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Bears to hire NU coach Washington :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Bears to hire NU coach Washington



January 11, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com

Lovie Smith is poised to make his first addition to the Bears'
coaching staff as Northwestern defensive line coach Eric Washington
will be hired.

 Washington, who had a training camp internship with the Bears in
2005, could be put into a new position that is being created as an
assistant defensive line coach to Brick Haley. The club is also
seeking to replace linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson, who resigned
earlier this week for family reasons, and Washington has some
experience working with that position.

» Click to enlarge image
Lovie Smith will hire Northwestern coach Eric Washington.

(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times file)


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 The newcomer worked for four seasons at Northwestern where he tutored
San Diego Chargers standout Luis Castillo, among others. Washington
played for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State, and made
coaching stops at Ohio and Texas A&M. Washington also completed an NFL
internship with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004.

 The Bears have assistant position coaches on the offensive line, in
the secondary and on special teams. One candidate to replace Nickerson
could be Lloyd Lee. He's been on the staff for four seasons, the last
two as a defensive assistant. He worked with the nickel backs last
season, and the linebackers in 2006, and was a quality control coach
for two seasons prior to that. Lee worked for three seasons as a pro
scout in Tampa Bay before becoming an assistant during Smith's first
season.