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With Jim Caldwell now in place as the Detroit Lions' head coach, it's time for them to turn their attention to completing the rest of their coaching staff. Decisions have to be made on assistants who are still under contract with the Lions, and Caldwell will have to decide which coaches he wants to bring with him from the outside.
Already some names are being tossed around as potential additions to the Lions' coaching staff. For the defensive coordinator role, for example, it sounds like Baltimore Ravens secondary coach Teryl Austin is the favorite to replace Gunther Cunningham. Austin has ties to Caldwell from their time at Penn State and Wake Forest, and obviously they were on the same staff in Baltimore as well.
On the offensive side of the ball, Jason La Canfora reports that there's "strong buzz" about Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen going to Detroit. Christensen was the Colts' offensive coordinator under Caldwell, and he took a demotion to the quarterbacks coach role following Caldwell's firing. Again, it's all about connections here, and Caldwell is very familiar with Christensen.
Some other offensive assistants who could be coming to Detroit include ex-Ravens running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery (he was let go after the 2013 season) and Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller, according to Aaron Wilson. Moeller went to Michigan and coached there under Lloyd Carr before joining the Ravens in 2008. (As someone who watched Moeller's offensive lines at Michigan, I sincerely hope Jeremiah Washburn isn't let go for Moeller.)
Finally, there's this:
Yes, I do fully expect Jim Tressel to join Caldwell's staff. Too sensible to not happen. No idea on current coaches but they'll move quickly
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 14, 2014
I have no idea what role former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel would fill on the Lions' coaching staff, but he was a consultant with the Colts in 2011, so that's his connection to Caldwell.
UPDATE: Add Rutgers offensive coordinator and former Kansas State head coach Ron Prince to the list, according to Dave Birkett.
UPDATE II: Here are a couple more names to keep in mind:
John Wooten of the Fritz Pollard Alliance said Jim Caldwell could look to bring Dwaine Board and/or Ray Hamilton with him as Lions DL coach.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 14, 2014
UPDATE III: Ed Werder said on ESPN that the Lions' offensive coordinator will be Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor, but I don't think that's been confirmed yet. Also, here's another update from Birkett:
One other name for Caldwell's potential staff in Detroit: former Minnesota Vikings DC Alan Williams as DB coach
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 14, 2014
