MOBILE, Ala. – The Rams added to an ever growing stable of experienced coaches Wednesday, announcing that Dave McGinnis has been named assistant head coach for Jeff Fisher’s staff.
Much like newly named defensive coordinator Gregg Williams; McGinnis has a longstanding relationship with Fisher that made his addition a no-brainer.
“I feel very fortunate that we were able to bring Dave aboard,” Fisher said. “He’s been in a variety of roles in this league, from position coach all the way up to head coach. His vast knowledge and experience will be valuable assets to our staff, and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with Dave again.”
McGinnis actually brings the most experience of any coach that’s been added to the Rams’ staff thus far and you’d be hard pressed to find a coach anywhere in the league that’s seen and done as much.
Entering the 2012 season, McGinnis will be beginning his 39th season as a coach, 25 of which he has spent coaching in some capacity in the NFL.
Fisher and McGinnis spent seven seasons working together in Tennessee, where McGinnis stayed last season before accepting this newest role with St. Louis.
McGinnis worked as assistant head coach and worked with linebackers in Tennessee but has been a head coach in the NFL, serving in that role for three and half years with the Arizona Cardinals starting in 2000.
The Cardinals employed McGinnis as defensive coordinator from 1996 to 2000 before he was promoted to head coach.
As defensive coordinator in Arizona, McGinnis led a group that produced three Pro Bowlers in Aeneas Williams, Eric Swann and Simeon Rice. Rice also earned AP Rookie of the Year honors in 1996 and tallied 51.5 sacks in his tenure with the team, including a franchise record 16.5 sacks in 1999. McGinnis’ 1998 defense helped lead Arizona to the playoffs and ranked third in the league in takeaways with 39.
McGinnis got his start in Chicago, where he was the team’s linebackers coach from 1986 to 1995. There, he learned the nuances of a number of defensive ideals, including the direct influences of Buddy Ryan. He coached such linebacker luminaries as Mike Singletary, Wilber Marshall and Otis Wilson.
Before making the leap to the NFL, McGinnis spent 13 years in various stops in the college game, including a three-year stint at nearby Missouri from 1975 to 1977.
McGinnis started for three seasons as a defensive back at Texas Christian University before he jumped in to coaching. Born in Independence, Kan., he grew up in Snyder, Texas.
