Rob Ryan

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Rob Ryan
Date of birth	December 13, 1962
Place of birth	Ardmore, Oklahoma
Position(s)	Defensive Coordinator
College	Southwestern Oklahoma State
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1987 1988 1989-1993 1994-1995 1996 1997-1999 2000-2003 2004-present	Western Kentucky (Assistant) Ohio State (Outside Linebackers) Tennessee State (RBs, LBs, DL) Arizona Cardinals (Defensive Backs) Hutchinson Community College (Defensive Coordinator) Oklahoma State (Defensive Coordinator) New England Patriots (Linebackers) Oakland Raiders (Defensive Coordinator)

Rob Ryan (born December 13, 1962), is the current defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders. He is the son of former defensive coaching legend Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan and the brother of current defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Rex Ryan.

Rob Ryan is in his third year as Raiders defensive coordinator. The 2005 Raiders defense featured the NFL's leading sack artist, DE Derrick Burgess, who chalked up 16 quarterback sacks and a Pro Bowl invitation.

Before joining the Raiders, the 19-year coaching veteran spent four seasons as linebackers coach on Bill Belichick's New England Patriots coaching staff. Ryan's linebacking corps contributed to the Patriots posting victories in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII.

The younger Ryan has previous experience as a defensive coordinator at the college level, having served in that capacity at Oklahoma State from 1994-95 and at Hutchinson Community College in 1996.

In 2003, Ryan's linebacking corps helped the Patriots defense rank first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (238) while ranking seventh overall in the NFL in total defense. Ryan's unit also contributed to one of the best scoring defenses in franchise history in 2001, as the Patriots allowed just 17 points per game. It was the lowest point production allowed by the Patriots in 24 years when the 1977 squad held their opponents to just 15.5 points per game.

Ryan originally entered the NFL coaching ranks in 1994 as defensive backs coach on his father's staff at the Arizona Cardinals. He also coached Cardinals cornerbacks and safeties in 1995. With Ryan as his position coach, cornerback Aeneas Williams earned two trips to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Cardinals in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, the Cardinals 32 interceptions and 42 total takeaways led the NFL.

From 1997-99, Ryan was Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator, where the Cowboys defense was continually ranked among the best in the nation. In 1999, they were ranked 10th in the nation in total defense and ninth in passing yards allowed. In 1998, they were second in the nation with 41 sacks. In his first season at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys defense finished among the nation's Top 20 in turnover margin, rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 302.7 yards per game. It was an over 100-yard improvement per game from the year before and helped the Cowboys produce an 8-4 mark and an Alamo Bowl berth.

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Western Kentucky in 1987 and then coached outside linebackers at Ohio State in 1988. Ryan then spent five seasons at Tennessee State, where he coached running backs (1989-91), linebackers (1992) and the defensive line (1993). He served as defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College in 1996, where they led the nation in total defense (228 yards per game) and in sacks (56). His defense also set a national record by forcing 49 turnovers, which generated eight touchdowns in 10 games. Hutchinson also topped the conference in total defense, run defense and pass defense. Ryan played three seasons as a defensive end and outside linebacker at Southwestern Oklahoma State.