UW picks former NFL assistant Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator

1/31/2008 1:59 PM

By GREGG BELL
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) -The Washington Huskies have chosen former NFL assistant Ed Donatell as their defensive coordinator.

Coach Tyrone Willingham made the announcement Thursday, giving Donatell a two-year contract with an annual compensation package of $334,000. He replaces Kent Baer, a 13-year assistant of Willingham's who was fired last month.

Donatell, 50, has spent 12 of the last 13 seasons as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator in the NFL, most recently as defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06 under coach Jim Mora. Last season, he was a special assistant with the New York Jets.

Donatell's second coaching job was as a graduate assistant from 1981-82 under former Huskies coach Don James. He has also coached on NFL staffs with Pete Carroll, Bruce Coslet, Mike Shanahan and Mike Sherman.

``I couldn't be more excited in this hire,'' Willingham said by telephone. ``He has a flexibility and a knowledge of lots of different types of systems of defense ... that we can blend to our football team and our conference.''

Washington's defense gave up 446.4 yards per game last season, easily the worst in Huskies' history. The defense was largely responsible for many of the team's second-half meltdowns en route to a 4-9 season.

Willingham, who said he only knows Donatell through mutual coaching colleagues, acknowledged Thursday that improved conditioning of his defensive players will be a major emphasis before the season-opener Aug. 30 at Oregon.

Willingham said he and Donatell don't yet know what style of defense they will employ.

``The biggest thing right now is to take an exhausting look of who we are and what we are on defense,'' Willingham said.