New Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel just about has a full coaching staff within about a week and a half of arriving in Miami.
McDaniel, who last season served as offensive coordinator for the 49ers, has brought in coaches he has worked with in San Francisco, retained a number of coaches on the Dolphins’ staff and handpicked a few others, including bringing Dolphins great Sam Madison back to coach cornerbacks on Wednesday night.
The 38-year-old first-time head coach will have a combination of experienced coaches that can offer him guidance when he needs it, and up-and-coming contemporaries.
There is still presumably an opening for a safeties coach or defensive backs coach after McDaniel parted ways with ex-Dolphins defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander. He will also add more assistant position coaches beyond new assistant quarterbacks coach Chandler Henley.
Here’s a breakdown of McDaniel’s staff, as of Thursday afternoon:
Frank Smith, Offensive coordinator
Smith, who turns 41 on Monday, becomes an NFL coordinator for the first time and can anchor an effort to revitalize the Dolphins’ run game and develop the offensive line. He was run-game coordinator and offensive line coach with the Chargers in 2021 after being tight ends coach the previous six seasons for the Raiders and Bears. He was the assistant offensive line coach with the Saints from 2010-14. Smith, a Miami (Ohio) grad, was an offensive coordinator in college, with Butler, before reaching the NFL.
Josh Boyer, Defensive coordinator
Boyer is the key member of the defensive coaching staff being retained from the Brian Flores era after holding the coordinator title the previous two seasons. Boyer was stripped of his play-calling duties last November, and Miami’s turnaround on defense began shortly after that. He will have to bounce back in 2022 as the man fully in charge of the defense now that Flores and Alexander are no longer around.
Danny Crossman, Special teams coordinator
Crossman, 55, brings an experienced voice with nearly 30 seasons of coaching experience as he closes in on his 20th in the NFL. Before joining the Dolphins in 2019, he coached special teams with the Bills, Lions and Panthers, dating back to 2003.
Darrell Bevell, Quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator
Bevell will be tasked with taking quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to the next level in his third season, and he’s worked with some great passers in his past: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford and Trevor Lawrence as a rookie last season. He has been offensive coordinator with the Jaguars, Lions, Seahawks and Vikings, quarterbacks coach with the Packers and finished the past two seasons as an interim head coach in Jacksonville and Detroit.
Eric Studesville, Running backs coach/associate head coach
The Dolphins’ offensive side of the coaching staff was largely overhauled, but the one constant from Flores’ time for McDaniel will be Studesville. He loses his co-offensive coordinator title, but remains to lead the running backs. He’s coached the position for 25 years in the NFL, including working with former stars Tiki Barber, Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch and Knowshon Moreno. He’s another experienced voice for McDaniel.
Wes Welker, Wide receivers coach
Welker first made a name for himself as a player for the Dolphins before he truly broke out with the New England Patriots. Now, he’s back in Miami to coach a receivers corps that will be headlined by Jaylen Waddle. McDaniel brought Welker in from San Francisco, where he spent the past three years as wide receivers coach, a tenure that had him as Pro Bowl wideout Deebo Samuel’s position coach.
Jon Embree, Tight ends coach/assistant head coach
This is another coach McDaniel brings with him from his time with the 49ers and, at 56 years old, can offer him guidance. Embree coached George Kittle with the 49ers and also has taught the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Chris Cooley in his extensive experience leading tight end units.
Matt Applebaum, Offensive line coach
Coming from the college ranks at Boston College, Applebaum is in charge of fixing a line that struggled in every aspect last season, with only right guard Robert Hunt a bona fide NFL starter. At BC, he coached three linemen that are 2022 draft prospects in guard Zion Johnson, center Alec Linstrom and tackle Tyler Vrabel. Having Smith as offensive coordinator should help the young assistant coach.
Austin Clark, Defensive line coach
McDaniel retained the position coach of arguably the Dolphins’ most solid unit in 2021. The 31-year-old Clark brings continuity to the defensive staff after last year brought a huge jump for Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler, while defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah led the team with nine sacks.
Anthony Campanile, Linebackers coach
Another holdover from Flores’ tenure, Campanile brings energy and intensity to coaching the linebackers. He has chemistry with Miami’s leading tackler, Jerome Baker, who has also shown flexibility to play on the edge. If Miami brings in a high-end inside linebacker either through free agency or the draft to anchor the defense, this player will surely welcome Campanile’s style of coaching.
Tyrone McKenzie, Outside linebackers coach
A former NFL player as a special teams contributor and linebacker on practice squads, the 36-year-old McKenzie is a hands-on coach that likes to get involved in drills, even letting his linebackers tackle him (while he’s padded). He has been an assistant with the Colts, Lions, Titans and Rams since 2017.
Sam Madison, Cornerbacks coach/pass game specialist
The four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Dolphins is back in Miami, and this time to coach. Since leaving, Madison, who has 38 career interceptions, won a Super Bowl as a player with the Giants and another as an assistant coach with the Chiefs in 2019 — in Miami against McDaniel’s 49ers. Before heading to Kansas City, Madison also had a local high school coaching stint at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, with former teammates Jason Taylor and Twan Russell also on the staff. Madison’s spot is the one that was previously being held for Charles Burks, but Burks is leaving for another opportunity with the Cincinnati Bengals.
