Titans add three to coaching staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans announced the addition of three new coaches to its football staff on Tuesday.

Special Teams Coordinator Colt Anderson, Assistant Offensive Line Coach Scott Fuchs and Defensive Assistant Steve Donatell join first-year head coach Brian Callahan’s staff.

Donatell, who spent last season with the Miami Dolphins in the same role, has ties to Bowling Green and WKU. Donatell finished his collegiate career in 2016 as a transfer tight end at WKU. Donatell caught 13 passes for 125 yards in 11 games. The Tops won the Boca Raton Bowl.

Colt Anderson – Special Teams Coordinator

Anderson arrives in Tennessee with four years (2020-23) of NFL coaching experience following a nine-year NFL playing career (2009-17). He spent the past four seasons as an Assistant Special Teams coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he served on the same staff as current Titans head coach Brian Callahan.

The 2023 Bengals special teams units ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in several categories: 10th in punt return average (10.2 yards per return), eighth in opponent punt return average (7.0 yards per return), second in opponent kickoff return average (17.0) and fifth in opponent net punting average (40.2 yards per punt).

Additionally, the 2023 Bengals relied on a core of young special team standouts for significant contributions. Fourth-round pick Charlie Jones was eighth among all qualifiers and second among qualifying rookies with a 10.8-yard punt return average. Sixth-round punter Brad Robbins appeared in all 17 games and placed second among rookies with a 40.3-yard net average. Meanwhile, third-year kicker Evan McPherson made 26 of 31 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts. His 83.9 career percentage on field goals (78 of 93) ranks third in franchise history behind Shayne Graham (86.8) and Randy Bullock (84.9).

In 2021, Anderson was on the staff that guided McPherson to a PFWA All-Rookie campaign. The rookie kicker led the league with nine field goals of 50 or more yards, while also ranking seventh in made PATs (46) and 11th in points scored (130). In the team’s postseason run to Super Bowl LVI, McPherson was a perfect 20-for-20 on placekicks—14 field goals and six extra points—setting a record for the most attempts without a miss in a single postseason in NFL history.

As a player, Anderson was a safety and core special teams performer during his time with the Minnesota Vikings (2009-10), Philadelphia Eagles (2010-13), Indianapolis Colts (2014-15) and Buffalo Bills (2016-17). In 84 career games (seven starts), he totaled 109 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles on defense, along with 58 tackles on special teams. He entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Vikings in 2009.

After his NFL playing career, Anderson spent one season (2019) as a volunteer coach at his alma mater, Butte (Mont.) High School.

At the University of Montana, Anderson was originally a walk-on safety but finished his collegiate career as a four-time All-Big Sky performer—three times as a safety and once as a special teams player. As a senior in 2008, he set a school record with 129 tackles.

Scott Fuchs – Assistant Offensive Line

Scott Fuchs (pronounced like “Books”- FOOKS) has been named Assistant Offensive Line coach. A veteran of 30 college coaching campaigns, this will be his first NFL season.

Fuchs spent the last three years (2021-23) at the University of Kansas, where he coached seven All-Big 12 selections. In 2023, the KU offensive line paved the way for the fourth-best rushing offense in the conference as the Jayhawks ran for a league-leading 31 touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Jayhawks staff, Fuchs spent two years (2019-20) at Buffalo. Under Fuchs, the Bulls were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line unit in the nation.

Fuchs spent five seasons (2014-18) at Wyoming after coaching offensive line at his alma mater, North Dakota State, from 2009-13. He helped the Bison to a 43-2 record and three national titles between 2011 and 2013.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, Fuchs coaches one season at Southern Illinois in 2008. He also coached at Grand Valley State (2007), Nebraska-Omaha (2003-06), Minnesota-Crookston (2000-02), Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1999) and Valley City State (1997-98). The only school he did not coach the offensive line was his one season at Wisconsin-Eau Claire when he coached the defensive line.

As a player in college, Fuchs earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association as a senior guard for North Dakota State.

Steve Donatell – Defensive Assistant

Steve Donatell has been named Defensive Assistant after spending last season in the same role with the Miami Dolphins.

Donatell was part of a defensive staff that helped the Dolphins finish the season with a takeaway in 12 consecutive games, including their postseason contest. No other team had an active streak longer than four games at the end of Wild Card weekend.

Donatell began his NFL coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings. He served as a Defensive Quality Control coach in 2022 under his father, Ed Donatell, who was the Defensive Coordinator for the Vikings.

Prior to his time with the Vikings, Donatell spent three seasons (2019-21) at Stanford as a Defensive Quality Control Analyst.

Donatell began his coaching career in 2018 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he coached outside linebackers. UTC finished second in the Southern Conference and 14th in the FCS in scoring defense, allowing 21.0 points per game. The Mocs were also third in the SoCon in total defense at 362.7 yards allowed per contest.

As a player in college, Donatell was a captain as a senior tight end at Wake Forest and earned ACC Academic All-Conference honors. He finished his college career as a grad transfer with one season at Western Kentucky.