Chicago Bears Hire Mocs Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley and Vols Assistant Zach Azzani

February 22, 2017

Rick Nyman,

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) – The Chicago Bears hired three assistants on Wednesday, bringing in Vols assistant Zach Azzanni as receivers coach, and Chattanooga Mocs defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as outside linebackers coach and Derius Swinton II as assistant special teams coach.

Azzanni, who replaces Curtis Johnson, was the University of Tennessee’s wide receivers coach for the last four seasons. He previously worked at Bowling Green (2001-06), Central Michigan (2007-09), Florida (2010), Western Kentucky (2011) and Wisconsin (2012).

Staley has 11 years of college coaching experience at John Carroll (2013, 2015-16), James Madison (2014), Tennessee (2012), Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College (2010-11), St. Thomas (2009) and Northern Illinois (2006-08). He replaces Clint Hurtt.

Staley came to Chattanooga as new head coach Tom Arth’s defensive coordinator.

Swinton was Chicago’s assistant special teams coach in 2015 and San Francisco’s special teams coordinator last season. He replaces Richard Hightower.