Dolphins Continue Assembling Coaching Staff
The Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff has been raided since their run to the Super Bowl this past season, and now the Miami Dolphins have looked that way for their new safeties coach.
And while the hiring of Joe Kasper, confirmed by a league source, might seem out of the blue, some digging showed a prior connection not to new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio but to head coach Mike McDaniel.
Kasper served as a player personnel and development with the Cleveland Browns in 2013-14, and in that second season the team's wide receivers coach was — that's right — Mike McDaniel.
Since then, Kasper spent two years as a high school and four years as a college coach (including three at Duke) before spending the past two seasons as a defensive quality control coach for the Eagles.
Fangio did do some consulting work for the Eagles ahead of the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl, but he said Monday during his introductory press conference he worked with the offense to give them a feel for what the Kansas City Chiefs defense was doing.
Fangio also revealed he's friends with Eagles GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni, so it's entirely possible — if not likely — that one or both of them have spoken highly of Kasper's potential as a coach.
Additionally, Kasper played safety at Baldwin-Wallace University, where he graduated with a degree in political science.
DOLPHINS COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Kasper replaces Steve Gregory, who was fired Jan. 16 along with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, outside linebackers coach Ty McKenzie and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz.
Offensive line coach Matt Applebaum was fired later in January and replaced by former 49ers and Broncos assistant Butch Berry.
The hirings of Kasper and Berry, along with that of Renaldo Hill as defensive pass game coordinator, have yet to be officially announced. The expectation is that outside of Fangio, all hirings will be announced at the same time.
