INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Jim Caldwell finally has his new coaching staff in place.
Caldwell ended weeks of speculation Friday by hiring defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski. Caldwell also promoted receivers coach Clyde Christensen to assistant head coach.
Coyer spent the past two seasons as an assistant with Tampa Bay after leading the Broncos’ defense. Rychleski has been a college coach throughout his career, spending last season at South Carolina.
The hiring of Coyer and Rychleski, who worked with Caldwell in the college ranks, had been expected since Caldwell informed his coaching staff of the moves. The promotion of Christensen was not a surprise, either, since all three have long ties to Caldwell.
Coyer and Caldwell spent four seasons together at Iowa, while Rychleski and Caldwell worked on the same staff at Penn State and Wake Forest. And Christensen served on former coach Tony Dungy’s staff the past 13 seasons, the last eight alongside Caldwell.
“(Clyde’s) coaching manner and personal style exemplify the attention to detail and demand for performance we require at all times,” Caldwell said. “Larry and Ray have been successful in every stage of their careers.”
Colts spokesman Craig Kelley said Caldwell and team president Bill Polian would have no additional comments Friday.
Dungy resigned Jan. 12 after seven seasons leading the Colts, and the changes mark the start of a new era for the franchise.
One day after being introduced as Dungy’s successor, Caldwell decided not to renew the contract of special teams coach Russ Purnell. A week later, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks resigned.
He’s accepted the same job with Carolina.
Those decisions gave Caldwell a chance to solidify what have traditionally been the Colts’ two weakest links — defense and return coverage.
