coaches

11^th year in NFL/1^st year with the Bills

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Danny Crossman will enter his first year with the Buffalo Bills in 2013 as the team’s special teams coordinator, his 11^th year in the NFL coaching ranks and ninth as a coordinator.

From 2010-12, Crossman presided over the Detroit Lions’ special teams unit after seven years with the Carolina Panthers (2003-09), including the final five as their special teams coordinator. Crossman entered the NFL with Carolina in 2003 as a special teams assistant while also assisting the team’s strength and conditioning program.

• In 2012, Lions K Jason Hanson posted a career-high and set a franchise record with 134 points. During Crossman’s tenure with Detroit from 2010-12, S John Wendling tied for the NFL-lead with 51 special teams tackles.
• In his first year with the Lions in 2010, the kick return unit was the third-most improved in the League with an average 3.5 more yards per return than in 2009. Returner Stefan Logan posted the fifth-best punt return average in the NFL (12.1). Detroit also had the NFL’s 10^th-most significant improvement in punt return average in 2010 – a jump from an 8.8 punt return average in 2009 to 12.1 yards per punt return in 2010.
• During Crossman’s stint with the Panthers from 2003-09, the team’s kicking and cover groups contributed to the team’s success which included three playoff appearances (2003, 2005 and 2008), two NFC South titles in 2003 and 2008. The Panthers also finished with at least eight wins in five of those seven years.
• The Panthers ranked third in the NFL in 2008 with an opponent average drive start after kickoffs (24.7) and were one of three teams that did not allow an opponent to start a drive following a kickoff past the 50-yard line. Carolina posted a league-best 30 touchbacks, 33.7 touchback percentage and ninth with an opponent kickoff return average (21.9).
• In his first year as a special teams coordinator in 2005, Crossman’s unit ranked among the best in the NFL. The Panthers finished ninth in the Dallas Morning News special teams ratings which were highlighted with a second place finish in punt coverage and seventh in kickoff coverage. Crossman helped guide P Jason Baker to set the franchise record in net punting average in both 2005 (38.9) and 2006 (39.0). In both years, Baker’s net punting average was first in the NFC and third in the NFL. From 2005-09, Baker ranked eighth in the NFL with a combined net punting average of 38.0.
• In his first year assisting the Panthers’ special teams, Carolina ranked second in the special teams ratings compiled by the Dallas Morning News

Prior to entering the NFL coaching ranks, Crossman spent 10 years coaching in college, including Michigan State (2002), Georgia Tech (1999-2001), Central Florida (1997-98), Western Kentucky (1994-96) and U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1993).

• In 1999 and 2001, Georgia Tech ranked highly nationally in kickoff return average, net punting average and punt return average… in 2000, the Yellow Jackets led the Atlantic Coast Conference in kickoff return and punt return average… two of the team’s specialists, K Luke Manget and KR Kelley Rhino were named first-team All-ACC in 2001

PERSONAL

A three-year letterman at Pittsburgh, Crossman helped the Panthers to a 22-12-1 record in those three years and appearances in the 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl and the 1989 Sun Bowl… he moved to strong safety as a senior and earned team MVP honors as well as second-team All-America accolades after posting 62 tackles and one interception… originally began his college career at the University of Kansas… as a freshman in 1985, Crossman started eight games at defensive backs and notched 48 tackles and one interception en route to earning freshman All-America honors… he spent time with the Washington Redskins (1990) and the Detroit Lions (1991) at training camp following his college playing career… played for the London Monarchs of the World League of America Football from 1991-92… named MVP of the inaugural World Bowl in 1991, after intercepting Barcelona three times, returning one for a touchdown and shutting them out 21-0… earned a bachelor degree in business administration and communications from Pittsburgh in 1990… he and wife, Susan, have a son, Kyle, and a daughter, Kaylie.