Denver Broncos Coaches

Head Coach
Mike Shanahan

Pro Career
Became the eleventh head coach in Broncos history on January 31, 1995, coming to Denver from the 1994 world champion San Francisco 49ers, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1992-94. After a disappointing early exit from the playoffs at the hands of upstart Jacksonville in 1996, Denver posted a 12-4 record last year, which was second best in the AFC West. Led the by quarterbacking of John Elway, the running of Terrell Davis and one of the toughest defenses in the league, the Broncos made their fifth Super Bowl appearance. Unlike the other four appearances, Denver battled the defending champion Packers on equal terms from the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XXXII, and held off a late Green Bay rally to win their first world championsihp. In 1996 Shanahan led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and the AFC Western Division title, tying the club record for wins in a season and leading the NFL in total offense, that after having rewritten the Denver record books in Shanahan's first year. In 1995 he improved the Broncos to an 8-8 mark while stamping the Denver offense with his signature as the most productive unit in the AFC, finishing third in the NFL. The two seasons under Shanahan have produced the most prolific two-year total offense statistics in Broncos history. San Francisco's three-year average under Shanahan's direction was the most-productive offense in the history of pro football. San Francisco's quarterback Steve Young rewrote many NFL passing records and was named the NFL most valuable player twice in his three years under Shanahan's guidance. During his NFL career, Shanahan has been a part of teams that have played in seven AFC or NFC Championship Games, in addition to his four Super Bowl appearances, three with Denver and Super Bowl XXIX with San Francisco. In his 22 seasons coaching in the NFL and at the college level, Shanahan's teams have participated in postseason playoffs or bowl games 16 times. A driving force behind the Broncos' offense for all three of the team's most recent Super Bowl appearances (following the 1986, 1987, and 1989 seasons), he first came to Denver in 1984 as wide receivers coach. Shanahan was Broncos' offensive coordinator from 1985-87, and then returned to Denver as quarterbacks coach on October 16, 1989, after serving as head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988 and through thfirst four games of the 1989 campaign. His record with the Raiders was 8-12.

Background
Shanahan began his coaching career at Oklahoma in 1975-76, also coaching at Northern Arizona (1977), Eastern Illinois (1978), and Minnesota (1979), before moving on to Florida (1980-83), where he led the Gators to an NCAA-record 4,540 yards as assistant head coach in 1983. During his tenure on the college level, Shanahan's teams had a combined record of 77-29-3 (.720), including national championship seasons at Oklahoma in 1975 and at Eastern Illinois in 1978. Personal: Shanahan was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on August 24, 1952. He attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park and was a wishbone quarterback/defensive back at Eastern Illinois, graduating in 1974 with a degree in physical education. He earned a master's degree there in 1975. Mike and his wife, Peggy, have two children, son Kyle and daughter Krystal.

Personal
Shanahan was born in Oak Park, Ill., on August 24, 1952. He attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park and was a wishbone quarterback/defensive back at Eastern illinois, graduating in 1974 with a degree in physical education. He earned a masters degree there in 1975. Mike and his wife, Peggy, have two children, son Kyle and daughter Krystal.

Assistant Coaches

Frank Bush, linebackers; born January 10, 1963, Athens, Ga., lives in Englewood, Colo. Linebacker North Carolina State 1981-84. Pro linebacker Houston Oilers 1985-86. Pro coach: Houston Oilers 1992-94, joined Broncos in 1995.

Barney Chavous, assistant offensive line-assistant strength and conditioning; born March 22, 1951, Aiken, S.C., lives in Englewood, Colo. Defensive end South Carolina State 1969-72. Pro defensive end Denver Broncos 1973-85. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1989.

Rick Dennison, special teams; born June 22, 1958, in Kalispel, Mont., lives in Englewood, Colo. Tight end Colorado State 1976-79. Pro linebacker Denver Broncos 1982-90. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1995.

Ed Donatell, special teams; born February 4, 1957, Akron, Ohio, lives in Littleton, Colo. Safety Glenville State 1975-78. No pro playing experience. College coach: Kent State 1979-80, Washington 1981-82, Pacific 1983-85, Idaho 1986-88, Cal State-Fullerton 1989. Pro coach: New York Jets 1990-94, joined Broncos in 1995.

