A day after announcing an addition to his staff and a pair of title adjustments, New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini addressed the changes Thursday during remarks at the NFL Scouting Combines in Indianapolis.
Kevin O'Dea, who spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears, was hired as Mangini's special teams coordinator.
"Kevin was one of the most impressive guys I met in terms of not just being a special teams coach but having that ability to work with kickers and punters and develop those players," said the third-year head coach. "I thought that would be another big asset for us."
While in Chicago, O'Dea worked successfully with K Robbie Gould as he became only the ninth kicker in NFL history with back-to-back seasons of 30 field goals made. Over that same period, P Brad Maynard also landed an impressive 31 percent of his punts inside the opposition 20-yard line.
Prior to his Bears stint, O'Dea was the Arizona Cardinals special teams coordinator in 2004–05. He oversaw one of the best placekicking seasons in NFL history in 2005 when Neil Rackers set the record for most field goals in a season with 40, including a streak during which he hit 31 consecutive field goals.
"It took a little while to get him in place but it was a good process," Mangini said of O'Dea. "Mike Westhoff was very involved in the process and helped me with the interviews. Obviously, I respect his input and feedback and we're excited to get Kevin."
Mangini didn't have to look very far to find his new defensive backfield coach. Jerome Henderson, who last season served as assistant secondary coach/director of player personnel, will fill the void created when Mike MacIntyre left to become defensive coordinator at Duke.
When Mangini was a young Jets defensive assistant under Bill Parcells, Henderson lined up at CB in 1997 and '98.
"Jerome's a really smart guy who's played in the system and worked in the system and someone I've had a relationship with for a long time," Mangini said. "I think it's a really good move for us and I think it will help our young defensive backs evolve and he'll also provide a lot of insight in terms of scheme and playing within the scheme."
A co-offensive line coach last season, Mike Devlin will now oversee tight ends in addition to assisting offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Last month Callahan was added as assistant head coach.
"I was really excited to get Bill. He's a guy who has experience not just with the offensive line but he's been a coordinator and a head coach in the NFL and in college football," Mangini said. "I really liked the things that he's done offensively throughout his career."
