Bears hire Paul Pasqualoni to coach defensive line

The Chicago Bears have announced two additions to their coaching staff. Reggie Herring will join the team as linebackers coach, with Paul Pasqualoni taking over as defensive line coach.

Pasqualoni was fired by the University of Connecticut in September, after his three seasons saw the team compile a 10-18 record. He had spent 14 years as the head coach of Syracuse before joining the Dallas Cowboys as tight ends coach and then the Miami Dolphins as defensive line coach.

Herring, who’s arrival was first reported on Wednesday, was most recently on the staff of the Houston Texans as linebackers coach, and had filled the same position for the Cowboys in the past.

With Herring and Pasqualoni on board, the Bears have filled the two openings on their defensive staff heading into Mel Tucker’s second season as the coordinator. They’ll be working to turn around a defense that finished near the bottom of the league in both points and yards allowed and they may be doing it without impending free agents Henry Melton and Charles Tillman.