News

San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike McCoy finalized his coaching staff today with the official additions of Jason Michael as tight ends coach, Ollie Wilson as running backs coach and Rick Lyle as assistant strength and conditioning coach.

A former national champion quarterback at Western Kentucky, Michael returns for his third season with the team. He has tutored future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates, who became the Chargers’ all-time leader in receptions and touchdown catches during Michael’s first two seasons in San Diego. Gates had another solid season in 2012, tying for the team lead with seven touchdown catches. Tight ends Randy McMichael, Dante Rosario and rookie Ladarius Green, who the Chargers drafted in the fourth round in ’12, also contributed in 2012.

Photo Gallery: Meet the Chargers Coaching Staff | More Photos

Embarking on his 23rd season of coaching running backs in the National Football League, Wilson has helped develop a deep stable of top-flight ball carriers. His most recent protégé is Ryan Mathews, the team’s leading rusher each of the past two seasons. Injuries slowed Mathews in 2012, but he rushed for a team-leading and career-high 1,091 yards under Wilson in 2011. Mathews has also become an adept pass-catcher, pulling in 89 catches over the last two seasons. Wilson has been with the Chargers twice, including 1997-01 and most recently since 2008.

Lyle joins the Chargers after spending the previous four seasons as the assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Cleveland Browns. He is a former NFL player with a Super Bowl title on his resume. Lyle played with Cleveland (1994-95), Baltimore (1996), the New York Jets (1997-01) and New England (2002-03), winning a championship with the Patriots in his final season. Certified as a strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2010, Lyle began coaching in 2006 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and nutrition coordinator for the Jets.

Lyle was born in Monroe, La., and grew up in Kansas City, Mo. He was a football, track and wrestling standout at Hickman Mills (Mo.) High School, where he was a two-time state champion in the shot put. He also finished fifth in the state tournament as a heavyweight wrestler. Lyle went to the University of Missouri and starred along the Tigers’ defensive line, tallying 18 career sacks, including a team-leading eight during his senior season. He also competed in track and field at Missouri, earning All-America honors in the shot put. Lyle graduated from Missouri with a degree in parks, recreation and tourism, and he joined the Browns in 1994 as an undrafted college free agent, spending two years with the Browns before they moved to Baltimore in 1996 and became the Ravens. Lyle and his wife, Laura, have two daughters, Haley and Audrey.               

Below is the Chargers’ coaching staff for the 2013 season.

Head Coach............................... Mike McCoy

Offensive Coordinator.............. Ken Whisenhunt

Defensive Coordinator.............. John Pagano

Special Teams Coordinator....... Kevin Spencer

Linebackers............................... Joe Barry

Offensive Line.......................... Joe D’Alessandris

Wide Receivers......................... Fred Graves

Defensive Line.......................... Don Johnson

Strength & Conditioning............ Kent Johnston

Tight Ends.................................. Jason Michael

Secondary.................................. Ron Milus

Quarterbacks............................. Frank Reich

Running Backs........................... Ollie Wilson

Assistant Special Teams............ Craig Aukerman

Assistant Offensive Line.......... Andrew Dees

Asst. Strength & Conditioning... Rick Lyle

Assistant Linebackers............... Byron Storer

Assistant Secondary.................. Greg Williams

Quality Control—Defense........ Chad Grimm       

Quality Control—Offense......... Nick Sirianni

Coaching Assistant.................... Mark Ridgley