detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

of the NCAA Division II playoff s. The Buff aloes became one of the top
defensive units in the LSC and led the conference in scoring defense.
Under Kocurek’s guidance, Brandon Swain became one of the top
defensive players at the Division II level and was a 2007 First-Team
Daktronics, AFCA and AP Little All-American and conference defensive
lineman of the year a er recording 24.5 tackles for losses and 14 sacks.
Kocurek served as the defensive line coach at Texas A&M-
Commerce in 2006 and helped guide the Lions’ top-ranked defensive
unit which fi nished with No. 1 in total and scoring defense.
For two seasons (2004-05) Kocurek served as a graduate assistant
at Texas A&M-Kingsville and coached the Havelina’s defensive line
where he was active in the development of Wilbert Martin, who was
twice selected as fi rst team All-LSC and was a free agent signee of
the Baltimore Ravens.
Kocurek began his coaching career in 2003 as a student assistant
at Texas Tech. While in Lubbock, he assisted with the defensive
linemen and helped coach the Red Raiders to a 2003 Houston Bowl
win over Navy.
Prior to coaching, Kocurek spent two years in the NFL with the
Tennessee Titans (2002) and the Seattle Seahawks (2001) a er
being selected in the seventh round (237th overall) of the 2001 NFL
Dra by Seattle.
Kocurek played collegiate football at Texas Tech and was a threetime
All-Big 12 selection. As a senior, he was selected as team captain
and named defensive player of the year.
KOCUREK’S BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions .......................................................................... 2009-
Defensive Line ..............................................................................................2010-
Assistant Defensive Line .............................................................................2009
Stephen F. Austin State ............................................................2008
Defensive Line ................................................................................................2008
West Texas A&M ......................................................................2007
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line .....................................................2007
Texas A&M-Commerce .............................................................2006
Defensive Line ................................................................................................2006
Texas A&M-Kingsville ........................................................ 2004-05
Graduate Assistant. ......................................................................................2004
Texas Tech ...............................................................................2003
Graduate Assistant. ......................................................................................2003
TIM
LAPPANO
Tight Ends
Years with Lions: 4
Years in NFL: 7
Tim Lappano returns for a fourth season coaching the Lions’ tight
ends. Before coming to Detroit, Lappano served four seasons (2005-
08) as the off ensive coordinator at the University of Washington. He
is entering his 30th season as a coach and his seventh in the NFL.
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
The Lions’ tight ends continue to be big contributors to the off ense
under Lappano’s direction.
TE Brandon Pettigrew had 83 receptions in 2011 (third in the NFL
among tight ends), establishing a new team single-season record
for receptions by a tight end. He is the fi rst tight end in Lions’
history to record 70 receptions in two diff erent seasons and the
fi rst tight end with 80 catches.
With 5 touchdown catches last season by Pettigrew combined
with TE Tony Scheffl er’s career-high 6 touchdown receptions,
Pettigrew and Scheffl er were the second pair of Lions tight ends
in team history to each register 5 touchdown catches each in a
season. In 1976, Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders and TE David
Hill each recorded 5 touchdown receptions.
In 2010, Pettigrew had one of the best seasons ever for a Lions’
tight end in 2010 while returning from a knee injury sustained
late in his rookie year. He started all 16 games and was second
on the team with 71 receptions for 722 yards – both of which were
the most by a tight end in team history – and four touchdowns.
Pettigrew had the third most receptions (71) and was seventh in
receiving yards (722) among all NFL tight ends.
TE Tony Scheffl er fi nished with 45 receptions (378 yards) in 2010
and the Lions were the only team in the NFL to have two tight
ends with 45 or more receptions. Pettigrew and Scheffl er combined
for 116 catches, the second most by a tight end pair in the NFL.
In 2009, Pettigrew led all rookie tight ends in receptions (30) and
EXECUTIVES & COACHING
Detroit<strong>lions</strong>.com
Media.Detroit<strong>lions</strong>.com
yards (346) despite being forced out of the lineup a er 11 games
with a season-ending knee injury.
Veteran tight end Will Heller also fl ourished in 2009, setting
career-highs with 29 receptions, 296 yards and three touchdowns.
Lappano’s last pro coaching opportunity was with San Francisco
where he was the running backs coach. In his fi rst season with the
49ers, their running game was third in the NFC with 2,279 yards as FB
Fred Beasley made his fi rst Pro Bowl appearance and RB Kevan Barlow
rushed for a career-high 1,024 yards despite starting only four games.
In 1998, Lappano made his NFL coaching debut as the running
backs coach for the Seahawks. There, he helped Ricky Watters rush
for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns, earning team Off ensive Player
of the Year honors.
In between, Lappano was the off ensive coordinator at Oregon
State (2000-02) and contributed heavily to the resurgence of the
Beavers program. OSU led the Pac-10 in rushing yards (1,933) and in
rushing off ense, averaging 148.7 yards per game in 2002. Current St.
Louis Rams RB Stephen Jackson led the conference with 1,690 yards
while earning fi rst-team All-Pac-10 honors.
Lappano began his coaching career as the running backs coach
at the University of Idaho where he was a four-year letterman
a er fi nishing his collegiate career as the school’s second all-time
leading rusher with 2,196 yards. In 1985, he helped the Vandals to
a Big Sky Conference championship before leaving to coach running
backs for Wyoming (1986). He then served as running backs coach
at Washington State (1987-88) before being promoted to off ensive
coordinator in 1989. In his fi rst season as off ensive coordinator, he led
the Cougars to a top-10 fi nish with former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback
Drew Bledsoe and Pac-10 Off ensive Player-of-the-Year, running back
Steve Broussard.
Lappano moved on to the University of California in 1992 as
assistant head coach and running backs coach. While in Berkeley,
Lappano coached Heisman Trophy candidate Russell White and helped
lead Cal to an Alamo Bowl victory over Iowa in 1993. He returned to
Wyoming in 1996 as receivers coach, helping the Cowboys to an WAC
Championship while coaching All-American Marcus Harris to the Fred
Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver.
In 1997, Lappano joined the Purdue coaching staff as co-off ensive
coordinator and receivers coach. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten in
off ense that season and ranked seventh in the nation.
Lappano earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies at Idaho in
1983. He played high school football at Gonzaga Preparatory School
in his native Spokane, WA and earned All-State honors as a senior.
Lappano and his wife, Sandi, have two sons, Taylor and Kyle.
LAPPANO’S BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions .......................................................................... 2009-
Tight Ends .....................................................................................................2009-
Washington ........................................................................2005-08
Off ensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks ................................................. 2005-08
San Francisco 49ers ........................................................... 2003-04
Running Backs ........................................................................................ 2003-04
Oregon State ...................................................................... 1999-02
Off ensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks ................................................. 1999-02
Seattle Seahawks ...................................................................1998
Running Backs ...............................................................................................1998
Purdue ....................................................................................1997
Co-Off ensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers ..............................................1997
Wyoming .................................................................................1996
Wide Receivers ..............................................................................................1996
California ........................................................................... 1992-95
Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs .............................................. 1992-95
Washington State................................................................1987-91
Off ensive Coordinator ............................................................................ 1989-91
Running Backs ....................................................................................... 1987-88
Wyoming .................................................................................1986
Running Backs ..............................................................................................1986
Idaho .................................................................................1982-85
Running Backs ....................................................................................... 1982-85