Click here to view Joe Lombardi's bio on the Detroit Lions website.

DETROIT, Mich. - Former Mercyhurst offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who was on the Laker football staff from 2002-2005, was named the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League last month.

Lombardi has spent the last eight seasons coaching in the NFL with stops in Atlanta as a defensive assistant in 2006 and in New Orleans from 2007-2013. He began his tenure with the Saints as an offensive assistant before earning the job as quarterbacks coach in 2009. He mentored eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees to a record-breaking season in 2011 as the quarterback passed for 5,476 yards to break the NFL-record for single-season passing yards (5,084) set by Dan Marino in 1984. Brees' record was broken this season by the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning.

He helped the Saints to the team's first-ever Super Bowl victory in his first year as quarterbacks coach in 2009 as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV.

Prior to coaching in the National Football League, Lombardi had previous college coaching experience includes Dayton (1996-98), Virginia Military Institute (1999), Bucknell (2000), and Mercyhurst (2002-05). He also coached with the former XFL's New York/New Jersey Hitmen in 2001.

The grandson of legendary NFL coach, Vince Lombardi, the former Laker assistant and current Mercyhurst University head coach Marty Schaetzle recently spoke with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about the hard work and dedication - not the name - it took to get to his current position.

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