St. Louis Rams Coaches

Head Coach
Dick Vermeil

Pro Career
Named twentieth head coach of the Rams on January 22, 1997. Was designated the first special teams coach in NFL history in 1969 for the Los Angeles Rams. After one year of coaching in college, he returned to the Rams as the quarterbacks coach from 1971-73. In 1976, he was named head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1978, he led the Eagles to their first playoff appearance in eighteen seasons. In 1980, he led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV before losing to the Oakland Raiders. He concluded his stint in Philadelphia in 1982 after piloting the Eagles to four playoff appearances in seven seasons.

Background
Played quarterback at San Jose State from 1956-57 after transferrng from Napa Junior College. Began his head coaching career in 1960 at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California, then moved on to San Mateo College in 1963. The following year he became head coach at Napa College. In 1965, joined John Ralston's staff at Stanford where he was an assistant for four years. Returned to college coaching in 1970 when he became the offensive coordinator at UCLA. Vermeil was named head coach at UCLA in 1974 where he earned national recognition during his two seasons. In 1975, the Bruins capped off an improbable season by upsetting No. 1 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Has been named Coach of the Year on four levels: high school, junior college, Division I, and NFL. Is the only coach who has guided his team to a Super Bowl and a Rose Bowl.

Personal
Born October 30, 1936, in Calistoga, Calif. Graduated from San Jose State in 1958 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education and in 1959 with a master's degree in physical education. Vermeil and his wife, Carol, reside in Chesterfield, Mo., and have three children and ten grandchildren.

Assistant Coaches

Lynn Stiles, Vice President/Football Operations; Enters 19th season in NFL...Vice President of Player Personnel for Kansas City Chiefs from 1992-96...served as special teams coach for San Francisco from 1987-88, before handling tight ends and special teams for 49ers from 1989-90...helped coach the 49ers' offensive line in 1991 and earned Super Bowl rings in 1988 and 1989...assistant coach and player personnel director for Philadelphia Eagles from 1979-86...coached special teams and tight ends on Dick Vermeil's Eagles staff from 1979-82...head coach at San Jose State from 1976-78, claiming two PCAA titles, and was defensive coordinator/assistant head coach at UCLA from 1970-75. After playing guard and linebacker at University of Utah, coached linebackers and defensive line at alma mater from 1966-70...handled linebackers and defensive line at Iowa from 1963-65.

Mike White, Assistant Head Coach/Quarterback coach; Head coach of Oakland Raiders from 1995-96...was Raiders quarterbacks coach from 1990-92 and handled offensive line from 1993-94...began coaching career at alma mater California as graduate assistant in 1958...was recruiting coordinator and receivers coach with Golden Bears from 1960-63...offensive coordinator at Stanford for eight years, 1964-71...served as head coach at Cal from 1972-77...captured school's first ever Pac-8 title and directed nation's top ranked offense in 1975...named National Coach of Year by Sporting News in 1975...was offensive line coach and administrative assistant for San Francisco 49ers from 1978-79...head coach at University of Illinois from 1980-87...was named National Coach of Year after posting 10-1 record and leading Illini to Rose Bowl in 1983.

Jerry Rhome, Offensive Coordinator; Spent 12 years as offensive coordinator in NFL...was offensive coordinator for Houston Oilers from 1995-96, Arizona Cardinals from 1990-93, San Diego Chargers in 1988, and Seattle Seahawks from 1978-82...began NFL coaching career as quarterbacks and receivers coach with Seattle, 1976-78...coached quarterbacks for Washington Redskins from 1983-87, and was wide receivers coach in Minnesota when Cris Carter and Jake Reed set NFL record with 207 total receptions in 1994...offensive coordinator at University of Tulsa from 1973-74...coached Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Largent for three years at Tulsa and seven years with Seahawks...had eight-year career in NFL as quarterback, including two-year stint with Rams from 1970-71...as quarterback at Tulsa, broke 17 NCAA passing records and was runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting in 1964.

Nick Aliotti, Defensive Assistant; Enters third year on Rams staff...coached special teams in 1996 and safeties in 1995...spent 10 years (1985-94) at University of Oregon and handled outside linebackers, and special teams...served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Oregon from 1993-94...helped lead Ducks to Pac-10 championship and Rose Bowl berth in 1994...began coaching career as running backs coach at alma mater UC Davis from 1974-77...part-time assistant with running backs at Oregon from 1978-79...offensive backfield coach at Oregon State from 1980-83...offensive coordinator at Chico State in 1984.

Steve Brown, Defensive Assistant; Begins third year as Rams assistant coach after enjoying nine-year career in NFL as cornerback...defensive assistant/quality control in 1995...coached cornerbacks and helped Rams tie for second in NFL with 26 interceptions in 1996...had eight-year career as staring cornerback with Houston from 1983-90...finished career with San Francisco in 1991.

John Bunting, Linebackers/Co-defensive Coordinator; Assistant coach with Kansas City Chiefs from 1993-96...coached linebackers from 1995-96, and was defensive assistant first two years in Kansas City...head coach at Rowan College from 1987-92 and earned back-to-back NCAA playoff berths in 1991-92...coached defensive ends at Brown University in 1986...served as linebackers coach with USFL's Baltimore Stars in 1985...played in 133 NFL games at outside linebacker during 11-year career with Phildelphia Eagles (1972-82)...played two years with Philadelphia Stars of USFL from 1983-84.

