The Indianapolis Colts have hired Nate Ollie as defensive line coach. Learn more about the latest addition to Indy’s coaching staff.
The Indianapolis Colts have experienced significant turnover on the defensive coaching staff. After former defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, accepted the Chicago Bears head coaching job, Gus Bradley was named the Colts new coordinator.
Bradley has since hired Ron Milus as the secondary coach, Richard Smith as the linebackers coach, and former players, Cato June and Mike Mitchell, as assistant position coaches.
Everyone was awaiting the hiring of a defensive line coach, because Indy’s defensive line has struggled in recent years and many feel that getting the coach right could make all the difference.
The wait is over and it has been reported that the Colts are hiring Nate Ollie to coach the defensive line.
Sources: Colts hiring defensive line coach Nate Ollie, former Jets assistant defensive line coach, as replacement for Brian Baker @PFN365 #Colts https://t.co/yaPOXmXklF
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 25, 2022
Nate Ollie named Colts defensive line coach
Ollie isn’t the longtime renowned coach that many were probably expecting to takeover Indy’s defensive line. Instead, he’s a 30-year-old, that is pretty early in his coaching career.
This is Ollie’s first NFL coaching job as a lead position coach. Prior to Indianapolis, Ollie spent last season with the New York Jets as the assistant defensive line coach.
Before that, he coached two years with the Philadelphia Eagles as an assistant defensive line coach. Ollie’s coaching career started as a graduate assistant with the University of Tennessee, before moving on to Eastern Kentucky in 2018 as the defensive line coach.
Now his journey has led him to the Colts where he has some familiarity.
Nate Ollie has familiarity with Colts defense and Indiana
Ollie coached last season with the Jets under head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh coached under Gus Bradley early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As a result, Saleh has similar defensive philosophies to Gus Bradley. The comfort and familiarity in the system will help Ollie hit the ground running coaching the Colts defensive line.
Ollie also gets to return to the state where he starred as a collegiate defensive lineman. Raised in Chicago, Ollie played college football at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana, graduating in 2014.
In four seasons as an interior defensive lineman, Ollie recorded 13.5 sacks, 178 tackles, 28 for a loss, and one forced fumble.
He now joins the Colts and faces the challenge of getting Indy’s defensive line back to the dominant unit they once were.
Mapping out the perfect offseason for the Colts
Full around analysis on the Indianapolis Colts projected perfect Free Agency signings, scheme fits, and a roster breakdown for moves on the offensive line