John Lovett Named Hartford Colonials Special Teams Coach
April 21, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Hartford Colonials News Release
EAST HARTFORD, CT - April 21, 2011 - HARTFORD COLONIALS head coach and general manager JERRY GLANVILLE continues to fill out his staff with the naming of JOHN LOVETT as special teams coach for the 2011 United Football League season.
Lovett has spent the majority of his 35-year coaching career as a defensive coordinator, holding that position the last two seasons at the University of Miami as well as working with the punt team and field goal/PAT units.
Prior to Miami, Lovett served as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant at North Carolina under BUTCH DAVIS. North Carolina's kickoff coverage unit was ranked among the top 15 in the country and the Tar Heels blocked six kicks in 2008.
"John Lovett is a special coach for our top job," Glanville said. "He worked with Butch Davis at North Carolina, and Butch turned all his teams over to him. John is an intense teacher with fun in his heart. I can't wait to work with him."
Lovett worked with the North Carolina special teams units that featured wide receiver BRANDON TATE, the NCAA career leader in combined kick/punt return yardage. Tate made his mark as a dangerous return man with the New England Patriots by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns last season.
"When you coach special teams, you coach the whole team. You have to coach guys on offense and guys on defense," Lovett said. "You've to look at tight ends and receivers and running backs and say, 'How can they help us on special teams' What positions can they fill'' A lot of those guys are going to be counted on help cover our kicks and those kinds of things."
Lovett coached Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker CONNOR BARTH on his way to becoming the Tar Heels all-time leader in made field goals. In 2009, Barth tied an NFL record by kicking three field goals of at least 50 years in a game against the Miami Dolphins.
Pro Bowl defensive end DEREK BURGESS, and cornerbacks CARLOS ROGERS and RODERICK HOOD are among the other NFL players that Lovett coached in college.
"Roderick got to play in the Super Bowl [with Arizona]," Lovett said. "I remember talking to JOHN HARBAUGH and STEVE SPAGNUOLO. I said, 'Look, just give this kid a chance. He'll make it on specials teams for you. He'll learn how to play corner.' That sure enough happened."
Lovett was defensive coordinator at Bowling Green (2005-06), Clemson (2002-04), Auburn (1999-2001), Cincinnati (1989-92) and Maine (1985-88, '94), and secondary coach at Mississippi (1995-98) and UNLV (1993). He coached linebackers and defensive backs at Bowling Green in addition to being defensive coordinator.
"I'm really thrilled about the opportunity to work with Coach Glanville and meet these guys on the staff that have been in the NFL and you kind of know about them," Lovett said. "I remember [Colonials defensive line coach] TIM KRUMRIE, when I was coaching at Cincinnati he was playing nose guard for the Bengals. I kind of know these guys somewhat just following their careers. I'm honored and looking forward to working with them."
Lovett, a native of Nyack, N.Y., was a linebacker at C.W. Post and took his first coaching job in 1976 at Saint Joseph Regional High School in New Jersey. He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Union College (1978-82) and was an assistant at Brown (1983). After working as defensive quality control coach with the New York Jets in 1984, Lovett was hired as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Maine.
The UFL begins its third season in August as the Colonials play an eight-game schedule against teams from Las Vegas, Omaha, Sacramento and Virginia. The 2011 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can register for tickets for the 2011 Colonials season at www.HartfordColonials.com.
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