George Dyer, defensive line; born May 4, 1940, Alhambra, Calif., lives in Aurora, Colo. Center-linebacker U.C. Santa Barbara 1961-63. No pro playing experience. College coach: Humboldt State 1964-66, Coalinga (Calif.) J.C. 1967 (head coach), Portland State 1968-71, Idaho 1972, San Jose State 1973, Michigan State 1977-79, Arizona State 1980-81. Pro coach: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) 1974-76, Buffalo Bills 1982, Seattle Seahawks 1983-91, Los Angeles Rams 1992-94, joined Broncos in 1995.

Alex Gibbs, assistant head coach-offensive line; born February 11, 1941, Morganton, N.C., lives in Grenwood Village, Colo. Running back-defensive back Davidson College 1959-63. No pro playing experience. College coach: Duke 1969-70, Kentucky 1971-72, West Virginia 1973-74, Ohio State 1975-78, Auburn 1979-81, Georgia 1982-83. Pro coach: Denver Broncos 1984-87, Los Angeles Raiders 1988-89, San Diego Chargers 1990-91, Indianapolis Colts 1992, Kansas City Chiefs 1993-94, rejoined Broncos in 1995.

Mike Heimerdinger, wide receivers; born October 13, 1952, DeKalb, Ill., lives in Englewood, Colo. Wide receiver Eastern Illinois 1970-74. No pro playing experience. College coach: Florida 1980, Air Force 1981, North Texas State 1982, Florida 1983-87, Cal State-Fullerton 1988, Rice 1989-93, Duke 1994. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1995.

Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator-quarterbacks; born August 15, 1961, Houston, Tex., lives in Englewood, Colo. Quarterback Texas A&M 1979-82. Pro quarterback Denver Broncos 1983-91. College coach: Texas A&M 1992-93. Pro coach: San Francisco 49ers 1994, joined Broncos in 1995.

Brian Pariani, tight ends; born July 2, 1965, San Francisco, Calif., lives in Castle Pines, Colo. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: UCLA 1989. Pro coach: San Francisco 49ers 1991-94, joined Broncos in 1995.

Ricky Porter, offensive assistant; born January 14, 1960, Sylacaga, Ala., lives in Englewood, Colo. Running back Slippery Rock 1978-81. Pro running back Detroit Lions 1982, Baltimore Colts 1983, Memphis Showboats (USFL) 1985, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1986-87, Buffalo Bills 1987. College coach: Slippery Rock 1990-91, Kent 1992-93. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1996, joined Broncos in 1997.

Greg Robinson, defensive coordinator; born October 9, 1951, Los Angeles, Calif., lives in Aurora, Colo. Linebacker-tight end Pacific 1972-74. No pro playing experience. College coach: Pacific 1975-76, Cal State-Fullerton 1977-79, North Carolina State 1980-81, UCLA 1982-89. Pro coach: New York Jets 1990-94, joined Broncos in 1995.

Greg Saporta, assistant strength and conditioning; born February 2, 1957, New York, N.Y., lives in Englewood, Colo. Wide receiver Buffalo State 1977-79. No pro playing experience. College coach: Florida 1981-88, 1993-94, North Carolina 1989-92. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1995.

Rick Smith, defensive assistant; born September 3, 1969, Petersburg, Va., lives in Aurora, Colo. Safety Purdue 1987-91. No pro playing experience. College coach: Purdue 1992-95. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1996.

John Teerlinck, pass rush specialist; born April 9, 1951, Rochester, N.Y., lives in Englewood, Colo. Defensive lineman Western Illinois 1970-73. Pro defensive tackle San Diego Chargers 1974-76. College coach: Iowa Lakes J.C. 1977, Eastern Illinois 1978-79, Illinois 1980-82. Pro coach: Chicago Blitz (USFL) 1983, Arizona Wranglers/Outlaws (USFL) 1984-85, Cleveland Browns 1989-90, Los Angeles Rams 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1992-94, Detroit Lions 1995-96, jined Broncos in 1997.

Bobby Turner, running backs; born May 6, 1949, East Chicago, Ind., lives in Englewood, Colo. Defensive back Indiana State 1968-71. No pro playing experience. College coach: Indiana State 1975-82, Fresno State 1983-88, Ohio State 1989-90, Purdue 1991-94. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1995.

Rich Tuten, strength and conditioning; born December 30, 1953, Columbia, S.C., lives in Englewood, Colo. Nose guard Clemson 1976-78. No pro playing experience. College coach: Florida 1979-88, 1993-94, North Carolina 1989-92. Pro coach: Joined Broncos in 1995.