Browns Add Five Coaches

Eric Mangini continues the building of his coaching staff by adding a familar face and a couple of ex-NFLers.

BROWNS ANNOUNCE FIVE ADDITIONS TO COACHING STAFF

The Cleveland Browns announced the hiring of five new assistants to head coach Eric Mangini’s staff today. Joining the Browns are defensive line coach Bryan Cox, defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, defensive quality control coach Andy Dickerson, quarterbacks coach Carl Smith and assistant strength and conditioning coach Rick Lyle.

Four of the five coaches were part of Mangini’s staff in New York, with Cox, Henderson, Dickerson and Lyle all having spent the past three seasons on the Jets coaching staff.

“I am pleased to announce the addition of five new coaches to our staff,” said Eric Mangini. “These men are outstanding teachers and their energy and expertise will have an immediate impact on our team.”

Cox developed a reputation as one of the most intimidating linebackers in the NFL over his 12-year career. He played in 165 regular season games, including 144 starts, with the Miami Dolphins (1991-95), Chicago Bears (1996-97), New York Jets (1998-2000), New England Patriots (2001) and New Orleans Saints (2002). In 2006, Cox joined Mangini on the Jets’ coaching staff as the assistant defensive line coach.

Henderson was selected by New England in the second round (41st overall) of the 1991 draft out of Clemson and played eight seasons as an NFL defensive back. He played for the Patriots on two occasions (1991-93, 1996) and had stints with the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles before finishing his career with the Jets. Henderson also played in two Super Bowls - with the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII and with New England in Super Bowl XXXI. He joined the Jets in 2006 as director of player development and was promoted to assistant defensive backs coach in 2007 before assuming the role of defensive backs coach for the 2008 season.

Dickerson began his NFL career with the Washington Redskins as a training camp intern in 2003 before spending the rest of the season as a graduate assistant at Tufts University. Dickerson then served as an operations intern with New England in 2004 before being hired as a full-time member of the operations staff in 2005. He spent the last three seasons with the Jets, joining the team in 2006 as a coaching assistant before being promoted to defense quality control coach in 2007.

Smith returns to the Browns after a two-year stint as the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville where, in 2006, he led an offensive unit that ranked 10th in the league in overall offense and third in overall rushing (158.8 yards/game). In 2004, Smith helped the USC Trojans to a national championship as quarterbacks coach and mentored Trojans QB Matt Leinart during his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign. Smith spent 2001-2003 as the Browns quarterback coach under head coach Butch Davis. He began his NFL coaching career in 1986 with the Saints as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, a role he held for 11 years before a three-year stint with the Patriots from 1997-99. Prior to his NFL career, Smith held coaching positions with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL and in the college ranks at North Carolina St., Lamar, Southwestern Louisiana, Colorado and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Lyle carved out a 10-year NFL career as a versatile defensive lineman, spending time with the Browns (1994-95), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Jets (1997-2001) and Patriots (2002-03). He compiled 250 career tackles and 11 sacks and was a member of New England’s Super Bowl championship squad in 2003. Lyle joined the Jets coaching staff in 2006 and held the position of assistant strength and conditioning coach/nutrition coordinator for the past three seasons under Mangini.