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Dennis Thurman entered his 5th year with the Ravens and 3rd season as secondary coach with Baltimore in 2006...A former Dallas Cowboy defensive back for 8 years (1978-85), Thurman snagged 36 INTs in his pro career and played in Super Bowl XIII in Miami...Since 2000, the Ravens' defense has 121 INTs, 3rd-most in the NFL in that time, with S Ed Reed owning 22, a franchise high.
OVERVIEW: Promoted to Ravens secondary coach in 2004...Thurman helped the Ravens to their 1st AFC North Division title in 2003 as a defensive assistant to then-secondary coach Donnie Henderson (now defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions)...Served as a coaching intern with Baltimore during its 2002 training camp and was hired that same year by Brian Billick as a defensive assistant to Henderson...Launched coaching career with the Phoenix Cardinals and then served at his alma mater, USC, as DBs coach.
2002-05: (with Baltimore) 2005: Against the pass, Baltimore ranked 4th in the AFC and 8th in the NFL...Missing from the lineup for a total of 11 games were starting safeties Ed Reed (ankle), who in his 58 career games has posted franchise records of 22 INTs and 680 INT return yards and Will Demps (knee)...CB Chris McAlister led the team with 20 PD, missing 2 games (hamstring and shoulder)...CBs Samari Rolle finished 2nd on the team with 14 PD, while Deion Sanders tied for the team lead with 2 INTs...S Chad Williams recorded career highs with 47 tackles and 2.5 sacks. 2004: The hot-handed Ravens' defense scored 7 TDs (5 INTs and 2 FRs), and produced the most INT yards (700) in the NFL...Six INTs for TDs were posted by the secondary...Ranked 1st in the AFC and 2nd in the NFL in opposing QB rating (68.0), and 1st in the NFL in the number of 3-and-outs (59 - NFL average was 43)...Two Raven DBs earned starting Pro Bowl nods: SS Ed Reed and CB Chris McAlister...Reed was voted AP's Defensive Player of the Year, setting an NFL record with INT return yardage (358 yards) with a team record and NFL-leading 9 INTs...McAlister scored 2 TDs...Deion Sanders (reserve CB behind Gary Baxter, now with Cleveland) posted 3 INTs, 2 of which came against Buffalo, when he returned 1 for a 48-yard TD...Sanders was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week...Demps (now with the NYGs) totaled 86 tackles, notched 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FFs and 2 FRs and 8 PD...S Chad Williams posted 3 INTs, including 1 return for 94 yards and 1 TD. 2003: Assisted secondary coach Donnie Henderson...Thurman helped the Ravens to their 1st AFC North Division title in 2003...Ravens defense was among the NFL's finest, finishing 3rd overall (4th vs. rush and 6th vs. pass)...SS Ed Reed, 1 of 8 Ravens to make the Pro Bowl, tied a Ravens' record with 7 INTs (T-Rod Woodson in 1999)...CB Chris McAlister made 1st Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro honors, recording 52 tackles, 16 PD and 3 INTs...Other standouts: CB Gary Baxter, 106 tackles, 3 INTs, and Demps posted 59 tackles, 11 PD and 2 INTs. 2002: Hired as an assistant secondary coach to Donnie Henderson...Spent training camp as a coaching intern with the Ravens.
1993-2000: (with Southern California) Spent 8 years as the DB coach at his alma mater...Tutored many current NFL players, including the Falcons' CBs Chris Cash (formerly with Detroit), the 49ers' Kris Richard (formerly with the Seahawks), the Browns' Daylon McCutcheon, the Bucs' Brian Kelly and the Steelers' S Troy Polamalu.
1992: (with World League) Defensive coordinator for Ohio Glory Football Club.
1988-89: (with Phoenix) Coached DBs for the Cardinals.
NFL PLAYER: (with Dallas, St. Louis) 1986: CB and S for the St. Louis Cardinals. 1978-85: Cornerback and safety for the Dallas Cowboys...Originally selected in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Cowboys...Thurman had 36 career INTs and played in Super Bowl XIII in 1979...Pittsburgh won, 35-31, at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
PERSONAL: A 2-time All-American safety (1976-77) and 4-year letterman (1974-77) at USC...Thurman played for John McKay and later for John Robinson...Was a member of the 1974 USC National Championship team and played on Trojan teams that won 4 bowl games...In his Trojan career, he had 13 INTs, returning 2 for TDs, and led the Pac-10 in INTs with 8 in 1976...Also had 169 career tackles, 11 PD and 4 FRs...Dennis has 2 daughters who live in Dallas...Chelsea, a pre-law student at the University of Texas, and Jade (17), who runs track and is a cheerleader at First Baptist Academy...Thurman lives in Owings Mills, MD.
NFL PLAYER EXPERIENCE: 1978-85 (Dallas Cowboys); 1986 (St. Louis Cardinals)
COACHING BACKGROUND: 1988-89 (Phoenix Cardinals); 1990-1991 (out of football); 1992 (Ohio Glory-World League); 1993-2000 (Southern California); 2001 (out of football); 2002-06 (Baltimore Ravens) | 