (@Joe_MainMixon) January 15, 2019
Derek Frazier — Assistant Offensive Line
Many Jets fans wanted Matt Rhule to take over the team as a pure college guy. While, obviously, that didn’t happen, they did get a pure college guy by the name of Derek Frazier.
“He started at Nichols College (2000), then went to Adams State (2001), Fresno State (2003-04, ’06-11), Northern Arizona (2005-06) and Colorado State (2012-14),” per the Jets.
Bo Hardegree — Offensive Assistant
A former quarterbacks coach under Adam Gase, Bo Hardegree, will be an important cog in the offensive room. Loggains will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Jets though officially.
“Before the Broncos, he worked on the college level, as a graduate assistant at Duke (2008-10), where he earned his master’s degree, and as an intern with LSU (2011-13),” per the Jets.
Fixing the New York Jets w/ Senior #NFLDraft Analyst, COO of @DraftNetworkLLC @LedyardNFLDraft. In this episode @BoyGreen25 asked what the 4-3 change will mean for @leonardwilliams + @DLeeMG8, who are some gems for #Jets on OL + edge rusher + more!https://t.co/H4i0Uo4DBP
— The Jets Zone (@TheJets_Zone) February 6, 2019
Defensively:
Frank Bush — Assistant Head Coach Defense/Inside Linebackers
Frank Bush was Miami’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach under Gase the past two seasons. After a short playing career as a Houston ‘backer (1985-86), he has had a long career coaching NFL LBs among other positions.
He was a scout and then a coach for the Oilers (1987-94), then coached with the Broncos (1995-2003), Cardinals (2004-06), Texans (2007-10), Titans (2011-12) and Rams (2013-16). He was a part of Denver’s two Super Bowl championships after the 1997 and ’98 seasons and served as the Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2009 and ’10.
Andre Carter — Defensive Line
Andre had a 13-year NFL career in which he was a very good pro for a long time, but he’s risen quickly through the coaching ranks. Rising from graduate assistant to assistant defensive line coach, to having the job all to himself.
Joe Vitt — Senior Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers
Personally, I thought Kevin Greene did a really good job with the Jets as the outside linebackers coach, but not everyone can stay when a new regime comes in. But if you were going to replace him with anyone, why not a NFL veteran of over 40 years!
“Vitt enters his 41st season in the NFL. Season No. 40 was spent on Gase’s Miami staff last year as senior director of football and player development”, per the Jets.
Blake Williams — Defensive Assistant
Nepotism much? In this world, it’s all about who you know and your connections, so no shame in riding your father’s coattails (especially when it’s a talented football mind). Multiple outlets have reported that Blake Williams can be tough to deal with, hopefully that changes with the Jets.
Eric Sanders — Defensive Assistant
Eric Sanders has both college and NFL experience, recently working with Gregg Williams in Cleveland.
Returning assistant coaches
“Dennard Wilson returns for his third season adding a passing game coordinator to his responsibilities, along with coaching the defensive backs. Steve Jackson is back for year two on the Green & White as assistant DBs coach. Jeff Hammerschmidtteams with Boyer for the fourth year as assistant special teams coach. Robby Brown starts his fifth year with the Jets and his third as a defensive assistant. Strength & conditioning coach Justus Galac enters his eighth season with the team and seventh as head of the S&C department and is joined by returning assistant strength & conditioning coaches Aaron McLaurin and Joseph Giacobbe.”
