Mile High Football Camp

With the dynamic duo of Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips continuing to dominate on the defensive side of the ball, the outside linebacking corps should have another impressive year under John Pagano.

Last season, Merriman was voted to his third Pro Bowl in as many seasons and the Chargers’ outside linebackers combined for 27 of the team’s 42 sacks, including a team-leading 12.5 by Merriman and 8.5 by Phillips. Merriman also logged a career-high 96 tackles and led the team with nine tackles for loss.

In 2006, Merriman and Phillips combined sack total (28.5) that outnumbered several teams and as a group, the outside linebackers were responsible for 33.5 of the team’s 61 sacks. The Chargers led the NFL in sacks in ’06, and their total was the team’s highest since 1980. Despite missing four games to suspension, Merriman was selected as a starter for the Pro Bowl and received a host of other postseason honors after setting a career high and leading the league with 17 sacks. His sack total was the second-highest in team history and the most in a season by a Charger since 1992. Phillips, who was in just his first year as a starter, burst out under Pagano’s tutelage, recording career highs with 11.5 sacks and 63 tackles.

In 2005, Pagano oversaw the development of Merriman during his stellar rookie campaign. Merriman was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press after leading the team and all NFL rookies with 10 sacks. He also pitched in with seven tackles for loss, second-most on the team, and 54 tackles. The rookie played a huge hand in the Chargers’ 26-17 win over the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts, racking up two sacks and three tackles for loss.

Before joining the Chargers, Pagano spent six seasons as a defensive assistant with the Indianapolis Colts (1998-01) and New Orleans Saints (1996-97). He coached the secondary and assisted in all areas of defensive preparation.

Pagano was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado where he was an All-State performer in football at Fairview High School. He played linebacker at Mesa State (Colo.) from 1985-88 and graduated with a degree in business marketing. Pagano’s older brother, Chuck, was hired in 2008 to coach the secondary for the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Chuck was the defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina. John is a part owner of the Mile High Football Camp in Denver, Colorado, which has served the community for the past 32 years. He and wife Kimberly have a son, Jagger.

Chuck Pagano joined the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff as secondary coach on February 12, 2008. Pagano, who has 25 years of coaching experience in both the NCAA and NFL, will work closely with the team’s other secondary coach, Mark Carrier, to guide the Ravens’ defensive backfield. Pagano’s tenure includes coaching at the University of Miami (1986; 1995-2000), where he recruited and coached Ravens Pro Bowl S Ed Reed.

Pagano returns to the NFL after a yearlong-stint as the University of North Carolina’s defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2007. Prior to re-joining coaching colleague Butch Davis at UNC, Pagano spent 2 seasons as the Oakland Raiders’ defensive backs coach (2005-06). In 2006, the Raiders led the NFL in pass defense, allowing just 150.8 yards per game, and ranked 3rd in total defense, surrendering only 284.8 yards per contest. Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha was 3rd in the NFL with 8 INTs.

Prior to joining the Raiders’ staff, Pagano coached the Cleveland Browns’ secondary under then-head coach Davis (2001-04). He spent 4 years coaching on the same staff as current Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. In 2003, the Browns’ DBs helped Cleveland tie the franchise record for allowing the fewest passing TDs (13). With Pagano’s guidance, the Browns’ secondary accounted for 28 of the team’s NFL-leading and team-record 33 INTs in 2001. That same year, Browns rookie CB Anthony Henry led the league with 10 picks.

From 1995-2000, Pagano coached at Miami as the Hurricanes’ secondary coach and special teams coordinator. While there, Pagano recruited and coached 4 NFL 1st-round draft picks: Reed (Ravens, 24th in 2002), CB Phillip Buchanon (Raiders, 17th in 2002), CB Duane Starks (Ravens, 10th in 1998) and CB Mike Rumph (49ers, 27th in 2002). Pagano’s secondary contributed heavily to Miami’s success on defense over the years. Some notables include 1999 when the DBs did not allow a passing TD in the last 27 quarters, en route to a 9-4 season. As the Hurricanes’ special teams coordinator, Pagano-led units blocked 39 kicks in 59 games, including a single-season school record 12 blocks in 1996. Reed intercepted a Miami-career record 21 passes and blocked 4 punts in his 4-year career under Pagano.

Prior to his 6 years at Miami, Pagano spent 3 seasons as the secondary and outside linebackers coach at East Carolina (1992-94), his second stop at the school. In 1989, he coached the team’s secondary.

The Boulder, CO, native began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at USC in 1984. After 2 seasons, he left to become an assistant at Miami for a season (1986) and then became the outside linebackers coach at Boise State (1987-88). Pagano moved on to short stints at East Carolina (secondary coach in 1989) and UNLV (secondary in 1990 and defensive coordinator in 1991).

As an undergrad at Wyoming, Chuck was a 4-year letterman and 2-year starter as a strong safety, graduating with a degree in marketing in 1984. Born 10/2/60 in Boulder, CO, he attended Fairview (Boulder, CO) HS. He and his wife, Tina, have 3 children, Tara, Taylor and Tori

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