Chris Clausen, Strength and Conditioning; Joined Rams staff as strength and conditioning coach in 1992...assistant strength coach for San Diego Chargers from 1989-91...graduate assistant coach for San Diego State from 1987-88...cornerback for Indiana University from 1976-79.

Dick Coury, Wide Receivers; Twenty-year NFL coaching veteran...offensive coordinator for Houston Oilers in 1994 before switching to offensive assistant/passing game from 1995-96...instrumental in transforming Oilers offense from run and shoot to more conventional offense...prior to joining Oilers served as tight ends coach for Minnesota Vikings in 1993...offensive coordinator for New England Patriots from 1991-92...quarterbacks coach for Rams from 1986-90...head coach of Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers of USFL from 1983-85...earned USFL Coach of Year honors in 1983...coached wide receivers under Dick Vermeil at Philadelphia from 1976-81...handled linebackers for San Diego Chargers in 1975...coached wide receivers for Denver Broncos from 1972-73...served as head coach/President of Operations for Portland Storm of World Football League in 1974...defensive coordinator at University of Southern California from 1967-69 and head coach at Cal State Fullerton from 1970-71.

Frank Gansz, Special Teams/Offensive Assistant; Assistant head coach/special teams for Atlanta Falcons from 1994-96...coached special teams for Detroit Lions from 1989-93 and named Special Teams Coach of Year by peers in 1989...served as head coach for Kansas City Chiefs from 1987-88...Chiefs' assistant head coach/special teams in 1986...coached special teams and tight ends for Philadelphia from 1983-85, Kansas City from 1981-82, and Cincinnati 1979-80...began NFL career as special teams coach for San Francisco in 1978...assistant coach for Air Force Academy from 1964-66...coached freshman team at Colgate University in 1968 before serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Naval Academy from 1969-72...receivers coach at Oklahoma State in 1973-74...offensive coordinator at Army, 1975...was offensive assistant at UCLA from 1976-77.

Peter Giunta, Co-defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs; Defensive backs coach for New York Jets from 1995-96...Jets allowed league-low 171.3 passing yards per game in 1995...coached defensive backs for Philadelphia Eagles from 1991-94...Eagles defense ranked in NFC's top five against pass in each of his four seasons, including leading NFL in 1991...coached defense and tight ends at Penn State from 1981-83...joined Brown University as tight ends/wide receivers coach in 1984 before being elevated to offensive coordinator from 1986-87...handled tight ends and wide receivers at Lehigh from 1988-90.

Jim Hanifan, Offensive Line; Returns to St. Louis as offensive line coach...head coach for St. Louis Cardinals from 1980-85...served as offensive line coach for Cardinals from 1973-78...Cardinals allowed fewest sacks in NFL from 1974-78...named NFL Assistant Coach of Year by NFL coaches in 1977...was assistant head coach/offensive line for San Diego Chargers in 1979...joined Atlanta Falcons staff as offensive line coach from 1987-89...served as offensive line coach for Washington Redskins from 1990-96...was assistant at Yuba City Junior College (1959-61)...head coach at Charter Oak High in Covina, Ca., from 1962-63...member of Glendale Junior College staff from 1964-65...coached at University of Utah from 1966-69 before handling passing game at alma mater California from 1970-71...offensive line coach at San Diego State in 1972...nation's leading receiver with 44 receptions for 569 yards and seven touchdowns as senior at Cal in 1954.

Carl Hairston, Defensive Line; Defensive line coach for Kansas City Chiefs from 1995-96...joined Chiefs as pro scout in 1994...scout for Arizona Cardinals from 1991-93...played in 234 NFL games, including playoffs, during 15-year NFL career...tied for fourth on NFL's all-time list for most games played by defensive lineman...played one season for Arizona (1990), six years for Cleveland Browns (1984-89), and eight years for Philadelphia Eagles (1976-83).

Wilbert Montgomery, Running Backs; Begins first year as running backs coach...all-time leading rusher in Philadelphia Eagles history with 6,538 yards...rushed for 6,789 yards and 45 touchdowns during nine-year NFL career...posted three 1,000-yard seasons and selected to two Pro Bowls (1978-79)...had career-high 1,512 yards and nine touchdowns in 1979.

John Ramsdell, Offensive Assistant/Quality Control; joined Rams staff in 1995 as offensive assistant/quality control...served as tight ends coach for Rams in 1996...wide receivers coach at San Francisco State 1976-77...recruiting coordinator and coached secondary/special teams at Long Beach State in 1978...coached secondary, receivers, tight ends and special teams at University of Pacific from 1979-82...wide receivers coach at Oregon from 1983-94.

George Warhop, Offensive Line; Begins second season with Rams as offensive line coach...offensive line coach at Boston College from 1994-95 and Southern Methodist University in 1993...served as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for London Monarchs in World League from 1991-92...offensive line coach at New Mexico from 1990-91, Vanderbilt from 1987-89, Kansas from 1984-86 and Cincinnati in 1983.

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