FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAN. 4, 2001

BENGALS HIRE ASSISTANT COACHES

The Bengals today hired Kevin Coyle, defensive coordinator and secondary coach the past four seasons at Fresno State, as defensive backfield/cornerbacks coach.

"I’m very happy to welcome Kevin to our staff," said Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau. "He comes highly recommended by Mark Duffner, our defensive coordinator, and he has impressed me with his plans for working with our system."

Ray Horton, Bengals defensive backfield coach since 1997, will concentrate his efforts on working with the team’s safeties in 2001.

Coyle, 44, has worked under Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner in three previous coaching assignments. When Duffner was defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati (1977-80), Coyle was a graduate assistant in 1978 and a part-time assistant in 1979. When Duffner was head coach at Holy Cross (1986-91), Coyle was defensive coordinator from 1986-90. When Duffner was head coach at Maryland (1992-96), Coyle was defensive coordinator from 1994-96.

Coyle was defensive coordinator at Syracuse from 1991-93.

Coyle is the final addition to the Bengals defensive staff for 2001. It also was announced today that Duffner, Bengals linebackers coach from 1997-2000, will continue as linebackers coach while taking over the defensive coordinator position.

"I’ve put a lot of effort into getting our linebackers going the past four years," Duffner said, "and I think coaching a position will help me keep a pulse on what’s going on. I think it will help my coaching and my coordinating."

The Bengals also agreed to terms with John Garrett to join the coaching staff as offensive assistant.

Garrett was quarterbacks coach the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, and in 1999 he also was responsible for offensive quality control with the Cardinals.

Garrett was previously on the Bengals staff from 1995-98, serving in the position of offensive assistant/wide receivers in ‘95, as wide receivers coach in ‘96 and as offensive assistant in ‘97 and ‘98. His hiring represents an expansion of the current coaching staff, as the Bengals did not have a coach in the role of offensive assistant in 1999 or 2000.

Garrett played for the Bengals in 1989 as a wide receiver, and his pro playing career also included a stint with Buffalo in 1991.

NOTE: Earlier today, the Bengals made an announcement regarding the hiring of Kevin Coyle as defensive backfield/cornerbacks coach. Coyle was defensive coordinator/secondary coach the past four seasons at Fresno State University.