Adam Gase’s first job as Jets head coach was to put together a coaching staff. He can check that off his list.
The team announced Friday that Gase completed his staff. While there are some high-profile coaches on Gase’s staff, there are also some new faces who are just starting out. Meanwhile, there are also guys that appeal to Gase and some that lean towards defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
The assistant coaches always come second to the head coach and coordinators, but there are some interesting names on this staff. With that being said, here are some takeaways from the group Gase assembled.
Family Ties
There’s an old saying that you’re never supposed to mix family and work. The Jets didn’t follow that narrative.
Gase brought on his father-in-law, Joe Vitt, to be the Senior Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers coach. Gase is married to Vitt’s daughter, Jenifer, and have three kids together. Vitt was in the Dolphins’ front office last season as the director of player development.
Gregg Williams, meanwhile, is reunited with his son, Blake, who he has coached with for eight seasons. Last season, Blake served as the Browns’ linebackers coach, while Gregg was the defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
The Vitt-Williams Connection
Vitt and Gregg Williams were both part of the 2012 Saints Bountygate scandal in which they were paying players to try and injure opponents. During Williams’ hearing with the league, Vitt testified against and accused Williams of lying.
Vitt also stated that the players don’t take Williams seriously because of his “false bravado” and “schtick.”
Hopefully, both have resolved their differences and can manage to work together. On the other hand, it could be an absolute disaster if the two can’t get along, especially with Vitt being part of Gase’s family.
Coached with Gase in Miami
Gase and his coaching staff in Miami didn’t have too much success with only one playoff appearance in three years, but that didn’t stop the head coach from bringing a few familiar faces to New York.
In total, Gase brought five of his coaches to New York with him. Most notably, he will have Dowell Loggains be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Additionally, he’ll have Shawn Jefferson as the wide receivers coach, Bo Hardegree as an offensive assistant, Frank Bush as the assistant head coach of the defense and inside linebackers coach, and Andre Carter as the defensive line coach.
Todd Bowles’ staff lives on
Gase is keeping several members of Todd Bowles’ coaching staff. The biggest names that Gase is retaining are special teams coordinator Brant Boyer and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson. Wilson will also take on the responsibilities of passing game coordinator.
Steve Jackson will be Wilson’s assistant defensive backs coach. On the special teams side, Boyer will keep his assistant in Jeff Hammerschmidt. Finally, the Jets will hold onto Robby Brown as an assistant coach, as well as all their strength and conditioning coaches.
A step down for Jim Bob Cooter
Jim Bob Cooter has put together a solid resume in the NFL, but he took a major hit.
The 34-year-old coach started out as a graduate assistant in 2007 at the University of Tennessee and worked his way through the ranks. He was named the Lions offensive coordinator in 2015 and did that for four seasons.
With the Jets, he’ll be the running backs coach, which is a significant downgrade.
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