10 Interesting Facts About Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano

Chuck Pagano is the Head Coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Here are 10 interesting facts about him.

Chuck Pagano who was born on October 2, 1960 in Boulder, Colorado. He is the Head Coach for the Indianapolis Colts and has been coaching in college and in the NFL since 1984.

10 interesting facts about Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano

Facts #1:

Chuck Pagano graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in marketing and played four years as a Strong Safety.

Facts #2:

Chuck Pagano started his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Southern California in 1984. In 1986, he became a graduate assistant at the University of Miami. In 1987 he was hired by Boise State o be their Linebacker Coach. In 1989, East Carolina University hired him to be their Defensive Backs coach. University of Nevada-Las Vegas hired him in 1990 o be their Defensive Backs coach and in 1991, promoted him to Defensive Coordinator. He returned to East Carolina University in 1992 to once again coach their Defensive Backs and Linebackers. Returning to the University of Miami, he took over the coaching of the Special Teams and The Defensive Backs in 1995 and stayed thru the 200 season.

Facts #3:

Chuck Pagano went with Butch Davis to his first job in the NFL as a secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns. A noteworthy part of the 2003 season for Pagano was Cleveland giving up only 13 passing touchdowns tying a franchise record.

Facts #4:

Chuck Pagano's Cleveland Browns defensive secondary in 2001 accounted for 28 of the 33 NFL record on single season team interceptions. One player, Cornerback Anthony Henry had 10 INTs himself alone.

Facts #5:

Chuck Pagano in 2005 was hired by the Oakland Raiders to be their Defensive Backs coach. The 2006 raiders defense was ranked 1^st in defense allowed per game and 3^rd in total defense allowed. In 2007, Chuck returned to the college ranks to become the Defensive Coordinator of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A wise move that gave him the resume to get to the next level in the NFL.

Facts #6:

Chuck Pagano was hired by Rookie Head Coach, John Harbaugh in 2008 to become the secondary coach which he held for three seasons until he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2011. The Baltimore Ravens was dramatically improved in all areas under Pagano. In the run defense, they were ranked 2^nd best in the NFL with 13 takeaways and finished ranked 3^rd best in yards and points allowed. The pass defense improved dramatically going from ranked 21^st to ranked 4^th. They also improved to best in the NFL preventing teams from scoring thru the air.

Facts #7:

Chuck Pagano on January 25, 2012 was named as the Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He took over a team that lost QB Peyton Manning to season ending injury and finished 2-14.

Facts #8:

Chuck Pagano in September 2012 of his rookie season being a head coach was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. He took an indefinite leave of absence undergoing chemotherapy and in November of 2012, his doctors declared him in remission.

Facts #9:

Chuck Pagano had a charity named after him called “CHUCKSTRONG.” 24 of the Colts players and two cheerleaders shaved their heads bald in solidarity and the $1.7 million raised to date goes to the Indianapolis University Simon Cancer Center. To pledge money, feel free to visit: ChuckStrong

Facts #10:

Chuck Pagano has had back to back 11-5 seasons, finishing 2^nd and 1^st in the AFC South. He has compiled a 1-2 playoff record losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 Wild-Card game and losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional game.

Sources: Indianapolis Colts Team page, Pro Football Reference, Go Heels, Coaching Roots, USA Today, Sports NOLA