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Press ReleaseSALT LAKE CITY - John Pease, a 19-year NFL assistant coach who also has 20 years of college coaching experience, is Utah's new defensive line coach and assistant head coach, Ute head coach Kyle Whittingham announced today. Also starting a new assignment is Kalani Sitake. Sitake, Utah's linebacker coach for the past four years, was promoted to defensive coordinator on Dec. 7, but did not assume his expanded role until after Utah's Sugar Bowl win over Alabama on Jan. 2. "We are very fortunate to have John Pease joining our staff. As a defensive line coach, the experience and expertise that he brings to our program is second to none," said Whittingham. "Kalani is an excellent young football coach who is ready to take the next step in terms of his professional growth and development. He has a great rapport with the players and will continue to coach the linebackers. In addition to coaching the defensive line, Coach Pease will also serve as our assistant head coach. Hiring John was a unique opportunity and we jumped on it," added Whittingham.
Sitake, a member of Whittingham's original staff, has overseen the linebackers since 2005. Pease returns to the sidelines after retiring from the NFL in 2005.
Pease was the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints for a total of 11 years (1986-1994 and 2004-05). He also spent eight years with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2002), coaching the defensive line the entire time and serving as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator the last two years. Pease coached in eight AFC playoffs and helped Jacksonville make the 1996 and 1999 AFC championship games.
As recently as 2005, Pease led all active NFL coaches in career sack production (811). In 1996 and 1999, he coached in the NFL Pro Bowl, and in 2008, he was selected to coordinate the West defense in the East-West Shrine Game.
Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Pease spent three years with the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars coaching the defensive line. The Stars played in the championship game all three years and were the USFL champions in 1984 and 1985.
Pease embarked on a career in the pro leagues after 20 years as a college assistant. In five years as the defensive line coach for the University of Washington (1978-82), Pease participated in four bowl games—among them the 1980 and 1981 Rose Bowls. Washington was the 1981 Rose Bowl champion and the Huskies were 46-13 overall during his stay. Every one of his senior starters during his tenure at Washington went on to play in the NFL.
His new job marks the third time Pease has coached at Utah. A 1964 alumnus of the University of Utah, Pease served as a graduate assistant in 1968-69 and as Utah's linebackers coach in 1977. His other college coaching experience came at Fullerton Community College (1970-74), where he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, and Long Beach State (1974-76) as the linebackers coach.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Pease played football for the University of Utah from 1963-64 and was named the team's Most Inspirational Player. He also played for Fullerton Community College, where he was a junior college All-America halfback in 1961 and linebacker in 1962. He was inducted into the California Community College Hall of Fame in 1999.
Pease and his wife, Chris—also a Utah alum—have residences in Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Fla.
Whittingham must still fill two positions on his staff with the departure of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Andy Ludwig and offensive line coach Charlie Dickey to Kansas State.
(Courtesy the University of Utah)
