Bears hire defensive assistant from Louisville

The fallout from a historically bad defense last season continued Saturday with Bears officials announcing the firing of assistant defensive line coach Michael Sinclair and naming Clint Hurtt as his replacement.

On Jan. 12, team officials announced in a statement that defensive line coach Mike Phair and linebackers coach Tim Tibesar would not be back and that, “The remainder of the coaching staff will remain in place for 2014.”

But two days after naming Paul Pasqualoni as their new defensive line coach and Reggie Herring as linebackers coach, Hurtt was tabbed to replace Sinclair.

The Bears’ 2013 defense allowed the most points (478), total yards (6,313) and rushing yards (2,583) in franchise history. Coordinator Mel Tucker’s defense finished last in the NFL in yards per play, rushing yards (161.4) and average gain per rushing play allowed (5.35 yards). It was 30th in total yards allowed, tied for 30th in points allowed, 27th in average gain allowed per pass, 26th in sack percentage and 25th in third-down efficiency.

While Hurtt has not coached in the NFL, he 13 years of experience at the college level, including the last four as defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Louisville. Last season the Cardinals’ defense was No. 1 in the nation in sacks (3.31 per game), total defense (251.5 yards per game), rushing defense (80.7 yards per game), second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), fifth in passing defense (170.8 yards per game) and sixth in tackles for losses with 7.8 per game.

Hurtt was a three-year letterman at Miami (Fla.) and was the Hurricanes’ defensive line coach from 2006-09. He was also an assistant at Miami from 2001-04.

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