Sport(s) | Football |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born |
Springfield, Massachusetts |
September 8, 1960
Alma mater | Naval Academy |
Playing career | |
1981–1982 | Navy |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1983 | Navy (GA) |
1986–1987 | Navy (WR/TE/ST) |
1988 | Georgia Tech (TE) |
1889–1991 | Georgia Tech (ILB) |
1992–1993 | Maine (DC/LB) |
1994–1995 | Cleveland Browns (LB/QC) |
1996–1997 | Indianapolis Colts (LB) |
1998–1999 | Oakland Raiders (DB) |
2000–2003 | Oakland Raiders (DC) |
2004 | Cincinnati Bengals (DA) |
2005–2007 | Cincinnati Bengals (DC) |
2009 | Florida Tuskers (LB) |
2010 | Florida Tuskers (DC) |
2011 | Oakland Raiders (DC) |
2012 | Sacramento Mountain Lions (DC) |
2013–2014 | USF (DC) |
2015 | UCF (DC/LB) |
Charles E. Bresnahan (pronounced "BREZ-nuh-han"; born September 8, 1960) is an American football coach and former player. He was the defensive coordinator at the University of South Florida (USF), a position he held from January 2013 to December 2014. Bresnahan has also served in the same capacity for the University of Central Florida and Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).
He began his coaching career at the Navy under Elliott Uzelac in 1986. He was later an assistant coach for the 1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team that won the UPI National Championship under head coach Bobby Ross. After he was the defensive coordinator for the Maine Black Bears from 1992 to 1993, he spent four seasons as the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was the Oakland Raiders' defensive backs coach from 1998 to 1999 before he was promoted to defensive coordinator and spent 2000 to 2003 in the role.
Bresnahan joined the Cincinnati Bengals' coaching staff in 2004 as a defensive assistant coach, and was promoted to defensive coordinator on January 9, 2005. He was fired on January 2, 2008, after the team went 7–9 in the regular season. During Bresnahan's tenure, the Bengals ranked 28th, 30th, and 25th in yards allowed, out of 32 teams. He spent 2009 and 2010 as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their defensive coordinator in 2011, but was not retained following the season. Bresnahan spent the 2012 season with the Sacramento Mountain Lions; he later sued the team for unpaid salary.