Wash, who has 20 years of coaching experience, including nine seasons in the NFL, was named the Jaguars defensive line coach on January 28, 2013, adding run game coordinator to his title prior to the 2015 campaign. Wash and Head Coach Gus Bradley had previously coached together at Seattle (2011-12), Tampa Bay (2007) and North Dakota State (2002-03).
Also among the coaching changes, Tony Sorrentino was promoted to assistant wide receivers coach, Aaron Whitecotton was promoted to assistant defensive line coach and Daniel Bullocks, a former NFL safety with the Detroit Lions (2006-09) and coach at Northern Iowa (defensive backs, 2012-14) and Eastern Michigan (cornerbacks, 2015), has been hired as the assistant defensive backs coach.
The team also announced that Gus Bradley, who is entering his fourth season as the Jaguars head coach, has signed a one-year contract extension through 2017.
“For an organization that we believe is ready to make its move, extending Gus through the 2017 season provides our club with much-needed stability in every respect,” said General Manager Dave Caldwell. “It solidifies Gus’ good standing with our current players, provides certainty for free agents who may be considering the Jaguars and helps to deliver the continuity throughout our coaching staff that we think is critical for us to turn the corner. It also gives us the best opportunity to win in 2016. I appreciate Shad supporting this approach as we enter a pivotal season with high expectations at every level of the organization.”
The Jaguars also announced that Mark Ellenz has been named the team’s director of college scouting, effective immediately. Ellenz, who served the last three seasons as the Jaguars’ eastern regional scout after being hired on May 2, 2013, spent 12 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts’ scouting department from 2001-13.
Prior to joining the Colts, Ellenz was an assistant defensive backs coach at his alma mater, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he graduated with a master’s degree in sports administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Ellenz was a three-year letterman at strong safety on the school’s football team and spent the 1998-99 seasons as an assistant training camp coordinator with the New Orleans Saints.
“With his work ethic and attention to detail, Mark will do a tremendous job in this new role with the Jaguars,” said General Manager Dave Caldwell. “He is an exceptional talent evaluator and has certainly earned the respect of his peers around the league. During my seven years with him in Indianapolis, I came to truly respect Mark for how organized, detail-oriented and thorough he is in his assessment of players. He is a valuable part of our personnel department and we know he’ll be able to step in immediately and oversee our college scouting.”
Ellenz replaces Kyle O’Brien, who spent the last three seasons as the Jaguars’ director of college scouting before becoming the Detroit Lions’ director of player personnel last week.