Dick LeBeau not thinking about retirement

[Steelboy84]

By Nate Davis, USA TODAY

PITTSBURGH -- If revered Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, 73, is pondering retirement, he's not exactly admitting it.

Asked about the possibility Thursday, he grinned.

"Well, I have a standard retort to that. Hell, I'm not even the oldest coach in the state of Pennsylvania. There's a guy up there at Penn State that's 10 years older than me," LeBeau said, referring to the Nittany Lions' Joe Paterno, 84. "I feel like the baby."

Since LeBeau -- who was 12-33 as the Cincinnati Bengals head coach from 2000-2002 -- returned to run the Pittsburgh D in 2004, it has ranked first overall three times (measured as fewest yards allowed) while allowing the fewest points three times. In those seven years, statistically the Steelers have been in the top five six times and were ninth in the other one.

"Someone has to want you to coach. We have been blessed from that standpoint. We'll see how that goes. I don't think these guys had too bad of a year defensively," said LeBeau after the Steelers permitted the fewest points and second-fewest yards in 2010.

Their run defense was also No. 1, ceding just over 1,000 yards on the ground all season.

"We still have some defense to play. If somebody wants me to work, I think maybe we can still get them in and out of the huddle a couple times. But I am not looking too far down the road. As a friend once said, 'We're not buying any green bananas, baby, ' " LeBeau smiled.

He deflected praise of his success onto his players. "They make me look like a pretty good coach sometimes," said LeBeau, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August on the strength of his playing career with the Detroit Lions, but whose contributions as a coach caused former Steelers defensive back and fellow Hall of Famer Rod Woodson to spark a campaign for him.

"I've said consistently they're the best p.r. department I've got, and they got me in there," LeBeau said.

"Makes you think you made the right career choice."


http://content.usatoday.com/communit...ent-question/1

[SCMom]

I hope he sticks around a little longer too....but not after he goes senile like Paterno has.

[Steelboy84]

Originally Posted by SCMom

I hope he sticks around a little longer too....but not after he goes senile like Paterno has.

Lol, when he does retire, I hope he stays on as a consultant or get a front office position. I like keeping older coaches around, especially when they're successful.

And hopefully the next coordinator is "in-house" who knows the system.

I was actually worried when Tomlin took over because I thought he might want to switch to the 4-3 cover 2 BS.

But I like his style so far: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[steeltheone]

He is like a 55 year old! Thats why they should let Butler go if he wants. I want DL around for 10 more!

[SeinfeldNut]

Originally Posted by Steelboy84

Lol, when he does retire, I hope he stays on as a consultant or get a front office position. I like keeping older coaches around, especially when they're successful.

And hopefully the next coordinator is "in-house" who knows the system.

I was actually worried when Tomlin took over because I thought he might want to switch to the 4-3 cover 2 BS.

But I like his style so far: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I agree, keeping successful coaches in some capacity within the organization is a major plus. Hopefully someone under him has been learning the defensive system and can be ready to eventually be elevated to the new D-coordinator, keep the success on defense going.