Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh made a number of coaching additions to his staff late Friday (Jan. 15), including hiring former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier as the team's secondary coach. Frazier is the ninth former NFL head coach Harbaugh has added to his staff since joining the Ravens in 2008. The others are: Cam Cameron (Dolphins), Al Saunders (Chargers), Jim Zorn (Redskins), Jim Caldwell (Colts), Steve Spagnuolo (Rams), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Marty Mornhinweg (Lions) and Marc Trestman (Bears).
Also coming to Baltimore is Joe Cullen, who will be the team's defensive line coach. Clarence Brooks, the Ravens' longest-tenured coach, will continue to work as a senior defensive assistant, including helping with the defensive line. The highly-respected Brooks joined the Ravens in 2005.
Chris Hewitt, a Ravens' assistant since 2012, will continue to coach defensive backs. Matt Weiss, a member of Harbaugh's staff since 2009, will now coach linebackers. Weiss focused on coaching the team's cornerbacks in 2015.
Additionally,Scott Cohen, who was a consultant for the Ravens' coaching staff and Harbaugh last season, has been named coaching assistant/opponent analysis.
Prior to his Baltimore arrival, Cohen was the senior personnel advisor for the Buccaneers for two seasons (2013-14), handling evaluations and player acquisitions on the professional and collegiate level and working on the team's advance scouting. He previously served as the New York Jets' assistant general manager (2008-12) and the Eagles' director of pro personnel (2001-07) after working as the Jaguars' assistant director of pro scouting (1999-2000).
"We were excited when coaches Frazier and Cullen became available in the last few days, and we are pleased to keep Scott, who was being pursued by other teams," Harbaugh stated.
Leslie Frazier
Frazier, 56, enters his 18th NFL coaching season after spending the 2014-15 campaigns as Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he was head coach of the Vikings from 2010-13 (interim for part of '10) and their defensive coordinator from 2007-10.
This past season, Frazier guided the Buccaneers to a No. 10 ranking in total yards allowed (340.4 ypg). His defensive unit also posted the NFL's 11th-ranked run defense (100.4 ypg).
Before his Minnesota arrival, Frazier spent time in Indianapolis as a defensive assistant (2005) and an assistant to the head coach/defensive backs coach (2006). He was a part of the Colts' 2006 Super Bowl Championship team and coached Pro Bowler S Bob Sanders.
Frazier also served as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator from 2003-04. He originally entered the NFL as a coach in 1999, working with defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles. For four seasons, Frazier was on an Eagles staff that included John Harbaugh (special teams coordinator). During his time with Philadelphia, Frazier helped CB Troy Vincent (four) and S Brian Dawkins (three) earn multiple Pro Bowl honors.
An All-American defensive back at Alcorn State, Frazier played six seasons for the Chicago Bears (1981-86) and started on the 1985 Super Bowl Championship team. He led Chicago in interceptions three-consecutive seasons (1983-85), finishing his pro career with 20 thefts.
Joe Cullen
A 10-year NFL coaching veteran, Cullen joins the Ravens after serving as defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15), Cleveland Browns (2013), Jacksonville Jaguars (2010-12) and Detroit Lions (2006-08).
During his two seasons with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers allowed the NFL's third-fewest yards per rush (3.67 avg.), including just 3.4 yards per carry in 2015 (the league's second-best mark). Last season, Tampa Bay's defensive line also accounted for 26.5 of the team's 38 sacks. In 2013, Cullen helped improve Cleveland's defense to ninth overall in the NFL after the unit finished 23rd the year prior to his arrival.
Before beginning his NFL coaching career, Cullen spent 16 years tutoring on defense at the collegiate level. He served mostly as a defensive line coach, but had two stints as defensive coordinator at Indiana (2004) and Richmond (2000).
Cullen attended the University of Massachusetts, where he was a four-year nose guard from 1986-89, earning three All-Conference honors.
