Ivan Fears
Encyclopedia
Ivan Fears is the current American football
running back
s coach
for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
.
, and was a letterman in football. In football, he was twice named the school's "Outstanding Player of the Year", and as a senior, was also an All-State selection.
s coach. From 1978 to 1979 he served as the team's quarterback
s coach before moving to Syracuse University
in 1980 in the same capacity.
. He spent two seasons with the Patriots before moving on to coach the Chicago Bears
' wide receivers starting in 1993
, but rejoined New England in 1999
as their wide receivers coach. In 2002
, he was re-assigned to running backs coach.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
High school
Fears attended John Yeates High School in Suffolk, VirginiaSuffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, and was a letterman in football. In football, he was twice named the school's "Outstanding Player of the Year", and as a senior, was also an All-State selection.
College
Fears attended The College of William & Mary, where he played football as a running back from 1973 to 1975.College
Fears began his coaching career in 1976 with his alma mater, William & Mary as a graduate assistant and in 1977 was the team's wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s coach. From 1978 to 1979 he served as the team's quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s coach before moving to Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1980 in the same capacity.
NFL
Fears joined the Patriots' coaching staff in 19911991 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1991 season with a record of six wins and ten losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
. He spent two seasons with the Patriots before moving on to coach the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' wide receivers starting in 1993
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, but rejoined New England in 1999
1999 New England Patriots season
The 1999 New England Patriots season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League and 40th season overall. They finished with a 8–8 record, tied for fourth place in the division, and out of the playoffs....
as their wide receivers coach. In 2002
2002 New England Patriots season
The 2002 New England Patriots season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League and 43rd season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth....
, he was re-assigned to running backs coach.