2011 Colts Media Guide - Nfl

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as defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 1994. In his other professional stints, Coyer served in
the USFL as linebackers coach with the Michigan Panthers (1983-84) and defensive coordinator with the
Memphis Showboats (1985). Coyer helped Michigan capture the inaugural USFL championship in 1983.
Coyer was defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh from 1997-99. The Panthers produced
top five conference finishes in all statistical categories in 1999, and S-Ramon Walker and DL-Demond
Gibson earned All-Big East Conference honors. In 1998, the Panthers ranked third in Big East total
defense, and the 1997-98 units amassed 62 sacks, the highest two-season total at Pittsburgh since 1990-
91. Coyer was defensive coordinator at Iowa State (1995-96). Coyer was the defensive coordinator at
East Carolina (1993). He served as defensive backs coach at Ohio State (1991-92), as assistant head
coach/defensive backs at the University of Houston (1990) and as linebackers coach at UCLA (1987-89).
Additionally, Coyer was defensive coordinator at Iowa State (1979-82), Oklahoma State (1978) and
Iowa (1974-77), after serving as defensive backs coach at Bowling Green (1968-73).
Coyer is a 1964 graduate of Marshall, and he is a member of the university's Football Hall of Fame for
his achievements as a player. He served at Marshall as secondary coach from 1965-67. He also had
a coaching stint at Massillon (Ohio) High School.
Coyer was born in Huntington, W.Va., and is a native of Greenbottom, W.Va. Coyer and his wife, Jan,
have two sons, Matt and Justin. Matt was a member of an NCAA Champion soccer team at Indiana
University. Justin was an Iowa all-state football player in high school.
PERSONAL DATA:
College: Marshall 1961-64.
Coaching Career: Marshall 1965-67; Bowling Green 1968-73; Iowa 1974-77; Oklahoma State
1978; Iowa State 1979-82; Michigan Panthers 1983-84; Memphis Showboats 1985; UCLA 1987-89;
Houston 1990; Ohio State 1991-92; East Carolina 1993; New York Jets 1994; Iowa State 1995-96;
Pittsburgh 1997-99; Denver Broncos 2000-06; Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007-08; Indianapolis Colts
2009-present.
DEVIN FITZSIMMONS
Coaching Assistant
Devin Fitzsimmons is in his first season as coaching assistant with the Colts.
Fitzsimmons joined Indianapolis after serving as tight ends coach at Richmond in
2010.
Fitzsimmons has six years of coaching experience, all at the collegiate level. In
2009, he was a graduate assistant at Virginia. He served 2007-08 at Kansas State,
the first year as a graduate assistant for the offense and the second as director of
operations. In 2006, Fitzsimmons was the wide receivers coach at Bucknell. He started
his coaching career in 2005 as quarterbacks coach for Shaw University in
Raleigh, N.C.
Fitzsimmons played quarterback and wide receiver at Bucknell University. He began his career at quarterback,
but moved to wide receiver prior to his junior year. After suffering a career-ending knee injury in
spring practice leading into his senior season, Fitzsimmons remained with the program as a student assistant
coach for his final season. He won the Bucknell Football Moxie Award for special contributions to the
program in 2004. He holds a bachelor's degree in history.
Fitzsimmons was born October 18, 1982 in Folsom, La.
PERSONAL DATA:
College: Bucknell 2001-05.
Coaching Career: Shaw 2005; Bucknell 2006; Kansas State 2007-08; Virginia 2009; Richmond
2010; Indianapolis Colts 2011.
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