2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE
Caldwell’s NFL coaching roots date back to
2001 when he worked as a quarterbacks coach
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After acquiring QB
Brad Johnson via free agency, Caldwell helped the
veteran quarterback to break then-team records
for passing yards (3,046), completions (340) and
attempts (540) as the team finished 9-7 and earned
an NFC Wild Card berth.
Before making the jump to the NFL, Caldwell
spent seven seasons as the head coach at Wake
Forest University where the Demon Deacons’
offense ranked in the NCAA’s Top-25 four times. In
1999, he led the team to its first winning season
and bowl appearance (Aloha Bowl) since 1992. In
1995, the offense was ranked 10th in the nation
and QB Rusty LaRue established seven NCAA
passing records.
From 1986-92, Caldwell was an assistant at
Penn State where he coached the wide receivers
(1986), quarterbacks and wide receivers (1987-90)
and was named passing coordinator in 1991-92.
With the Nittany Lions, Caldwell tutored QB Kerry
Collins early in his college career. Collins would end
his career at Penn State winning the Davey O’Brien
Award as the nation’s top college quarterback
and the Maxwell Award as the nation’s most
outstanding player.
Caldwell’s previous coaching stints include
assistant positions at Louisville (1985), Colorado
(1981-83), Northwestern (1981) and Southern
Illinois (1978-80).
He launched his coaching career in 1977 as a
graduate assistant for the Iowa Hawkeyes football
program.
During his college coaching career, Caldwell
coached in six bowl games and won a national
championship with Penn State in 1986. He also
worked for several legendary college coaches
who all won national titles during their careers,
including Joe Paterno (Penn State), Howard
Schnellenberger (Louisville), Bill McCartney
(Colorado) and Rey Dempsey (Southern Illinois).
COLLEGE PLAYING CAREER
Caldwell was a four-year starter at defensive
back (1973-76) for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He holds a
bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University
of Iowa.
JIM AND CHERYL CALDWELL FOUNDATION
AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
In 2009, Caldwell and his wife, Cheryl, launched
The Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation. The
Foundation is committed to the educational
empowerment of children through digital
technology and “Preparing young minds for
advancement in the 21st Century.”
To achieve this, the Caldwells are creating and
providing community centers with integrated digital
technology that serves as a catalyst to impact,
change and enrich a child’s learning proficiency.
In September 2014, The Jim and Cheryl Caldwell
Foundation, in collaboration with the Detroit Lions,
opened “The Project Phoenix Learning Center,”
a new 21st Century computer lab and learning
center at the Detroit Lions Academy. The learning
center includes new computers with Promethean
ActivBoards, ActivSlate, ActivExpressions,
a network printer, internet accessibility and
DETROIT LIONS
specialized interactive instructional software.
Caldwell also supports the Midnight Golf
Program that teaches under-served young
adults the game of golf and important life skills,
including financial literacy, college preparation and
community activism.
In 2015, Caldwell served as honorary chairman
for the Charlie Sanders Foundation annual “Have
A Heart Save A Life” Celebrity Golf Outing, which
provides support to Student Healthy Heart Check
programs provided by Beaumont Hospital and the
Henry Ford Health System.
During his first-year as the Lions head coach,
Caldwell was honored by the Detroit Historical
Society’s Black Historic Sites Committee after
becoming the Lions’ first African American head
coach.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Born on January 16, 1955 in Beloit, Wisc.,
Caldwell attended Beloit Memorial High School. He
and his wife have four children: Jimmy, Jermaine,
Jared and Natalie.
CALDWELL’S HEAD COACHING RECORD
Regular Season
Year Team G W L T Pct Result
2009 Ind 16 14 2 0 .875 1st AFC South
2010 Ind 16 10 6 0 .625 1st AFC South
2011 Ind 16 2 14 0 .125 4th AFC South
2014 Det 16 11 5 0 .688 2nd NFC North
Totals 64 37 27 0 .578
Postseason
Year Team G W L T Pct Playoff Berth
2009 Ind 3 2 1 0 .667 Super Bowl XLIV
2010 Ind 1 0 1 0 .000 AFC Wild Card
2014 Det 1 0 1 0 .000 NFC Wild Card
Totals 5 2 3 0 .400
Overall G W L T Pct
Regular Season 64 37 27 0 .578
Postseason 5 2 3 0 .400
Totals 69 39 30 0 .565
CALDWELL’S COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions................................................. 2014-
Head Coach...................................................................2014-
Baltimore Ravens.......................................2012-13
Offensive Coordinator...................................................2013
Quarterbacks/Offensive Coordinator........................2012
Indianapolis Colts.......................................2002-11
Head Coach.............................................................. 2009-11
Associate Head Coach.................................................2008
Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks................ 2006-07
Quarterbacks........................................................... 2002-05
Tampa Bay Buccaneers....................................2001
Quarterbacks..................................................................2001
Wake Forest University..........................1993-2000
Head Coach..........................................................1993-2000
Penn State University.................................1986-92
Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks........ 1988-92
Quarterbacks..................................................................1987
Wide Receivers..............................................................1986
University of Louisville....................................1985
Assistant Coach.............................................................1985
University of Colorado................................1982-84
Assistant Coach...................................................... 1982-84
Northwestern University.................................1981
Assistant Coach.............................................................1981
Southern Illinois University........................1978-80
Assistant Coach...................................................... 1978-80
University of Iowa...........................................1977
Graduate Assistant.......................................................1977
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING