In addition to naming Ken Whisenhunt the team’s offensive coordinator, Head Coach Mike McCoy announced four other changes to his coaching staff on Friday. The Chargers tabbed former Tennessee Titans Defensive Line Coach Giff Smith for the same position with the Bolts, while naming Craig Aukerman special teams coordinator, Nick Sirianni wide receivers coach and Shane Steichen quarterbacks coach.
Smith joins the Chargers with 23 years of coaching experience under his belt, including the last two with the Titans under Whisenhunt. In 2015, Tennessee's defense ranked eighth in the NFL in rush average (3.89), while their 39 sacks tied for 12th in the league. The Titans' defensive line accounted for 13.5 of those sacks, including a team-high-tying seven by defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.
Prior to joining the Titans, Smith spent three seasons as defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2010-12. During that time, defensive tackle Kyle Williams was selected to two Pro Bowls and defensive end Mario Williams had a 10.5 sack season. Before making the leap to the NFL, Smith spent 19 years in the collegiate level, spending time with Georgia, Tulane, Georgia Southern and Arkansas.
Aukerman is elevated to special teams coordinator after spending the last two seasons as the team's assistant special teams coach. He oversaw the unit toward the end of 2015 after the team mutually parted ways with Kevin Spencer on Dec. 2. Aukerman spent two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and one with the Denver Broncos before joining the Bolts in 2013.
Sirianni shifts to wide receivers coach after serving as quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons. It marks his third position with the Chargers as he was the team's offensive quality control coach in 2013. However, this is not Sirianni's first time coaching wide receivers as he held the same position with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
Finally, Steichen was named quarterbacks coach after spending the last two seasons as quality control coach on offense. He previously spent the 2011-12 seasons as a defensive assistant with the Bolts before becoming offensive quality control coach in Cleveland for one season, where he worked with the Browns' quarterbacks. Steichen rejoined the Chargers in 2014.
