MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University head football coach Don Patterson has announced the hiring of Richard Solomon as defensive backs coach. Solomon brings 15 years of collegiate coaching experience and 10 years of NFL experience to the Leatherneck coaching staff, having most recently spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. ?We couldn?t be more pleased to hire someone with Richie?s knowledge and experience in coaching,? Patterson said. ?It speaks well of the program and the University that we can attract a coach who has proven himself in both the collegiate and professional ranks. He is a true credit to the coaching profession.?In his 15 years in the NFL, his clubs made the playoffs 10 times, had 13 consecutive non-losing seasons (1988-2000), won six division titles and one Super Bowl title, while compiling an impressive 146-93 (.611) regular season record.While in Minnesota from 1992-2001, Solomon served in several capacities, including assistant head coach, defensive backs coach, linebacker coach and Director of Pro Personnel. He was also a coach of both the 1999 and 2001 NFC Pro Bowl Teams. Prior to his service with the Vikings, Solomon was a personnel scout for the New York Giants from 1987-91. During his five years there, the Giants posted a 49-30 record (.620), won two NFC East titles and Super Bowl XXV.Solomon?s collegiate experience includes positions as the defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, as well as stops at Syracuse, Iowa, Southern Illinois and Dubuque.As assistant coach at Illinois from 1980-86, Solomon helped turn around a program that hadn?t posted back-to-back winning seasons or appeared in a bowl since the early 1960s. Behind Solomon?s defense, the Fighting Illini put together five consecutive winning campaigns for the first time since the late 1920s. In 1983, Illinois swept through the Big Ten with a 9-0 record to become the only Illinois team ever to beat all nine conference opponents in the same season. Solomon helped lead the Fighting Illini to the 1982 Liberty Bowl, the 1984 Rose Bowl and the 1985 Peach Bowl.As wide receivers coach at Syracuse, Solomon guided Art Monk to All-America honors in 1979. Monk went on to become the NFL?s all-time leading receiver at the time of his retirement. Solomon began his coaching career tutoring defensive backs at Dubuque University in 1973. He also worked as defensive coordinator for the Spartans before departing to coach the secondary at Southern Illinois in 1976, and from 1977-78 he worked with wide receivers at Iowa.A three-year letterman at Iowa, from 1969-71, Solomon started at defensive back his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes. Solomon, who also earned two collegiate letters in track, played running back as a sophomore, and earned a degree in physical education. A native of New Orleans, L.A., Solomon was an all-state selection and three-time all-league pick at St. Augustine High School. He has three children - Alesia, 36, Brandon, 27, and Ryann, 22.Solomon replaces Vernon Dean who took a position coaching defensive backs with the NFL?s Kansas City Chiefs. - western illinois football -