Lou Anarumo

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
12 87-106-1 45.10% 5-3 62.50%

Biography

Career Summary

Lou Anarumo is a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) and has been the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019. During this time period, the Bengals compiled a 37-44-1 record.

Personal Information

Anarumo was born on Thursday, August 18, 1966.

Table of Contents

High School Coaching Career

Susan E. Wagner High School

Lou Anarumo began his coaching career at Susan E. Wagner High school (his former high school) in the 1980's while a student at nearby Wagner College. While he was coaching at the school, he served as the head coach for the junior varsity squad.

College Coaching Career

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

After graduation, Anarumo began his college career with a short stint with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for the 1989 season as a part-time running backs coach. During his brief stint with the academy, Anarumo coached with Joe Philbin (offensive line coach) who later hired Anarumo for his first NFL position.

Wagner College

After his brief stint with the Merchant Marine Academy, Anarumo began a six months stint to start 1990 where he worked as a part-time running backs coach for his alma mater, Wagner College.

Syracuse University

After his two short stints at local colleges, Anarumo was hired by Syracuse University and head coach Paul Pasqualoni as a graduate assistant for the 1990 and 1991 seasons. He worked as assistant defensive backs coach under Phil Elmassian and helped with film breakdown and organized the scout team for the Orange.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Second Stint

After his graduate assistantship was completed, Anarumo returned to the Merchant Marine Academy in 1992 for three seasons as the school's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In addition to his coaching duties, he served as the admissions liaison to the athletics department.

Harvard University

After another three seasons with the Merchant Marine Academy, Anarumo was hired by Harvard as the school's assistant head coach from 1995-2000, working closely with the defensive backs and special teams. While coaching at Harvard, Anarumo again coached with Philbin for two seasons. During his six seasons with Harvard, 1997 was the schools best in which the team finished 9-1 with a perfect 7-0 in league play.

Marshall University

After his stint with Harvard, Anarumo moved to Marshall University as the team's new defensive backs coach from 2001-2003. In 2002 the Thundering Herd was the MAC Championship and finished ranked #24 in the nation behind a defense that finished the season ranked sixth in the nation in passing yards allowed. In 2003, his final season with the school, Anarumo added special teams coordinator to his duties with the team.

Purdue University

In 2004, Anarumo was hired by Purdue to serve as the defensive backs coach (replacing Phil Elmassian whom he previously coached for at Syracuse). During his eight years (2004-2011), the Purdue secondary flourished. In 2006, safety Bernard Pollard was selected in the NFL in the second round, the highest Boilermaker selected since 1988. In 2009, both cornerbacks were named to the All-Big Ten second team while a safety was an honorable mention. In 2010, Anarumo had to coach four new starters and had great success with true freshman Ricardo Allen who was named to the Freshman All-America team (in addition to the All-Big Ten second team).

NFL Coaching Career

Miami Dolphins

In 2012, Anarumo entered the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins under new head coach Joe Philbin. In addition to the two previous stints that Anarumo and Philbin coached together, Anarumo also coached with new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle at Syracuse when Anarumo was a graduate assistant coach. By several metrics, the secondary improved under Anarumo. From 2012 through 2015, the defense rose from 27th in passing yards allowed to 16th in 2013, peaking at 6th in 2014. In addition to limiting passing yards against the team, the increased their interceptions from 10 in 2012 to 18 in 2013. However, team struggles led to Philbin and Coyle being fired in the 2015 season which saw Anarumo promoted to defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2023 Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator 9-8-0 0-0
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator 12-4-0 2-1
2021 Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator 10-7-0 3-1
2020 Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator 4-11-1 0-0
2019 Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator 2-14-0 0-0
2018 New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2017 Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2016 Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach 10-6-0 0-1
2015 Miami Dolphins Interim Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2014 Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach 8-8-0 0-0
2013 Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach 8-8-0 0-0
2012 Miami Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach 7-9-0 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts