Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Valero retained, McMahon named special teams coach by St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Art Valero is the second holdover coach from the Rams’ 2008 staff to be retained by new coach Steve Spagnuolo. But he has a new job description. Valero, who coached running backs last season, will assist Steve Loney coaching the Rams’ offensive line in 2009.

Valero, 50, has coached either running backs or tight ends in his seven NFL seasons with Tampa Bay and St. Louis. But 15 of his 20 seasons at the college level were as an offensive line coach.

Meanwhile, the team has named Tom McMahon its special teams coordinator. McMahon, 39, had been the assistant special teams coach for the Atlanta Falcons the past two seasons _ his only prior NFL coaching experience.

Also, the Rams officially announced the previously reported hirings of Sylvester Croom as running backs coach; Rock Gullickson as strength and conditioning coach; Brendan Daly as defensive line coach; and Matt House as defensive quality control coach.

Chuck Faucette, the Rams’ assistant strength and conditioning coach last season, has interviewed for the same job on Spagnuolo’s staff.

The additions of Valero and McMahon make it 15 hires for Spagnuolo in 16 days since he was hired on Jan. 17. Spagnuolo has only a couple of hires left to complete his staff.

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