FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Jan. 17, 2006) -- The New England Patriots promoted linebackers coach Dean Pees to defensive coordinator, replacing new New York Jets coach Eric Mangini.
Pees is the Patriots' third defensive coordinator in three seasons. Romeo Crennel left to be coach of the Cleveland Browns after last season's Super Bowl win, leaving the job to Mangini.
The appointment of the 56-year-old Pees was announced shortly after a news conference at which the Jets formally announced the hiring of the 35-year-old Mangini, who is the youngest head coach in the NFL. The Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs Jan. 14 after winning three of the previous four Super Bowls with Crennel as defensive coordinator and Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator.
Weis also left after last season's Super Bowl victory and became coach at Notre Dame.
Pees was the Patriots' linebackers coach for past two seasons. Before that, he was the head coach at Kent State for six seasons.
"Dean Pees has done an outstanding job coaching our linebackers," coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "When he joined us, Dean brought a wealth of experience into this system and has been a significant part of our success over the past two seasons."
