Denver Broncos round out defensive coaching staff

The remaining open coaching staff positions following the hire of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen Monday have been filled, the Denver Broncos announced Tuesday. Head coach John Fox has his coaching staff in place.

The Broncos have named Ron Milus as secondary coach and Richard Smith as linebackers coach, the team announced via Twitter.

Both follow Fox from Carolina. Both have experience in these positions in Denver. From the press release (full version after the jump) —

Milus enters his 12th season coaching in the NFL and 21st season overall after instructing Carolina’s secondary from 2009-10. He entered the NFL ranks with Denver, where he served as secondary coach from 2000-02, before instructing that position with Arizona (2003), the N.Y. Giants (2004-05) and St. Louis (2006-08).

Smith, a veteran of 23 NFL seasons, spent the last two years as Carolina’s linebackers coach after serving as defensive coordinator for Houston (2006-08) and Miami (2005). He begins his second coaching stint with the Broncos after guiding the club’s special teams from 1993-96 with added responsibilities of coaching the linebackers from 1993-94.

A lot of experience with this group, with Allen being the young, aggressive newcomer in charge. Love this setup. Press release on the hire of all three coaches after the jump.

BRONCOS NAME DENNIS ALLEN AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR;
ADD RON MILUS AND RICHARD SMITH TO STAFF

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with Dennis Allen to become the team’s defensive coordinator, Head Coach John Fox announced on Tuesday.

In addition, Coach Fox added Ron Milus as secondary coach and Richard Smith as linebackers coach.

“Dennis Allen will be a great addition to our staff,” Fox said. “He’s a bright, young coach who was a big part of the Saints’ defensive turnaround. He has experience coaching several positions and has worked with some outstanding teams during his career. Dennis is very sharp, and we’re thrilled to have him leading our defense.”

Allen, who has nine seasons of NFL coaching experience and has instructed five players who have earned Pro Bowl selections, spent the last five years with New Orleans, including the last three as the club’s secondary coach.

In 2010, the Saints ranked fourth in the NFL, allowing just 193.9 net passing yards per game while giving up a league-low 13 touchdown passes.

Allen led a secondary in 2009 that accounted for 20 interceptions (five returned for touchdowns) and included safeties Roman Harper and Darren Sharper, who were each selected to the Pro Bowl. Sharper tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions during that campaign, which culminated with the team’s first-ever Super Bowl championship.

From 2006-07, he served as the Saints’ assistant defensive line coach, with the defensive front combining for 48.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries during that stretch. Defensive end Will Smith was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2006 after registering 10.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles.

Before his tenure with New Orleans, Allen spent four seasons as a defensive quality control coach with Atlanta. From 2002-03, he helped coach the secondary in his role, and from 2004-05, he assisted with the instruction of the team’s defensive line that produced Pro Bowl selections in consecutive seasons (defensive end Patrick Kearney, 2004; defensive tackle Rod Coleman, 2005) and helped the team tie for fourth in the NFL with 85 sacks during that span.

Allen began his coaching career in 1996 as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M University after his playing career as a four-year letterman and safety for the Aggies. He spent four seasons as a defensive graduate assistant before taking a job at the University of Tulsa to coach the school’s secondary for two seasons (2000-01).

Born on Sept. 22, 1972, he is the son of former Atlanta linebacker, Grady Allen, who played with the Falcons from 1968-72. He and his wife, Alisson, have a son, Garrison, and a daughter, Layla.

Milus enters his 12th season coaching in the NFL and 21st season overall after instructing Carolina’s secondary from 2009-10. He entered the NFL ranks with Denver, where he served as secondary coach from 2000-02, before instructing that position with Arizona (2003), the N.Y. Giants (2004-05) and St. Louis (2006-08).

In 2001, he coached Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O’Neal, who tied for third in the NFL with nine interceptions that season.

He spent nine seasons coaching the secondary at the collegiate level, including stops at the University of Washington (1991-98) and Texas A&M (1999).

Milus and his wife, Sandra, have two sons: Ryan and Bobby. He was born on Nov. 25, 1963.

Smith, a veteran of 23 NFL seasons, spent the last two years as Carolina’s linebackers coach after serving as defensive coordinator for Houston (2006-08) and Miami (2005). He begins his second coaching stint with the Broncos after guiding the club’s special teams from 1993-96 with added responsibilities of coaching the linebackers from 1993-94.

He has coached nine players to a total of 10 Pro Bowl selections, including linebackers Jon Beason (2009-10), Julian Peterson (2002), Ken Norton Jr. (1997) and Karl Mecklenburg (1993).

Smith also coached for nine seasons at the collegiate level, beginning his career at Rio Hondo Community College, where he served as the school’s offensive line coach from 1979-80.

He and his wife, Renee, have four children: Morgan, Aimee, Whitney and Travis. He was born on Oct. 17, 1955.