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SPAGNUOLO ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF FIVE ADDITIONAL COACHES
Monday, February 2, 2009 Text A A A | RSS 
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St. Louis Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo announced today that he has hired five more coaches for his 2009 coaching staff. The new coaches include Sylvester Croom, running backs; Rock Gullickson, strength and conditioning; Tom McMahon, special teams coordinator; Matt House, defensive quality control, and Brendan Daly, defensive line. “We are closing in on completing our staff,” said Spagnuolo. “We are happy to announce the addition of five new members. They bring a wealth of knowledge and a wide variety of experiences. We look forward to getting them settled in and working toward the success of the St. Louis Rams.” Spagnuolo was named head coach of the Rams on Jan. 17. He has announced the hiring of 14 coaches in the last 16 days. Others on the 2009 Rams staff include Ken Flajole, defensive coordinator; Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator; Andre Curtis, defensive staff; Paul Ferraro, defensive staff; Dick Curl, assistant head coach/quarterbacks; Charlie Baggett, wide receivers; Steve Loney, offensive line; Frank Leonard, offensive staff, and Bruce Warwick, assistant to the head coach/football operations. Croom most recently was head coach at Mississippi State, where he was Southeastern Conference coach of the year in 2007 after bringing the Bulldogs from the bottom of the SEC to a 7-5 record in his third season. Seventeen of Croom’s 30 seasons as a coach have been in the NFL, beginning as running backs coach at Tampa Bay in 1987. He was at Indianapolis in 1991 and at San Diego from 1992-96. He was offensive coordinator at Detroit (1997-2000). He coached running backs at Green Bay (2001-03). Sylvester’s career has impacted more than the outstanding running backs he’s coached in the NFL (Barry Sanders, Detroit; Ahman Green, Green Bay, and Natrone Means, San Diego) but has been one of historic significance. Croom was the first African-American head coach in the SEC and followed Wilbur Jackson in 1971 as one of the first African-American players at the University of Alabama. He was the starting center for coach Paul (Bear) Bryant on Crimson Tide teams that posted a 22-2 record in Croom’s last two seasons. Croom was a Kodak all-America in 1974, then coached 11 years at his alma-mater. Alabama went to 10 bowl games and Croom coached four linebackers who were No. 1 draft choices in the NFL: E.J. Junior, Mike Pitts, Cornelius Bennett, and Derrick Thomas. Daly, who came to the NFL in 2006 after eight seasons on the collegiate level, was a defensive assistant-defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings’ defense ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense the last three seasons. A tight end at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1992-96, McMahon coached at Drake (1998), Villanova (1999, 2005), Maryland (2000), Oklahoma State (2001-03), and Illinois State (2004). He began his career in 1997 in high school at Ridgewood, Florida. McMahon was Assistant Special Coach for the Atlanta Falcons the last two seasons after 14 seasons as a collegiate linebackers, defensive line, secondary coach, special teams coach, and recruiting coordinator. He was at his alma mater, Carroll College in Helena, Montana, in 1992 and 1994, and was at Utah State from 1995-2006 Gullickson will begin his 10th NFL season and 32nd as a coach. He was named the 2007 NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, as chosen by the Professional Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society. Gullickson was with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-08 and was on the New Orleans Saints staff from 200-05. Rock began coaching at Moorhead State, Minnesota, in 1978. He also has coached at Mayville State, North Dakota; Montana State, Rutgers, Texas, and Louisville. House entered the NFL as a special teams and strength and conditioning assistant in 2008 with the Carolina Panthers. House coached at his alma mater, Michigan State, from 2001-02, at North Carolina, 2003-04, Gardner-Webb in 2005, and the University of Buffalo, 2006-07. House was a special teams, defensive backfield, and defensive line coach on the collegiate level. Croom at a
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