Byner Out As Titans RB Coach, Pola Hired

By Jonathan Hutton January 25, 2010

The Titans have hired Kennedy Pola as the running backs coach for the team, effectively ending the term of assistant coach Earnest Byner after two seasons in the position.

''I want to thank Earnest for his time with us and his contributions,'' Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. ''I also want to wish him well in his future endeavors.''

Byner spent the past two seasons grooming Chris Johnson, who led the NFL in rushing this past season, becoming just the sixth player to surpass the 2,000-yard mark. Now that job has been handed to 18-year coaching veteran Kennedy Pola, who spent the past five seasons coaching pro-bowler Maurice Jones-Drew in Jacksonville. This past season, Jones-Drew finished fourth in the NFL in rushing (1,391 yards), fourth in scrimmage yards (1,765) and second in total touchdowns scored (16).

Fisher and Pola have a friendship together that dates back to their ties at the University of Southern California.

Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Pola spent four seasons at his alma mater the University of Southern California as the running back coach (2000, 2002-03) and special teams coordinator (2001-2003). He began his college coaching career at UCLA (graduate assistant, 1992-93), worked at San Diego St. (running backs 1994-96, linebackers 1999) and Colorado (running backs 1997-98). Pola played four years at USC (1982-85) – three years as a fullback and his freshman year as a linebacker.

''Kennedy is fine coach and I am very much looking forward to working with him to see the contributions that he can add to our staff,'' Fisher said. ''He did a great job with the running backs down in Jacksonville and he had an instrumental role in their run game.''

Byner originally joined the Titans staff after he worked four seasons with the Washington Redskins (2004-07) in the same capacity. In each of the four years in Washington, a Redskin running back registered at least 1,100 rushing yards, including Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis.

During his NFL career, Byner earned a number of honors, including being named one of the 70 all-time greatest Redskins in 2002, induction into the Ravens Ring of Honor, the Ed Block Courage Award in 1986, the 1996 NFL Extra Effort Award, the NFLPA Unsung Hero Award in 1997 and the Ravens Man of the Year Award in 1997.