Defensive line coach John Pease has been promoted to assistant head coach, on the heels of having lost in his candidacy for the defensive coordinator position.

Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin decided on Gary Moeller as the team's new defensive coordinator, but Coughlin expressed his appreciation of Pease's worth to the Jaguars by announcing Pease's promotion yesterday.

"John Pease has been an important part of our continuity and our success. His wealth of knowledge and experience both here and in other programs has benefited us and, in particular, the players he has coached. His role on the staff will be much broader and I will lean on him for support in specific areas," Coughlin said.

In announcing the addition of Moeller to the staff last week, Coughlin was asked why he didn't move Pease into the defensive coordinator position.

"John Pease (defensive line coach) is very deserving of an interview and I think very highly of John. My problem is that I'm an offensive football coach and I like to have as many great minds on the defensive side of the ball as possible. Gary will be a great fit and will have a great defensive staff," Coughlin said.

Pease has been on Coughlin's staff for all six of the Jaguars' seasons. He is responsible for the rotation system of defensive linemen used in games, intended to have fresh players on the field, especially in Jacksonville's heat and humidity.

As assistant head coach, Pease's duties have been expanded to include coordination of the team's offseason strength and conditioning program, as well as assisting Coughlin in the organization and logistics of the Jaguars' post-draft, April mini-camp and the June pre-camp. He will also have additional administrative assignments involving scheduling and training camp.

Coughlin's defensive staff now boasts three coaches who've been with the Jaguars since their inception: Pease, inside linebackers coach Steve Szabo, and strong-side linebackers coach Lucious Selmon. Perry Fewell, who joined Coughin's staff in 1998, remains the Jaguars' defensive backs coach.

Pease, 56, came to the Jaguars after being the New Orleans Saints' defensive line coach for nine seasons.