Washington Huskies hire former Rutgers long snapper Steve Belichick as defensive coordinator
Washington’s coaching staff will include a Belichick in 2024. On Tuesday, the university announced that Steve Belichick will be the team’s new defensive coordinator. The former Rutgers football player will lead Washington in their first year in the Big Ten.
Belichick was an accomplished lacrosse player who spent his final year of college eligibility in 2011 with Rutgers as their long snapper.
In Belichick, Washington has added a coach with plenty of experience. He spent 12 years with the New England Patriots after being hired by his dad, Bill Belichick, in 2012. During his stint in New England, he wore many different hats.
After four years as the assistant coach, he was promoted to safeties coach ahead of the 2016 season. Three years later, Belichick called plays for the defense before becoming the outside linebackers coach in 2020.
It’s official 🤝
Steve Belichick … Welcome to the 206 pic.twitter.com/So5nFaYeWn
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) February 6, 2024
While Belichick is turning the page on a new chapter in his career, the change is not unexpected. After his father and the Patriots parted ways a few weeks ago, rumors have been swirling about what was next. New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was open to keeping Steve and his brother Brian on his staff. Mayo and Steve had grown close over the years.
“I spent a lot of time with Steve in the dungeon, and we would go in there and break down film and talk ball,” Mayo said in mid-December via ESPN. “Hearing it from him, from a coach’s perspective — one of the greatest head coaches’ sons; and then I brought the on-the-field perspective.”
After a successful decade with the Patriots, Belichick will now get to form his own path.
