Clayton Lopez is in his first year as the Rams’ defensive backs/cornerbacks coach after spending the last three seasons with the Detroit Lions. Lopez coached defensive backs for the Lions from 2006-07 and was assistant secondary coach in 2008.

Before joining the Lions, Lopez coached defensive backs for the Oakland Raiders from 2004-05, working with Pro Bowlers Charles Woodson and Ray Buchanan as well as emerging star Nnamdi Asomugha. In Lopez’s two-year tenure with the Raiders, the team’s pass defense improved from 30th to 18th, tied for the fourth-highest improvement in NFL team rankings in 2005. Their improvement of 42.6 yards per game in pass defense also was fourth in the league.

Lopez made his NFL coaching debut with Seattle in 1999, serving as defensive assistant/quality control from 1999-2001, then moved to assistant secondary coach (2002-03). In Lopez’s five seasons with the Seahawks, the defense recorded 96 interceptions and 433 passes defensed, both of which ranked sixth in the NFL during that span. While with the Seahawks, Lopez oversaw the development of defensive backs Shawn Springs, Marcus Trufant, Ken Hamlin and Ken Lucas.

Clayton’s first coaching job came at his alma mater, the University of Nevada, where he was a graduate assistant from 1995-96 and served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 1997-98.

As a defensive back at Nevada, Lopez helped the Wolf Pack to three conference titles from 1991-94. Lopez earned his master’s degree in counseling and education in 1999 and his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1995.

Lopez, a Los Angeles native, lettered in football, basketball and track at Serra High in Gardena, Calif.