Chuck Pagano enters his first season with the Colts and 11th year in the NFL after being named head coach on January 25, 2012. Pagano brings a wealth of coaching experience, totaling 28 years in the professional and collegiate ranks.
Prior to joining the Colts, Pagano spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and the last (2011) as the team’s defensive coordinator. In 2011, Pagano’s defensive unit finished third in the NFL in total defense (288.9 ypg.), second against the run (92.6 ypg.) and fourth against the pass (196.3 ypg.), on their way to an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. The Ravens also led the league in forced fumbles (21) and had the third-most sacks in the NFL (48.0), including a franchise record-tying 9.0 in Week 12 against San Francisco.
Pagano served as the Ravens' secondary coach for three seasons (2008-2010) before taking the reins of defensive coordinator. As the team’s secondary coach, he led a defensive backfield that had to adjust to a number of injuries, including a significant loss of seven-time Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed, who started the 2010 campaign on the PUP list. Even after missing the first six games, Reed still led the league with eight interceptions in only 10 contests. In Pagano’s first season with the Ravens (2008), the team led the NFL with 26 interceptions, including Reed’s NFL-high nine picks. Reed, the league’s only unanimous (50 votes) All-Pro in 2008, was also coached by Pagano at the University of Miami.
In 2009, Pagano guided an injury-depleted secondary to an eighth-overall ranking against the pass (207.3 ypg.). The defense also finished the year ranked No. 3 overall (300.5 ypg.), the seventh-straight top six finish. Reed earned his sixth Pro Bowl and added to his 13 career touchdowns by scoring on a 52-yard interception return versus Cincinnati. The defensive backs tallied 16 of the team’s 22 interceptions and Baltimore’s turnover ratio (+10) was fourth best in the NFL.
In his first season with the Ravens, Pagano’s secondary ranked second against the pass (179.7 ypg.) as the defense ranked No. 2 overall in the league, a drastic improvement from a No. 20 finish in 2007. Reed was the NFL’s only unanimous All-Pro selection, leading the league with nine interceptions and scoring three defensive touchdowns. He added another score (64-yard touchdown) in the Wild Card victory at Miami (1/4/09).
In his four seasons in Baltimore, Pagano’s defenses allowed the second-fewest points per game (16.3) and the second-fewest net yards (292.3) in the NFL. The Ravens also ranked third in the NFL in scoring defense during that span.
Pagano posted a one-year stint as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina (2007), where he rejoined Butch Davis from previous stops with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Hurricanes. Under Pagano, the defense improved from 92nd in 2006 to 35th in 2007.
Prior to UNC, Pagano spent two seasons (2005-2006) as the Oakland Raiders’ defensive backs coach. In 2006, the Raiders led the NFL in pass defense, allowing just 150.8 yards per game, and ranked third in total defense, surrendering only 284.8 yards per contest. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha ranked third in the NFL with eight interceptions in 2006.
From 2001-2004, Pagano coached the Browns’ secondary under then-head coach Butch Davis. In 2003, the defensive backs helped Cleveland tie the franchise record for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed in a season with 13. Under Pagano’s guidance in 2001, the Browns’ secondary accounted for 28 of the team’s NFL-leading and team-record 33 interceptions. That season, rookie cornerback Anthony Henry led the NFL with 10 picks.
Pagano returned to the University of Miami (1995-2000) for his second stint at the school, coaching the Hurricanes’ secondary as well as serving as the special teams coordinator. He coached four NFL first-round defensive backs: Reed (Ravens, 24th-2002), Phillip Buchanon (Raiders, 17th-2002), Duane Starks (Ravens, 10th-1998) and Mike Rumph (49ers, 27th-2002). During Pagano’s second tenure in Miami, the Hurricanes blocked 39 kicks in 59 games. In 2000, the secondary was named the nation’s best by Football News. His special teams unit also set a school record in 1996 with 12 blocked kicks.
Pagano started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southern California (1984-1985), before taking the same role at the University of Miami (1986). In 1987, he started a two-year stint at Boise State where he coached outside linebackers. Pagano then spent one season (1989) at East Carolina coaching the secondary, before moving to UNLV where he led the secondary (1990) and eventually was named defensive coordinator in 1991. In 1992, Pagano returned to East Carolina, coaching the secondary and outside linebackers for three seasons (1992-1994).
Collegiately, Pagano was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at strong safety for Wyoming and graduated with a degree in marketing in 1984.
Pagano was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at strong safety at Fairview (Boulder, Colorado) High School. His brother, John, is the Chargers’ defensive coordinator and former defensive assistant for the Colts from 1998-2001. Chuck and his wife, Tina, have three daughters, Tara, Taylor and Tori, and two granddaughters, Avery and Addison.
Coaching Career
1984-1985: Southern California - Graduate Assistant
1986: University of Miami - Graduate Assistant
1987-1988: Boise State - Outside Linebackers
1989: East Carolina - Secondary
1990-1991: UNLV - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1992-1994: East Carolina - Secondary/Outside Linebackers
1995-2000: University of Miami - Secondary/Special Teams
2001-2004: Cleveland Browns - Secondary
2005-2006: Oakland Raiders - Defensive Backs
2007: North Carolina - Defensive Coordinator
2008-2010: Baltimore Ravens - Secondary
2011: Baltimore Ravens - Defensive Coordinator
2012: Indianapolis Colts - Head Coach
