Kirk Olivadotti, the longest tenured member of the Washington Redskins’ coaching staff, has been named inside linebackers coach at the University of Georgia according to an announcement Friday by UGA head coach Mark Richt.
Olivadotti just completed his 11th season with the Redskins. He served as a defensive assistant in 2010 after spending the previous three years (2007-09) as Washington’s linebackers coach.
“In hiring an assistant, we look for someone who first is at the top level in football knowledge and competency,” said Richt. “Then we want someone who is a teacher of the game, be an example for young men, and can serve as a mentor for our student-athletes. We found all those qualities in Kirk.”
“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to work with Coach Richt, his coaching staff and players,” said Olivadotti. “I want to thank him for his confidence in what I can hopefully bring to the program. I also want to thank Mr. Snyder and the Redskins for the last 11 years in Washington and the NFL.”
Olivadotti has been a member of Redskins coaching staffs that have guided Washington to finish among the top 10 in overall defense in eight of his 11 seasons with the club.
In 2009, Olivadotti tutored a pair of linebackers to their first Pro Bowl: 12-year veteran London Fletcher and rookie Brian Orakpo.
Fletcher led the Redskins in tackles with 172 and added two sacks, one interception, and 10 passes defended. He eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the 11th consecutive season.
Orakpo became the first Redskins defensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger. He finished with 60 tackles, 11 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended. He led all rookies in sacks and set the Redskins’ franchise rookie record, surpassing the previous mark of six by Dean Hamel (1985) and Andre Collins (1990).
In 2008, Olivadotti’s linebackers played a pivotal role in Washington ranking fourth overall in yards allowed per game (288.8), sixth overall in points allowed per game (18.5) and eighth overall in rushing yards allowed per game (95.4 yards).
The previous year, in Olivadotti’s first season as linebackers coach, the Redskins finished eighth in the NFL in overall defense (305.3 yards per game) and fourth in the league in overall rush defense (91.3 yards per game).
Throughout his NFL coaching career, Olivadotti has worked with some of the best NFL defensive coaches including Ray Rhodes, Marvin Lewis, Gregg Williams and Greg Blache.
Olivadotti began his NFL coaching career with the Redskins in 2000 as a defensive quality control coach. He served in that role for four seasons and also helped coach the defensivebacks. He continued as quality control coach in 2004, but he took on a role assisting Danny Smith and the Redskins’ special teams unit. In 2006, Olivadotti’s role expanded to working with Blache and the Redskins’ defensive line.
Olivadotti began his coaching career on the college level, working with wide receivers and tight ends at Maine Maritime for one season (1997). He moved to Indiana State as an assistant coach for two years (1998-99) before making the transition to Washington and the NFL.
Olivadotti was a four-year letter winner as a wide receiver at Purdue from 1993-96. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in education and his Master’s degree in education administration, both from Purdue.
He is the son of Tom Olivadotti, a long-time defensive coach in the NFL with Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota, New York Giants and Houston. Olivadotti and his wife Keely have a daughter, Kasyn, and a son, Kruz. The family resides in Ashburn, Va.
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