Dennis Allen (American football)
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| Dennis Allen (American football) | |
|---|---|
| Place of birth |  Hurst, Texas |
| Position(s) | Secondary Coach |
| College | Texas A&M |
| Team(s) as a player | |
| 1996 | Buffalo Bills |
| Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
| 1996-1999 2000-2001 2002-2005 2006-2007 2008-present |
Texas A&M University (Graduate Assistant Coach) Tulsa University (Secondary Coach) Atlanta Falcons (Defensive Assistant/Quality Control Coach) New Orleans Saints (Assistant Defensive Line Coach) New Orleans Saints (Secondary Coach) |
Dennis Allen is the secondary coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.
Allen previously coached for the Atlanta Falcons as well as Tulsa University and his alma mater, Texas A&M University. His father Grady Allen was also a standout linebacker for the Aggies and later in the NFL for the Falcons. Dennis and his wife, Alisson, have a son, Garrison and a daughter, Layla.
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[edit] Playing career
Allen was a highly-recruited defensive back at L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, TX before choosing to follow in his father's footsteps and play for Texas A&M. Allen was a 4-year letterman for the Aggies as a safety from 1992-95. He started the final 21 games of his career on the top-rated Texas A&M "Wrecking Crew" defense. His fourth-quarter interception clinched an 18-9 victory over rival texas in 1993, sending the Aggies to their third-straight Cotton Bowl. He won Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting two passes in a 36-14 win over Oklahoma in 1994. Allen was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills and competed in their training camp in 1996.
[edit] Coaching career
[edit] College
Allen began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant coach under his old coach R. C. Slocum for four seasons (1996-1999), working primarily with the secondary. He then went on to Tulsa where he was a secondary coach for two seasons (2000-2001).
[edit] National Football League
In 2002, Allen’s first year with the Falcons, when he assisted in coaching the defensive backfield, the club tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions and improved from 30th vs. the pass in 2001 to 16th the following year.
Over his last two years in Atlanta, the Falcons’ defensive line was the anchor of the defense. In 2004, Atlanta led the NFL for the first time in club history with 48 sacks and the unit sent DE Patrick Kerney to the Pro Bowl. In 2005 DT Rod Coleman represented the club in the postseason all-star game and the Falcons notched 37 sacks.
In 2006, Allen was in charge of the Saints' defensive line, who combined for over 290 tackles, 28.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. The season was highlighted by the Pro Bowl selection DE Will Smith.
[edit] Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Dennis Allen has served:
