Ravens Hire Offensive Line Coach

The Baltimore Ravens hired Joe D'Alessandrisas the team's offensive line coach, it was announced Thursday by head coach John Harbaugh.

"We had a number of very good, qualified candidates for this position, and we have the right fit with Joe," Harbaugh stated. "He's a hard-nosed, experienced coach, who is an excellent teacher. He'll be able to work with our veterans to get the best out of them, and he'll take our young linemen to higher levels."

D'Alessandris enters his 40th season of coaching, including his ninth in the NFL, with the 2017 campaign marking his 38th overall season guiding an offensive line.

A longtime college coach who also spent time in the Canadian Football League and World League, he entered the NFL ranks in 2008 with the Kansas City Chiefs. After working in Kansas City for two seasons, D'Alessandris coached for the Buffalo Bills (2010-12) and San Diego Chargers (2013-15).

"I feel very privileged and honored to come work with such a tremendous organization," D'Alessandris said. "I very much look forward to the great opportunity of working for John Harbaugh and [general manager/executive vice president] Ozzie Newsome on an incredible staff."

In D'Alessandris' first season (2013) with the Chargers, San Diego advanced to the Divisional Playoff round and allowed the NFL's fourth-fewest sacks (30, tied with Chicago). In 12 of the team's 16 regular season games that season, his offensive line helped the Chargers produce at least 100 rushing yards, including a 186-yard output in the Week 17 win vs. Kansas City that clinched a playoff berth. During his time with San Diego (from 2013-15), D'Alessandris was part of an offensive attack that produced the NFL's seventh-most yards per game (368.9).

While with the Chiefs in 2009, D'Alessandris guided G Brian Waters to his first-career Pro Bowl. That season, RB Jamaal Charles rushed for 1,120 yards (his first 1,000-yard season) and seven touchdowns. Coaching for Buffalo in 2011, D'Alessandris helped the Bills permit an NFL-low 23 sacks, a figure that marks the third fewest in team history during a 16-game season.

A native of Aliquippa, Pa., D'Alessandris attended Western Carolina University, where he earned four letters in football and started three years as a guard. Voted a team captain and MVP his senior season, D'Alessandris then graduated in 1977 and went on to earn a master's degree from WCU two years later. While working toward his master's, he began coaching as a graduate assistant from 1977-78. Following that time, he earned his first full-time job as the offensive line coach at Livingston University in 1979.

D'Alessandris and his wife, Toni, have three children: Kelly, Emily and Anna. Anna is married to Allen Thomas, and they have a son, Maxwell. In 2010, D'Alessandris was inducted into the Beaver County (Pa.) Sports Hall of Fame and the Center High School Hall of Fame.

Last name pronounced:dell-ah-SAHN-dress

JOE D'ALESSANDRIS COACHING BACKGROUND