NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have added Lou Spanos as linebackers coach.
Spanos has 19 years of coaching experience, including 17 years in the NFL. The past two seasons, Spanos was the defensive coordinator for UCLA. Prior to his time with the Bruins, he spent two seasons as the linebackers coach for the Washington Redskins and 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I know Lou from our time together in Pittsburgh," said Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "He has put together a great body of work during his career. In his extended time in Pittsburgh working with Dick LeBeau, he gained a tremendous amount of experience and contributed to some of the best defensive teams in the league. As defensive coordinator at UCLA, he again showed he is a good teacher and leader and we are lucky to have him working with our linebackers."
In two seasons with Spanos, All-America linebacker Anthony Barr posted 23.5 sacks, and in 2012, the Bruins finished eighth in the nation in sacks. Last year, UCLA only allowed 23.2 points per game and 34.9% on third down, to rank among the top teams in the PAC-12. In his two seasons (2010-11) in Washington as linebackers coach, he worked with London Fletcher, who earned two Pro Bowl invites.
Spanos entered the NFL coaching ranks in 1995 with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a defensive assistant. He stayed in that role for 15 seasons, earned two World Championships in Super Bowls XL and XLIII, and coached in a third Super Bowl (XXX). During his time on the Steelers staff as a defensive assistant, he assisted with the linebackers and secondary. The defenses finished in the top 10 in total yards allowed on 13 occasions, including four number-one rankings.
Spanos was a four-year (1989-92) starter at center for Tulsa and spent one additional season as a student assistant working with the linebackers. The following season he joined the Steelers in the scouting department before being promoted to a defensive assistant after one season.
"This is a great opportunity to come to a great organization with a great history," said Spanos. "I enjoyed my time at UCLA and working for coach Mora and AD Dan Guerrero. We won a lot of games there and went to a PAC 12 championship game. This is a great opportunity, a chance to work with Coach Whisenhunt again. I have the utmost respect for Ken – he is a professional, he is passionate and it will be an honor to be on his staff."
