Jim Washburn enters his eighth season as the Titans defensive line coach. Over the last seven seasons, the Titans rank third in the AFC in sacks (292) and have set the team record for sacks twice during that period (1999 and 2000).

Known for his fiery demeanor, Washburn has consistently received a great deal of effort and production from his positional group that has gone through a number of personnel changes each of his eight years with the organization.

Over the years, Washburn has demonstrated the ability to develop talent, molding players like Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse, John Thornton, Robaire Smith, Carlos Hall and Albert Haynesworth into top-flight producers. Last year, veteran free agent Kyle Vanden Bosch joined the Titans in need of a second chance after spending an injury-filled four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals where he totaled 5.0 sacks. Under the coaching of Washburn and finally healthy, Vanden Bosch became a dominant defensive force for the Titans. He totaled a team-high 12.5 sacks, which ranked second in the AFC and recorded 100 tackles.

In 2004, Washburn had five rookie defensive linemen (LaBoy, Odom, Schobel, Starks and Clauss) in his group. DT Randy Starks ranked first among rookie NFL defensive tackles with 4.5 sacks and as a group the Titan rookie defensive linemen collected 162 tackles and 10 sacks. These young players will be counted upon heavily going into their third season. The average age of the returning defensive linemen on the roster is 24.3 years.

Washburn joined the University of Houston after four seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas from 1994-97. A 30-year coaching veteran, Washburn went to Arkansas after coaching the Charlotte Rage of Arena Football in 1993. He also served as defensive coordinator for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football in 1992 after a year as their defensive line coach in 1991. Washburn was head coach of the Charlotte Barons, leading the team to a national championship.

Before entering the professional coaching ranks, Washburn was the defensive line coach at South Carolina from 1983-88 and at New Mexico from 1980-82. He began his coaching career as graduate assistant at Southern Methodist University in 1976. He then spent two seasons (1977-78) as defensive coordinator at Lees McRae Junior College (worked under Titans scout Cole Proctor, who was the head coach) before moving to Livingston University as defensive coordinator in 1979.

A native of Shelby, N.C. (12/2/50), Washburn was a four-year letterman at Gardner Webb College, where he earned his bachelor’s in physical education in 1973. He added his master’s degree from North Carolina A&T in 1975. Washburn and his wife, Sandy, have three children, Jessica, Brady, Jeremiah, daughters-in-law Susan and Ashley and four grandchildren, Allison Grace, Luke, Drew and Avery Jane.