Mel Tucker/Cleveland Browns DC

Coaches
Mel Tucker
Defensive Coordinator
Year with Browns: 4th
Year in NFL: 4th

Mel Tucker was named defensive coordinator on Jan. 12, 2008, after he served three seasons as the team's defensive backs coach.

In 2006, Tucker’s secondary unit was depleted with injuries, yet ranked 15th in the NFL in pass defense (202.6 ypg.). The secondary lost starters DB Daylon McCutcheon (knee) in training camp and DB Gary Baxter (patella) in Week 7 and DB Leigh Bodden missed seven games with a nagging ankle injury. Tucker worked with S Sean Jones, who emerged as a leader on the defense, and DB Daven Holly as they tied for the team lead with five interceptions each.

In his first season with the Browns in 2005, Tucker led the secondary unit as the Browns ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense (179.2 ypg). Tucker joined the Browns after spending the previous four seasons (2001-04) on Jim Tressel’s staff at Ohio State. Tucker coached defensive backs and was co-defensive coordinator during the 2004 season as he played an integral role in game preparation and strategy.

Tucker grew up in Cleveland and played college football at the University of Wisconsin. Prior to joining the staff at Ohio State, he spent one year (1999) at the University of Miami (Ohio) and one season at LSU (2000), where he coached the defensive backs at both schools.

In his four years at Ohio State, Tucker developed into an outstanding teacher and motivator and demonstrated the ability to get the most out of his players. He was regarded as one of the up-and-coming young coaches in college football.

Two of Tucker’s Ohio State players – strong safeties Michael Doss and Will Allen – won first team All-America honors, while cornerback Chris Gamble was a second team All-American pick.

Tucker prepped at Cleveland Heights High School and was a two-time member of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s All-Scholastic team. He won All-Ohio honors in football as a senior and also enjoyed an outstanding basketball career. At Wisconsin, Tucker earned four letters as a defensive back. He graduated in the spring of 1995 with his degree in agricultural business management.

He began his coaching career in 1997 as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State University. After two years in that capacity, he became defensive backfield coach at Miami (Ohio). He spent one year with the RedHawks, leaving after the 1999 season to re-join Saban who had moved on to LSU.

Tucker was born Jan. 4, 1972, in Cleveland. Mel and his wife Jo-Ellyn, an attorney, were married in June of 1999. They have two sons, Joseph (2/18/02) and Christian (2/18/04).

Coaching Background:
1997 Michigan State University, graduate assistant
1998-99 Miami (Ohio) University, defensive backs coach
2000 Louisiana State University, defensive backs coach
2001-04 Ohio State University, defensive backs coach/co-defensive coordinator
2005-07 Cleveland Browns, defensive backs coach
2008 Cleveland Browns, defensive coordinator