After one year as a Fresno State assistant, Tim McDonald is joining the NFL coaching ranks.
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan on Thursday officially announced that McDonald was joining his staff as defensive backs coach, the same post the six-time NFL Pro Bowler held under Tim DeRuyter with the Bulldogs.
Ryan also announced Marty Mornhinweg is the Jets' new offensive coordiantor, Dennis Thurman was promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator and David Lee was hired as quarterbacks coach, AP reporter Dennis Waszak Jr. reported.
McDonald this past season helped overhaul a Fresno State defense that forced 35 turnovers and was led by safety Phillip Thomas, who was the national leader in interceptions, the school's first unanimous All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist.
McDonald was a former star quarterback at Edison High in Fresno who was an All-America safety at USC before a 13-year NFL career. He also later coached at Edison High, including his sons, T.J. (an All-American safety at USC this past season) and Tevin (a cornerback at UCLA).
Former Edison High star Robert Golden, a rookie cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers this past season, posted this note on Twitter on Thursday morning: "The NY Jets just hired my High School coach to coach their secondary. Congrats Tim McDonald!"
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http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/01/24/...#storylink=cpy
Great hire by the Jets. I really wanted him to come here and coach at some point. This guy is an absolutely great DB coach.