NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans hired Keith Willis as assistant defensive line coach and Brandon Blaney as defensive assistant.
Willis played 11 years as a defensive end in the NFL, spending time with Pittsburgh (1982-91), Buffalo (1992) and Washington (1993). Following his retirement, he entered the coaching ranks and amassed 21 years of coaching experience. Willis comes to the Titans after three years (2013-15) as the defensive line coach for the Montreal Alouettes. Last year, he guided John Bowman to a league-leading 19 sacks and Montreal finished second in the league in total sacks with 55.
Prior to his time in the CFL, Willis spent 18 years as a college defensive line coach. He worked at North Carolina State (2007-12), Boston College (2001-06), Cincinnati (1999-00) and Slippery Rock (1995-98). As a player in the NFL, Willis played 139 games during his 11-year NFL career and totaled 59 sacks, 224 tackles and one interception. He entered the league as an undrafted college free agent from Northeastern.
Blaney joins the Titans after spending the last two years as the offensive line coach at Iowa State and two seasons (2011-12) as a defensive assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In total, he brings 17 years of college coaching experience along with his two seasons in Jacksonville. Blaney had stops at Kansas (2002-09), Ohio State (2001), Oklahoma (1999-00) and Youngstown State (1995-98). He was a part of two national title winning staffs at Youngstown State (1997) and Oklahoma (2000). Blaney is a graduate of Youngstown State.
