Doug Plank
| Position: | Assistant Defensive Backs |
| Jets Seasons: | 1 |
| NFL Coaching seasons: | 2 |
| Age: | 56 |
■ Doug Plank joins the Jets after working as a coaching assistant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008.
■ Plank was head coach of the AFL’s Georgia Force (2005-08), compiling a 47-25 record while guiding the team to an ArenaBowl appearance in 2005. In 2008 the Force won their third Southern Division championship under Plank while earning a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year. He was named the AFL Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007 and led the team to a franchise-best 14-2 record in 2007.
■ Plank spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the AFL's Arizona Rattlers.
PLAYING CAREER
■ Plank was a 12th-round pick by Chicago in the 1975 NFL Draft and started eight seasons for the Bears. He was the first Bears rookie ever to lead the team in tackles and tallied three 100-plus tackle seasons in his career.
■ The Bears' “46 Defense” in the Eighties was developed by Buddy Ryan, father of Rex Ryan, and was named after Plank’s No. 46 jersey.
■ He finished his playing career with the USFL’s Chicago Blitz in 1983.
■ He played in three Rose Bowls at safety for Woody Hayes at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were 29-4-1 during his three seasons. He made a game-saving tackle vs. Michigan to send Ohio State to the 1974 Rose Bowl.
■ He was an all-state running back at Norwin HS in Irwin, PA.
OFF THE FIELD
■ Plank was born in Greensburg, PA, and captained the baseball and basketball teams at Norwin HS there.
■ He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology (criminology) from Ohio State.
■ He has been a color analyst for NFL games for the Sports USA Radio network.
■ After retiring as a football player, he was in private business in Arizona before getting involved with the Rattlers as their color analyst on TV and radio broadcasts.
