Browns confirm hiring of four assistant coaches

Pat Shurmur added four assistants to his Cleveland Browns staff on Monday, and most likely will go without an offensive coordinator in 2011, a league source said.

Mark Whipple

Shurmur hired Mark Whipple (quarterbacks), Mike Wilson (receivers), Bill Davis (linebackers) and Dwaine Board (defensive line). The four have strong ties to either Shurmur, Browns President Mike Holmgren or General Manager Tom Heckert. 

With Whipple, Shurmur might decide to go without an offensive coordinator in 2011. He's already said he'll call his own plays this season. Only one team, Bill Belichick's Patriots, did so in 2010. The Cardinals had two, one for the passing game and one for the running game. 

Bill Davis

The hiring of Davis represents a homecoming. He was born in Youngstown, attended Berea High School and his father, Bill Davis, spent six years with the Browns (1981-86) as director and then vice president of player personnel.

Fired as defensive coordinator of the Cardinals this month, Davis was a defensive quality coach for the Browns under Chris Palmer in the 1999 expansion season. He was also a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1990-91 when Shurmur was an assistant. 

Davis has 19 years' NFL experience with eight teams. He was coordinator of the 49ers in 2005-06. In 2009, Davis' first season with the Cardinals, the unit allowed 325 points, fifth-best in the NFL. The Cardinals finished 29th in defense in 2010. 
The two other assistants, Board and Wilson, played for the 49ers when Holmgren was an assistant there. Board also served as the Seahawks defensive line coach under Holmgren from 2003-08. Board's experience is in the 4-3 defense, which the Browns are expected to run under new coordinator Dick Jauron. 

Dwaine Board

Board played 10 NFL seasons, winning two Super Bowls with the 49ers and earning Super Bowl XIX Defensive Player of the Game honors. During 20 years as a player and coach, his teams have made 18 playoff appearances, claimed 15 division titles, advanced to six Super Bowls and won five. 

Mike Wilson

Wilson brings 13 years coaching experience at the college and pro levels. He played 10 seasons with the 49ers, where he won four Super Bowls. Wilson coached the receivers for two years with the Raiders and had three seasons as tight ends and receivers coach in Arizona.