2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

ROBERT
PRINCE
Wide Receivers
Years with Lions: 2
Years in NFL: 8
A seasoned veteran when it comes to working
with receivers, Robert Prince joined the Lions in
2014 as the team’s wide receivers coach after
coaching at the college level for the previous four
seasons. He served as the offensive coordinator
and wide receivers coach at Boise State from
2011-13 after spending six years developing
offensive talent in the NFL. His previous stops in
professional football include assistant positions
with the Seattle Seahawks (2009), Jacksonville
Jaguars (2007-08) and Atlanta Falcons (2004-06)
as he brings a cumulative 26 years of coaching
experience to Detroit.
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
Prince’s first-year at the helm of the Lions
receiving corps saw the emergence of many new
weapons, and none more impactful than WR
Golden Tate, who joined WR Calvin Johnson as
one of the most lethal one-two receiver punches
in the entire NFL.
‣ ¾ Tate was one of the Lions’ top targets in
free agency last offseason, and his impact on
Detroit’s offense was evident in his ability to
create in open space and move the chains. He
finished seventh in the NFL in receiving yards
with 1,331 and sixth in receptions with 99. It
marked the first time in his career he eclipsed
1,000 receiving yards.
‣ ¾ Tate was also among the League’s best receivers
in third-down situations as he finished second in
third-down receiving yards (536) and second in
third-down receptions (34). His 720 yards after
the catch also led all receivers and ranked third
among all NFL players.
‣ ¾ With Johnson reaching 1,077 yards in 2014, he
joined Tate (1,331) in the surpassing of 1,000
yards as they became the first pair of Lions
receivers to both reach 1,000 in the same season
since 2006 (WR Roy Williams, 1,310; WR
Mike Furrey, 1,086). This marks only the sixth
time in Lions history that two Lions receivers
have each reached 1,000 receiving yards in the
same season.
‣ ¾ Johnson earned a spot in his fifth-consecutive
Pro Bowl, despite missing three games due to
injury, after finishing the 2014 season with 71
receptions for 1,077 yards. Johnson completed
his sixth season with 70+ receptions, which set
a franchise record for the most seasons with 70+
receptions in team history.
‣ ¾ With 103 yards against the Chicago Bears in
Week 16 (12/21), Johnson recorded his 44th
career 100-yard game, which now ranks as the
second-most by a player in his first eight seasons
in NFL history. He finished just one 100-yard
game behind WR Randy Moss (45, 1998-2006)
for the most by a player in his first eight seasons.
‣ ¾ After spending the 2013 season on the Lions
practice squad, WR Corey Fuller caught his
first-career NFL touchdown in dramatic fashion
in 2014. With 1:48 left to play in Week 7 vs.
New Orleans (10/19), Fuller grabbed the gamewinning
pass on a five-yard bullet from QB
Matthew Stafford to seal the Lions’ win, 24-23.
Prince was a key cog in crafting one of college
football’s most potent offensive attacks in recent
years while guiding the Boise State receiving corps.
In his first year as offensive coordinator in 2012,
Prince led the offense to an 11-2 record despite
losing seven starters, as five players were named
All-Mountain West for the first time in their careers.
In 2011, after returning to the university from
spending the previous seven seasons coaching in
the NFL, the Broncos’ offense ranked in the Top-
10 in multiple national categories, including pass
efficiency (4th, 171.57), scoring (5th, 44.23) and
total offense (9th, 481.31).
Prince’s most recent NFL coaching opportunity
came in 2009 when he coached the Seattle
Seahawks wide receivers after working as the
assistant wide receivers coach with the Jacksonville
Jaguars from 2007-08. During the 2007 season,
Prince guided Jaguars WR Reggie Williams to a
single-season franchise record 10 touchdowns.
Prior to Jacksonville, Prince got his NFL start as an
offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons, where
he served under running backs coach Ollie Wilson.
Working exclusively with running backs and tight
ends his first two seasons, Prince helped Atlanta to
lead the League in rushing in both of those years.
Before beginning his first run with Boise State
in 2001, Prince was the wide receivers coach at
Portland State in 1998 and was later promoted to
offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 1999
and 2000. His previous coaching stints include the
Japanese X-League (1996-97), Fort Lewis (Colo.)
College (1994-95) and Sacramento State (1992-
93). He began his coaching career as a graduate
assistant at both Montana State in 1991 and
Humboldt State (Calif.), his alma mater, in 1989
and 1990.
Prince’s NFL roots trace back to his time serving
in three different minority training camp internships
with the San Francisco 49ers (2000, 2002) and the
San Diego Chargers (2001).
A graduate of Humboldt State in 1990, Prince
went on to earn his master’s degree from the
university in 1992. He is married to his wife,
Susan, and they are the parents of three children
– daughters Hayden and Jasmin and son Tyson.
Prince was born May 8, 1965.
DETROIT LIONS
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING