2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

DETROIT LIONS
JOE MARCIANO
SPECIAL TEAMS
COORDINATOR
Years with Lions: 1
Years in NFL: 29
With 29 years of experience coaching special
teams in the NFL, Joe Marciano joins the Lions
after spending the 2014 season as a special teams
consultant for the Minnesota Vikings, a role he
filled following 12 seasons as the Houston Texans’
special teams coordinator from 2002-13.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
‣ ¾ Spent 12 seasons as the Houston Texans special
teams coordinator (2002-13). Up until his
departure from Houston in 2013, Marciano and
running backs coach Chick Harris were the only
coaches to have been with the Texans since the
team’s inception in 2002.
‣ ¾ Began his NFL coaching career in New Orleans
as the Saints’ special teams/tight ends coach
from 1986-1994 before switching primarily to
special teams in 1995. Also coached the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers’ special teams units from 1996-
2001 where he crossed paths with Lions Head
Coach Jim Caldwell in 2001, who was the team’s
quarterbacks coach that season.
‣ ¾ During his tenure in Houston, the Texans ranked
among the Top-10 in the NFL in multiple special
teams categories, including punt return yards
(8th; 4,232), kickoff return yards (5th; 17,687),
total kick return yards (2nd; 21,919), opponent
punt return average (7th; 8.5) and opponent punt
return yards (9th; 3,537).
‣ ¾ Mentored multiple players to the Pro Bowl, including
KR Jerome Mathis, K Martin Gramatica,
K Morten Andersen, DB Tyrone Hughes and DB
Bennie Thompson.
Marciano helped the Houston special teams
units set multiple records in his 12 seasons with
the team. In 2012, rookie WR Keshawn Martin
ranked fifth in the NFL with a franchise-record
12.14 yards average on punt returns, while P
Donnie Jones set a team single-season high with
a 47.2 punting average and a 40.5 net punting
average. In 2011, former wide receiver Jacoby
Jones recorded a career-high 518 yards on punt
returns and set a franchise record with the third
punt return touchdown of his career, while K Neil
Rackers set new club marks with 135 points and
32 field goals made.
The Texans tied three NFL special teams records
in 2007 under Marciano, as Houston became the
fourth team in NFL history to record four kickoff
return touchdowns in a single season. WR Andre
Davis tied another League record when he returned
two kickoffs for touchdowns in one game, becoming
only the seventh player in NFL history to do so.
Against Miami, K Kris Brown became just the third
player ever to make three field goals of 50 yards
or longer in one game.
Marciano came to Houston after spending the
previous six seasons (1996-2001) with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers where he served in the same
capacity under former head coach Tony Dungy. In
six seasons with Tampa, 10 players received NFC
Special Teams Player of the Week honors under
Marciano’s tutelage.
Before coming to Tampa Bay, Marciano coached
the New Orleans Saints special teams units for 10
seasons (1986-1995), as well as the team’s tight
ends for nine seasons (1986-1994).
Marciano’s coaching roots date back to Wyoming
Area (Pa.) High School in 1976 before he moved on
to various assistant coach positions in the college
ranks, including East Stroudsburg State (1977),
Rhode Island (1978-79), Villanova (1980), Penn
State (1981) and Temple (1982). He also coached
special teams for the former USFL’s Philadelphia/
Baltimore Stars from 1983-1985.
A native of Dunmore, Pa., Marciano played
quarterback at Temple, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in health and physical education.
Prior to being hired by the Lions, Marciano resided
in Missouri City, Texas with his son, Joseph.
MARCIANO’S COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions................................................. 2015-
Special Teams Coordinator.......................................2015-
Minnesota Vikings...........................................2014
Interim Special Teams Coordinator..........................2014
Houston Texans......................................2002-2013
Special Teams Coordinator.................................. 2002-13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers...........................1996-2001
Special Teams Coordinator..............................1996-2001
New Orleans Saints................................1986-1995
Special Teams Coordinator.........................................1995
Special Teams/Tight Ends.................................... 1986-94
Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (USFL)..........1983-85
Special Teams/Tight Ends.................................... 1983-85
Temple............................................................1982
Special Teams/Tight Ends...........................................1982
Penn State......................................................1981
Tight Ends.......................................................................1981
Villanova.........................................................1980
Wide Receivers..............................................................1980
Rhode Island..............................................1978-79
Wide Receivers....................................................... 1978-79
East Stroudsburg State...................................1977
Tight Ends.......................................................................1977
Wyoming Area High School..............................1976
Assistant Coach.............................................................1976
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING