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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > November > 11 > Entry
Miami, Dayton coaches forge New Orleans Saints’ perfection
While the bottom has dropped out of Miami University football — the team is 1-10 this season, has lost 15 of its last 16 games and has won just 11 times in four years — that Cradle of Coaches tag has never proved more true than this season.
For proof, look at the New Orleans Saints, who are a perfect 8-0 at the midway point of the NFL season.
Five of their coaches — including head coach Sean Payton — have strong ties to Miami University. Another Saints coach began his career at the University of Dayton.
Football fingerprints from this area are all over this remarkable New Orleans team, which already has scored 303 points — the Browns have just 78 — and is on course to shatter the NFL record of 539 points. Meanwhile, the Saints defense leads the league with 16 interceptions has has scored seven defensive touchdowns.
The Saints have had losing records in 27 of their previous 42 years as a franchise, but since Payton got there, things have turned around. In 2006, he guided New Orleans to its first ever NFC title game and ended up being named the NFL Coach of the Year.
He’s definitely one of the front runners for that honor again. As for the other contenders, I’d say it’s between Minnesota’s Brad Childress. the Colts Jim Caldwell and Marvin Lewis of the Bengals.
An assistant coach at Miami in 1994 and 1995, Payton coached the RedHawks quarterbacks and was the co-offensive coordinator.
The other Saints coaches from Miami’s Cradle include:
— Aaron Kromer — The offensive line and running game coach — whose digital video library of nearly every play run in the NFL each season is praised around the league and credited for much of the Saints success — was an offensive tackle for Miami in the late 1980s and twice was named team captain. He then coached at his alma matter — tight ends, H backs, offensive line — from 1990 to 1998. By the way, the guy he credits for much of his successful is Jon Gruden — the former University of Dayton quarterback — who made Kromer an integral part of his staff when he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay.
— Bret Ingalls — The Saints running backs coach mentored tackles and tight ends at Miami in 2005.
— Dan Dalrymple — The Saints strength and conditioning coach was a two-time, first team All MAC offensive lineman for Miami, was the team captain and has been enshrined in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduation, he spent 17 seasons at Miami where he built the conditioning program for all of the school’s athletes. In 2003 he also was named one of Miami’s assistant athletic directors.
— Mike Mallory — An assistant special teams coach with the Saints, he is the son of former Miami head coach Bill Mallory, one of the most trumpeted guys in the Cradle fraternity.
As for the Dayton Flyers connection to the Saints:
— Joe Lombardi — The grandson of the legendary Vince Lombardi is the Saints quarterbacks coach. His prime pupil, Drew Brees, has thrown for 17 touchdowns and orchestrates an offense that is averaging 37.9 points per game. Lombardi started his coaching career at UD, where he was he defensive line coach for Mike Kelly from 1996 to 1998.
Finally there a Cincinnati Bengals connection, too:
— Adam Zimmer — A defensive assistant working with Saints linebackers, he’s the son of Mike Zimmer, the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.
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I remember when Joe Lombardi was at UD. H.O.T.! lol
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November 15, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t care show me some local teams.
By Football In Ohio
November 13, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the article. Football In Ohio is more than two pro teams and the Buckeyes. Football In Ohio is about the tradition and passion from pee to the pros. This article is a perfect example of how Ohio football infuences coaches and players alike and the different opportunities that are realized. Thanks Tom, your awsome!