Lou Anarumo
Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1966-08-18) August 18, 1966 (age 57)
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Career information
College:Wagner College
Career history
As a coach:
Coaching stats at PFR

Lou Anarumo (born August 18, 1966) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive backs coach at Purdue under Joe Tiller and Danny Hope from 2004 to 2011, the Miami Dolphins from 2012 to 2017, and the New York Giants in 2018.

Early years

Anarumo was born on Staten Island, New York in 1966.[1] He attended Wagner College where he earned his degree in special education.[2] While at Wagner, he served as the Junior Varsity head coach at Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island.[3]

Coaching career

Early career

Anarumo served as the part-time running backs coach at Wagner in the spring of 1990 before he moved to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy during the fall of 1990 to serve in the same capacity.[4] From there, Anarumo went to Syracuse University where he served as a graduate assistant under Phil Elmassian working with the defensive backs.[5] Anarumo then returned to the Merchant Marines as the defensive coordinator before being hired at Harvard to serve as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.[6] It is at Harvard that Anarumo met former boss Joe Philbin, who at the time served as Harvard's offensive line coach.[7] Anarumo made a stop at Marshall before being hired to replace Elmassian at Purdue.[8]

Miami Dolphins

In 2012, Anarumo was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their defensive backs coach.[9][10] On October 8, 2015, he was chosen to be the interim defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins to replace Kevin Coyle who was fired the same day.[11] Due to the changes in coaching staff following the 2015–16 season, he was once again made the defensive backs coach under Adam Gase, the now head coach for the 2016–17 season.[12]

New York Giants

On January 25, 2018, Anarumo was named as defensive backs coach for the New York Giants.[13]

Cincinnati Bengals

On February 21, 2019, Anarumo was hired by the Cincinnati Bengals as their defensive coordinator under head coach Zac Taylor.[14] He assumed Steve Jackson's cornerbacks coaching duties for the team's Week 11 and Week 12 games in 2020 against the Washington Football Team and New York Giants due to Jackson missing the games for COVID-19 pandemic protocols.[15][16]

In the 2021–22 AFC Championship Game, Anarumo's defense held the Kansas City Chiefs to just a field goal in the second half and forced an interception in overtime, contributing to a 27–24 OT victory to advance to Super Bowl LVI.[17] In Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals lost 23–20 to the Los Angeles Rams.[18]

During the 2023 offseason, Lou Anarumo was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job that ultimately went to Jonathan Gannon.[19]

Personal life

Anarumo is married, and the couple have three children.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ D'Amodio, Joe (February 9, 2022). "Staten Island grid product Lou Anarumo gives legendary high school coach Super Bowl tickets". SILive.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Wagner Graduate Lou Anarumo Readies For Super Bowl LVI With Cincinnati Bengals". Wagner College Athletics. February 11, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Lou Anarumo Profile". PurdueSports.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  4. ^ Walker, James (October 8, 2015). "Dolphins' Lou Anarumo also coached at Harvard, Merchant Marine Academy". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Dowd, Tom (February 12, 2012). "Dream chance for ex-Wagner assistant Lou Anarumo with Miami Dolphins". SILive.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Benjamin, Cody (February 21, 2019). "Bengals name Lou Anarumo defensive coordinator, reuniting former Giants DB coach with Zac Taylor". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Baby, Ben (January 28, 2023). "'He's in the lab always coming up with something': Meet the 'mad scientist' behind the Bengals defense". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "Lou Anarumo Named Defensive Backs Coach". Purdue Boilermakers Athletics. February 13, 2004. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Bolin, Ross (February 2, 2012). "Lou Anarumo joins Miami Dolphins coaching staff". Wlfi.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  10. ^ Dowd, Tom (February 12, 2012). "Dream chance for ex-Wagner assistant Lou Anarumo with Miami Dolphins". SILive.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  11. ^ Stapleton, Art (January 24, 2022). "Lou Anarumo: 3 things to know about NY Giants head coach candidate". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  12. ^ Habib, Hal (September 14, 2016). "Miami Dolphins fire defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, hire Lou Anarumo". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Alper, Josh (January 25, 2018). "Pat Shurmur continues filling out his Giants staff". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Terrell, Katherine (February 21, 2019). "Giants coach Lou Anarumo named Bengals DC". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  15. ^ Baby, Ben (November 20, 2020). "Cincinnati Bengals to be without 3 position coaches due to COVID-19 reasons". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "Two Assistants To Miss Giants Game". Bengals.com. November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  17. ^ Barnwell, Bill (January 31, 2022). "How did the Chiefs lose that game? Barnwell on a meltdown and the Bengals' unbelievable second half". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  18. ^ Cothrel, Nicholas (February 14, 2022). "Rams' 23-20 Comeback Win Over Bengals in Super Bowl LVI Completes All-In Master Plan". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  19. ^ Rapien, James (March 1, 2023). "Lou Anarumo Disappointed About Cardinals Job, Excited For Fifth Season With Bengals". si.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  20. ^ "Miami Dolphins: Lou Anarumo". Miamidolphins.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  21. ^ Ragan, Zach (February 1, 2022). "Stat shows why Patrick Mahomes struggled in second half against Cincinnati Bengals". A to Z Sports. Retrieved March 2, 2022.

External links

Defensive coordinators of the National Football League
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