Renowned special teams coach Joe DeCamillis has been hired by the Jaguars as their special teams coordinator. DeCamillis had been with the Atlanta Falcons for the past 10 seasons.
The hiring of DeCamillis comes on the heels of the announcement that Dirk Koetter is the team's new offensive coordinator. Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio would seem to be moving quickly to replace the five coaches he fired last week.
"Both of these men have extensive experience and success in coaching and they are each a very good fit for our staff and our team," Del Rio said of DeCamillis and Koetter. "Their credentials are exceptional and I believe they will make a positive impact here on our offense and on our special teams."
DeCamillis was the Falcons' special teams coordinator the last three seasons. Under DeCamillis, the Falcons' punt coverage team allowed an NFL-low 6.1 yards per punt return and only one return for a touchdown. In addition, the Falcons had the third-most touchbacks (126), the second-most kickoff returns for touchdowns (eight) and second-most total return touchdowns (13) during DeCamillis' time as coach.
In 2006, the Falcons led the NFL, as opponents had an average starting position of the 23.6-yard line. They ranked fourth in the NFL with 47 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards and second in allowing only 26 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards.
The Falcons were one of four teams to be ranked in the NFL's top 10 in both kickoff coverage (first) and punt coverage (eighth) in the '05 season. Kicker Todd Peterson made 18 consecutive field goals and had the second-highest percentage in franchise history, and punt-returner Allen Rossum finished second in the NFL with a 12.4 yards-per-return average and was named to the Pro Bowl.
DeCamillis spent four seasons (1993-96) as special teams coach with the New York Giants under Dan Reeves, and five seasons in Denver as defensive quality control and assistant special teams coach from 1988-92.
