Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has agreed to terms with five new assistant coaches. Del Rio named Mel Tucker the team's defensive coordinator and Russ Purnell the team's special teams coordinator. The Jaguars also added quality control coach Johnny Cox, defensive line assistant Charlie Jackson and strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson.
Tucker, 36, previously served as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns in 2008 after three seasons as defensive backs coach. The Wisconsin graduate also has eight years of collegiate experience with four years at the Ohio State University.
Purnell, 60, previously served as special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts under Tony Dungy. The Whittier College graduate has extensive NFL experience with Seattle, Tennessee and Baltimore as well as Indianapolis.
Cox spent the past season at Holy Cross as wide receivers/special teams coach. The Fort Lewis graduate has over a decade of collegiate coaching experience.
Jackson, 32, spent the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos as a defensive coach. The U.S. Air Force Academy graduate has five years of collegiate experience and enters his fourth season in the NFL with the Jaguars.
Richesson spent the last nine years at Athletes' Performance, where he designed and implemented programs to help athletes preparing for the NFL Combine and also readied NFL veterans for the rigors of the season. From 2001-2008, Richesson and the integrated API performance team helped the performances of over 214 draftees, including 116 first day picks, and 44 first-round selections.
