Andre Curtis enters second season as assistant secondary coach for the Saints.
Curtis will work alongside secondary coach Wesley McGriff in 2013 in helping the defensive backfield transition to a 3-4 alignment. They will work with returning starters in cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson and safeties Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins, in addition to free agent cornerback pickup Keenan Lewis and first round draft pick safety Kenny Vaccaro. Curtis is an outstanding teacher who is well-versed in defending passing schemes through seven years of NFL coaching experience. The Saints increased their interception total from nine in 2011 to 15 in 2012, with four being returned for touchdowns, tied for the third-highest total in club history.
Andre Curtis enters second season as assistant secondary coach for the Saints.
Curtis will work alongside secondary coach Wesley McGriff in 2013 in helping the defensive backfield transition to a 3-4 alignment. They will work with returning starters in cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson and safeties Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins, in addition to free agent cornerback pickup Keenan Lewis and first round draft pick safety Kenny Vaccaro. Curtis is an outstanding teacher who is well-versed in defending passing schemes through seven years of NFL coaching experience. The Saints increased their interception total from nine in 2011 to 15 in 2012, with four being returned for touchdowns, tied for the third-highest total in club history.
Curtis came to New Orleans after serving as the St. Louis Rams’ defensive backs/safeties coach from 2009-11. Curtis helped oversee a secondary that progressively improved during his three seasons. In 2011, the Rams finished seventh in the NFL in pass defense (206.7 ypg.). In 2010, the Rams finished seventh in the NFL in opponent completion percentage (57.5) and ninth in opponent passer rating (80.4). Curtis came to St. Louis after three seasons with the New York Giants as defensive quality control coach. The Giants ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense in 2007 and fifth in 2008.
Curtis was defensive ends coach at Georgia Southern University from 2004-05. Curtis coached at his alma mater, Virginia Military Institute, from 2000-03. He coached outside linebackers from 2000-01 and linebackers from 2002-03. While on the VMI staff, Curtis worked in the New York Jets’ training camp in 2002 and in 2003 was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a part of the NFL’s minority internship program.
Curtis was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at VMI from 1996-99. He started 31 consecutive games and finished his career with 354 tackles. Curtis earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors in 1998.
Curtis is a native of Beaverdam, Va. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from VMI and is married to Erica with two sons, Andre Jr. and Andrew.
PLAYING CAREER: VMI, 1996-99.
COACHING CAREER: VMI, 2000-03; Georgia Southern, 2004-05;
New York Giants, 2006-08; St. Louis Rams, 2009-11; New Orleans Saints, 2012-.
