Paul Alexander is in his 18th straight season as Bengals offensive line coach, and he is also the team’s assistant head coach, having added that designation in 2003, when Marvin Lewis took over as head coach. He has 19 seasons overall with Cincinnati, having opened his tenure with one season as tight ends coach.
Paul Alexander is in his 18th straight season as Bengals offensive line coach, and he is also the team’s assistant head coach, having added that designation in 2003, when Marvin Lewis took over as head coach. He has 19 seasons overall with Cincinnati, having opened his tenure with one season as tight ends coach.
Alexander’s line led a pass protection effort in 2011 that saw the Bengals finish tied for fourth in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed (25). The line found some stability with three young veterans—LT Andrew Whitworth, C Kyle Cook and LG Nate Livings—all starting every game. And RT Andre Smith, the Bengals first-round draft choice in 2009, hit his stride after being held back by injuries in his first two seasons.
In 2010, the Bengals pass protection was also in the league’s top 10, ranking tied for eighth with 28 sacks allowed. In 2009, the line strongly supported a 10-6 Bengals run to the AFC North Division title, supporting eight rushing games of 100 or more yards by individual backs, breaking the franchise record of six. In each of the last three seasons, RB Cedric Benson topped the 1000-yard rushing mark.
Twice with Alexander’s lines, the Bengals have set new franchise records for fewest sacks allowed. Cincinnati posted a new best in the division championship season of 2005 with 21 sacks allowed, and that mark was bettered in 2007, with only 17 sacks by opposing defenses.
On Oct. 22, 2000, Alexander’s line shared the glory of a 278-yard rushing game by RB Corey Dillon vs. Denver. It was an NFL record at the time, and it still stands fourth in league annals entering the 2011 season. Cincinnati's 407 total rushing yards in that game ranks as the fifth-highest single-game total in NFL history, and as the most rushing yards in 60 years. The last team to top it was the New York Giants, who gained 423 against Baltimore in 1950.
Alexander began his NFL coaching career in 1992 as tight ends coach of the N.Y. Jets, under head coach Bruce Coslet. When Coslet moved to Cincinnati as offensive coordinator in 1994, Alexander joined him, in the role of Bengals tight ends coach.
But Alexander’s first love in football was always the offensive line. He was afforded the chance to take over that job for the Bengals in 1995, and has held it ever since.
Alexander is a product of distinguished teachers. He coached under Joe Paterno at Penn State and Bo Schembechler at Michigan. He also was offensive line coach at Central Michigan, a school whose coach, Herb Deromedi, ranks with Paterno and Schembechler among the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history.
Alexander’s birthdate is Feb. 12, 1960. He’s a native of Rochester, N.Y., where he attended Cardinal Mooney High School. He was an Academic All-American at Cortland State (N.Y.) and holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Penn State. Off the field, he is actively involved with the Boy Scouts and high school linemen camps.
Alexander is also a pianist, and in 2011 he authored a well-received book – “Perform” – linking the mentality and training techniques of top athletes and musicians.
He and his wife, Kathy, have three daughters — Mary Beth, Carolyn and Emily.
PLAYING AND COACHING HISTORY - 1979-81: Played offensive tackle at Cortland State. 1982-84: Graduate assistant, Penn State. 1985-86: Graduate assistant, Michigan. 1987-91: Assistant coach (AC), Central Michigan. 1992-93: AC, New York Jets. 1994-2002: AC, Bengals. 2003-present: Assistant head coach/offensive line coach, Bengals.
