Darren Rizzi Explained

Darren Rizzi
Current Team:New Orleans Saints
Position:Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator
Birth Date:July 21, 1970
Birth Place:Hillsdale, New Jersey, U.S.
High School:Bergen Catholic
(Oradell, New Jersey)
College:Rhode Island (1989–1992)
Pastcoaching:
  • Colgate (1993)
    Graduate Assistant
  • New Haven (1994–1996)
    Special teams coordinator & defensive line coach
  • New Haven (1997)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Northeastern (1998)
    Special teams coordinator & linebackers coach
  • New Haven (1999–2001)
    Head coach
  • Rutgers (2002–2007)
    Special teams coordinator
  • Rhode Island (2008)
    Head coach
  • Miami Dolphins (–)
    Special teams coordinator
  • Miami Dolphins (–)
    Associate head coach & special teams coordinator
  • New Orleans Saints (–)
    Special teams coordinator
  • New Orleans Saints (–present)
    Assistant head coach & special teams coordinator
Overall Record:18–23 (college)

Darren Rizzi (born July 21, 1970) is an American football coach who is the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to this, he was the Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator. He was one of few Miami coaches to see multiple regimes. He even interviewed for the head coach position for the Dolphins after the 2018 season. After Miami hired head coach Brian Flores, they decided to move on from Rizzi. Before the NFL, he was the head coach of the University of New Haven Chargers football team from 1999 to 2001[1] and the Rhode Island Rams football team in 2008.[2] He compiled an overall record of 18–23.

Early life

Rizzi grew up in Hillsdale, New Jersey, and graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in nearby Oradell.[3] He was later a resident of Oradell.[4] Family life CAMERON RIZZI

Coaching career

Miami Dolphins

Rizzi coordinated the Miami Dolphins special teams efforts from 2011 to 2018, additionally serving as assistant head coach/special teams coordinator from 2015 to 2016 and associate head coach/special teams coordinator from 2017 to 2018. Rizzi was not retained under incoming head coach Brian Flores.

New Orleans Saints

On February 1, 2019, the New Orleans Saints hired Rizzi as the special teams coordinator. Rizzi would be reunited with Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell, whom coached alongside Rizzi with the Miami Dolphins from 2010 to 2015, under head coaches Tony Sparano and Joe Philbin.[5] On February 23, 2022, it was announced that Rizzi would be assuming the title of assistant head coach alongside his special teams responsibilities.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: ADITI KINKHABWALA. Bringing his lifelong passion home; Rizzi enjoying duties as Rutgers assistant. The Record. August 14, 2002.
  2. News: MIKE SZOSTAK. New-look Rams aim to be winners as camp kicks off. Providence Journal-Bulletin. August 3, 2008.
  3. Biggane, Brian. "Darren Rizzi, Dolphins' new special teams coach, teamed with Tony Sparano in New Haven", The Palm Beach Post, October 5, 2010. Accessed February 17, 2011. "A native of Hillsdale, N.J., and a graduate of prep power Bergen Catholic, Rizzi starred as a tight end at Rhode Island after arriving as a walk-on in 1988."
  4. Schutta, Gregory. "ORADELL'S RIZZI NAMED NEW HAVEN HEAD COACH", The Record (Bergen County), February 25, 1999. Accessed May 25, 2016. "Former Bergen Catholic standout and NFL player Darren Rizzi broke into the head coaching ranks Wednesday when he was named the head football coach at the University of New Haven. The Oradell native returns to New Haven, where he spent four seasons as an assistant under former head coach Tony Sparano."
  5. Web site: Former Miami Dolphins Darren Rizzi lands with the Saints. February 2019.
  6. Web site: Ronald Curry Promoted to New Orleans Saints Passing Game Coordinator .