Arizona Cardinals promote OLB coach James Bettcher to defensive coordinator, add Bob Sanders as LB coach
Feb 4, 2015, 8:12 PM | Updated: 8:12 pm
The Arizona Cardinals’ search for a new defensive coordinator is over and the team decided to promote from within.
James Bettcher, Arizona’s outside linebackers coach since 2013, was named the team’s new defensive coordinator Wednesday. He replaces Todd Bowles in that position after Bowles accepted the head coaching position for the New York Jets.
Bettcher followed head coach Bruce Arians to Arizona from Indianapolis after the 2012 season. After holding the position of special assistant to the head coach with the Colts, Bettcher spent his first two seasons with the Cardinals as outside linebackers coach.
Before coming to the NFL in 2012, Bettcher spent nine years in the college football ranks, making stops at St. Francis, Bowling Green, North Carolina, Ball State and New Hampshire.
During his playing career, Bettcher was a three-time NAIA All-America Scholar, a three-time Mid-States Football Association Scholar, a two-time NAIA Coaches All-America choice and a two-time Don Hansen’s All-America selection as an offensive lineman at St. Francis.
Along with promoting Bettcher, the Cardinals added Bob Sanders as their new linebackers coach. Sanders, 61, recently held the same position for the Oakland Raiders, but before that was an assistant coach in Buffalo from 2009 to 20012 and the defensive coordinator in Green Bay from 2006 to 2008.
Arizona’s defense ranked 24th in the league last season in yards allowed per game (368.2), but fifth in points allowed (18.7 per game).
The Cardinals also elevated Mike Chiurco to defensive assistant/assistant defensive backs coach, while Wesley Goodwin has been named assistant to the head coach.
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