Russell Dean Pees

Russell Dean Pees is one of only eight defensive coordinators in National Football League history to coach in a Super Bowl with two different teams — the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. The 2015 Ravens team ranked No. 8 in total defense, marking the 11th time the unit finished among the league’s top 10 defenses in 13 seasons. Pees has many more impressive coaching statistics, but it may surprise you to find out that his focus wasn’t always on football. “I had a wonderful high school experience,” the 1967 Hardin Northern Local (Hardin) Hardin Northern High School graduate said. “I was fortunate enough to go to a small public school where I could participate in everything.” In high school, he earned nine varsity letters in basketball, football and track and held three school records in track when he graduated. Pees was a class officer all four years and class president his junior year. He also was heavily involved in other extracurricular activities, including concert band, choir and drama. He played baritone in the band and was selected to the All-Ohio State Fair Band as well as the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.  “Because of the music background that my high school provided for me, I have the copyrights to over 36 songs that I have composed on the piano,” Pees said. “Also, because of the athletic background that my high school provided for me, I became a teacher and a coach.” Pees graduated from Bowling Green State University, then became an English teacher and the head football coach at Elmwood Local’s (Wood) Elmwood High School. Six years later, he became the defensive coordinator at the University of Findlay where he helped the team win a national title and two conference championships. He spent a 25 seasons as a college football coach, including stops as an assistant at Miami University, U.S. Naval Academy, University of Toledo, University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University. He was the head coach at Kent State University from 1998 to 2003. As a college coach, Pees’ teams won two Mid-American Conference championships at Miami and Toledo and reached bowl games in four consecutive seasons — three times at Michigan State and once at Notre Dame. In 2004, he became linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. In 2010, he was hired as the Ravens linebackers coach before taking over as defensive coordinator. While in the NFL, he has been a part of seven divisional championships, three AFC championships and three Super Bowls — 2004 and 2007 with the Patriots and 2013 with the Ravens.