Before his stint at Pittsburgh , Coyer was defensive coordinator at Iowa State University for two seasons ( 1995 – 96 ) . That post was preceded by a one-year assignment as defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 1994 . While at Pitt ( 1997 – 99 ) as its defensive coordinator , Coyer directed a defensive unit that showed significant improvement each season , culminating in a 1999 showing that included top-5 rankings in the Big East Conference in all major defensive statistical categories . Two of his standouts , safety Ramon Walker and defensive lineman Demond Gibson , earned All-Big East Conference honors that season . In 1998 , the Panthers ranked third in the Big East in total defense , and over the course of the 1997-98 seasons , the unit amassed 62 sacks , the highest two-season total at Pittsburgh since 1990-91
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Larry Coyer