Steve Spagnuolo

Steve Spagnuolo

Steve Spagnuolo while head coach of the St. Louis Rams
Date of birth	December 21, 1959 (1959-12-21)
Place of birth	Whitinsville, Massachusetts
Position(s)	Head Coach
College	Springfield College
Regular season	10–38–0
Postseason	0–0
Career record	10–38–0
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1981–1982 1983 1984–1986 1987-1989 1990-1991 1992 1993 1994 1994-1995 1996–1997 1998 1999–2000 2001–2003 2004-2006 2007-2008 2009–2011 2012-present	Massachusetts (Graduate Assistant) Washington Redskins (Player Personnel Intern) Lafayette (DL Coach/Special Teams Coach) Connecticut (Defensive Backs Coach) Connecticut (Def. Coordinator/DB Coach) Barcelona Dragons (DL Coach/Special Teams Coach) Maine (Defensive Backs Coach) Maine (Def. Coordinator/LB Coach) Rutgers University (Defensive Backs Coach) Bowling Green University (Defensive Backs Coach) Frankfurt Galaxy (Def. Coordinator/LB Coach) Philadelphia Eagles (Defensive Assistant) Philadelphia Eagles (Defensive Backs Coach) Philadelphia Eagles (linebackers coach) New York Giants (Defensive Coordinator) St. Louis Rams (Head Coach) New Orleans Saints (Defensive Coordinator)

Stephen Christopher Spagnuolo (pronounced [spaˈɲɲɔ.lo]; born December 21, 1959) is the current defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. He was previously the head coach of the St. Louis Rams from January 2009 to January 2012. He was also defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from January 2007 to January 2009, and also served for eight years under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Early years

Born in the Whitinsville section of Northbridge, MA, Spagnuolo moved to Grafton as a youth. After graduating from Grafton (MA) High School, Spagnuolo played wide receiver at Springfield College. He assisted the University of Massachusetts football team while pursuing his graduate degree.

Coaching career

Spagnuolo began his NFL coaching career in the Philadelphia Eagles organization in 1999, serving as linebackers and defensive backs coach. He remained there for eight years, learning Jim Johnson's defensive philosophy. It was under Johnson that Spagnuolo cultivated his trademark look, Goatee and buzz cut.

In January 2007, he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, under Head Coach Tom Coughlin.

He spent two years in New York, and was the architect of the aggressive defensive strategy against the New England Patriots (the highest scoring offensive team in NFL history) in Super Bowl XLII, which was instrumental in the close victory by the Giants. Following the Super Bowl win and a great deal of praise, Spagnuolo's name was widely circulated for open head coach positions around the NFL.

On February 7, 2008, he took his name out of consideration for the head coaching position of the Washington Redskins, citing the fact that he did not feel ready to be a head coach.^{[citation needed]} People speculated that he did not like the fact that the coordinators were already installed, but he stated he had no problems with them.^{[citation needed]} The same day, the New York Giants made Spagnuolo one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the NFL with a new three-year contract, worth roughly $2 million a year.

St. Louis Rams

Following another successful season in 2008, most notably the upset Super Bowl XLII victory over the previously undefeated (18-0) New England Patriots, Spagnuolo's name came up as a replacement for numerous head coaching vacancies once again, including those for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions,^{[citation needed]} but Spagnuolo decided to join with the St. Louis Rams, taking over their head coaching vacancy with a 4-year, $11.5 million contract. Spagnuolo hired Pat Shurmur and Ken Flajole to be the Rams' offensive and defensive coordinators respectively. Spagnuolo then hired Josh McDaniels to be the team's offensive coordinator to replace Shurmur, who left for the Browns' head coaching job.

Spagnuolo was fired on January 2, 2012 after finishing the season 2-14, tied with the Indianapolis Colts with the worst record in the league. Spagnuolo had a 10-38 overall record in his three seasons in St. Louis.

New Orleans Saints

On January 19, 2012, Spagnuolo agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints to become the new defensive coordinator.

Coaching philosophy

Spagnuolo learned under Philadelphia coach Jim Johnson, and shares the same aggressive, blitz-heavy approach as his mentor. Spagnuolo uses a 4–3 base defense with a heavy emphasis on multiple blitz packages, including corner and safety blitzes. While defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, he often used a smaller defensive line, with three or even four defensive ends to further pressure the quarterback.

This philosophy proved successful, with the Giants leading the NFL in sacks in 2007. During Super Bowl XLII, Spagnuolo's defense sacked Tom Brady five times, the most times he had been sacked in any game that season.

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
STL	2009	1	15	0	.067	4th in NFC West	–	–	–	–
STL	2010	7	9	0	.438	2nd in NFC West	–	–	–	–
STL	2011	2	14	0	.133	4th in NFC West	–	–	–	–
Total		10	38	0	.213		–	–	–

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Steve Spagnuolo has served:

• Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2006)
• Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (2007–2008)
• Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints (2012-present)

Assistant coaches under Steve Spagnuolo who became NFL head coaches:

• Pat Shurmur, Cleveland Browns (2011–present)

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ron Rivera	Philadelphia Eagles Linebackers Coach 2004–2006	Succeeded by Sean McDermott
Preceded by Tim Lewis	New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 2007–2008	Succeeded by Bill Sheridan
Preceded by Scott Linehan	St. Louis Rams Head Coach 2009–2011	Succeeded by Jeff Fisher
Preceded by Gregg Williams	New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 2012–present	Succeeded by incumbent