LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Friday finalized their coaching staff by naming Rod Marinelli defensive coordinator, Eric Washington defensive line coach and Shane Day quarterbacks coach.

Marinelli, who also will retain his title as assistant head coach, joined the Bears a year ago as defensive line coach after spending the previous three seasons as head coach of the Detroit Lions. Under his guidance in 2009, Bears defensive linemen generated 24 sacks, tied for ninth most in the NFL among defensive fronts.

“I’m very excited,” Marinelli said. “The defensive staff has all worked together, so it’s just a chance to keep going and build on the subtleties of our system. We’ve all been in it together and I think the familiarity will help.”

Rod Marinelli will continue working with Bears defensive linemen this season.

Marinelli and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be more involved with a position group this season than Bears coordinators have been in the past, with Marinelli continuing to work with the defensive line and Martz tutoring quarterbacks. 

Marinelli boasts 14 years of NFL experience. He was a highly respected defensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2005 before joining the Lions.

Marinelli and Bears coach Lovie Smith worked together for five seasons with the Buccaneers as defensive assistants on Tony Dungy’s staff from 1996-2000. The two roomed together for part of their tenure. Marinelli also worked with Bears general manager Jerry Angelo in Tampa.

“Rod is among the best defensive coaches in the NFL and will be an excellent defensive coordinator for us,” Smith said. “We considered outside possibilities, but I didn’t feel our defense would benefit the same way it will with Rod in the coordinator role.”
 
When Smith was hired by the Bears in 2004, he tried to bring Marinelli to Chicago as defensive coordinator. But the Buccaneers declined to allow Marinelli out of his contract.

“From the first day I became head coach of the Chicago Bears, I envisioned Rod as our defensive coordinator,” Smith said. “I considered him for the role last year, but wanted him to have the opportunity to work exclusively with our defensive line and become acclimated to our team. He will remain in our defensive line room, but will add the responsibility of the defensive calls on game day.”

Washington spent the last two seasons as Bears assistant defensive line coach. Prior to that, he coached at Texas A&M (1997), Ohio University (2001-03) and Northwestern (2004-07).

In addition to Marinelli and Washington, the Bears’ defensive coaching staff includes Bob Babich (linebackers coach), Jon Hoke (defensive backs) and Gill Byrd (assistant defensive backs/safeties).

“As I mentioned at the end of the season, I think we have an excellent defensive staff,” Smith said. “Our position coaches bring a valuable expertise to their respective areas and our defense evolves every year based on the input they bring to our planning meetings. We are excited to get to work and we expect to play the type of disruptive defense we have been known for.”

Day was a quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers the past three seasons, working with Martz in 2008. Day also worked with new Bears tight ends coach Mike DeBord at Michigan in 2005-06, serving as assistant quarterbacks and quality control coach. His other duties included opponent film breakdown and recruiting.

In addition to Martz, Day and DeBord, other Bears offensive coaches include the recently hired Mike Tice (offensive line) and holdovers Darryl Drake (wide receivers) and Tim Spencer (running backs).

The Bears on Friday also named Andrew Hayes-Stoker offensive quality control coach and Mikal Smith defensive quality control coach.