Lovie Smith has his 2022 coaching staff in place and they're all excited to work with him.
The Texans Head Coach has 11 years of experience in that position, as he was in charge of the Bears for nine seasons, and the Buccaneers for two. Sprinkle in nine other seasons as an assistant coach in stops like Tampa Bay and St. Louis, and Smith's entering his 21st year in the NFL. Those two decades of work have left quite an impression on the men working for him now.
Several assistants met with the media Tuesday morning in the NRG Stadium press box. Some were familiar faces, while some were in their first go-round with Houston, but every one of them expressed gratitude for getting to coach with Smith.
Joe Danna will coach the safeties and he's spent the past five of his 14 NFL seasons as an assistant in Jacksonville. From afar, he's admired the way Smith's coached.
"The track record Coach has with building defenses, the one thing you've seen always over the years, you have a defense that he gets to play really fast, play really hard and they take the ball away," Danna said. "All of those things, I'm looking forward to being a part of."
Cornerbacks Coach Dino Vasso is back for Year 2 in Houston and wants to "build upon the foundation" Smith laid as a defensive coordinator in 2021. Moving forward, Vasso explained the Texans will operate with a few key tenets in mind.
"A Lovie Smith-coached team is going to play hard," Vasso said. "They're going to play with great effort. They're going to take the football away."
Running Backs Coach Danny Barrett joined the Texans in 2018 and spent the last year on staff with Smith. More than anything, Barrett appreciates Smith's steadiness.
"His calm demeanor," Barrett said. "He's always going to be the same, every time you talk to him. He's going to be straightforward about everything he's going to talk about and you can trust that and believe in that."
Smith, the coaches and the personnel staff will head to Indianapolis next week for the NFL Scouting Combine.
Get your tickets today or renew your season tickets for the Houston Texans 2022 Season.
Today, the Houston Texans 2022 coaching staff met with the media.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
An image from the Feb. 22, 2022 assistant coach staff press conference at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
