The New York Jets announced Wednesday that new head coach Rex Ryan has retained Bob Sutton as senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach and hired wide receivers coach Henry Ellard, running backs coach Anthony Lynn, assistant secondary coach Doug Plank and secondary coach Dennis Thurman.
Sutton was the Jets' defensive coordinator for the past three seasons under former head coach Eric Mangini, but Ryan brought assistant Mike Pettine from the Baltimore Ravens to run the unit. Sutton, who will enter his 10th season with the Jets, originally joined the team in 2000 as linebackers coach.
Ellard joins the Jets after eight seasons as the St. Louis Rams' wide receivers coach (2001-08). Ellard also was an NFL player, finishing his 16-season career in 1998 with 814 receptions for 13,777 yards and 65 touchdowns for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins and New England Patriots. He's eighth in league history in receiving yards.
Lynn has spent the last six years as a running backs coach in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns (2007-08), Dallas Cowboys (2005-06) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-04).
Plank played for Ryan's father, Buddy, with the Chicago Bearsfrom 1975 to 1982 and had the famous 46 defense named after his jersey. Plank was a coaching assistant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008.
Thurman coached the Ravens' secondary from 2002 to 2007 alongside Rex Ryan.
