Western Michigan’s O’Leary hired as Chargers’ defensive coordinator

Los Angeles – The chargers are hiring western michiganChris O’Leary was announced as the team’s defensive coordinator on Wednesday night.

O’Leary, who was also the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, returns to the Chargers after coaching safeties for the 2024 season. In his lone season at Western Michigan, his defense ranked ninth in the FBS in scoring defense and second in the MAC (17.4 points allowed per game). O’Leary’s defense was the MAC’s second-best unit in total net yards allowed per game (305.5), which ranked 19th in the country.

Prior to the Chargers and Western Michigan, O’Leary spent six seasons at Notre Dame, starting as a defensive analyst before eventually becoming the defensive backs and safeties coach, where he coached current Chargers cornerbacks. cam heart.

O’Leary will be responsible for maintaining one of the NFL’s best defenses for the last two seasons under former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, now the Ravens’ head coach. linebacker witch henley Shortly after the team’s announcement, he posted an X expressing his excitement over the appointment, writing, “The waves have gone up.”

Last year, Minter led the Chargers to the NFL’s fifth-ranked defense (285.2 yards per game). In 2024, their first season in Los Angeles, the Chargers led the league in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game).

When Minter arrived in L.A. in 2024, he was taking over one of the league’s worst defenses, ranking 30th in points allowed per game (5.7), points (24.8) and rushing yards per game (134) in three years under former coach Brandon Staley. In two seasons under Minter, the Chargers ranked second in QBR allowed (50.0), third in points allowed (18.9) and seventh in yards per play (5.2).