NEW ORLEANS -- Steve Sidwell, defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts last year, was named the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator after the position became available over the weekend.
Saints coach Jim Mora's announcement Monday followed the team's weekend report that Vince Tobin, formerly with Mora's Baltimore team in the USFL, had resigned and the position was open.
Tobin denied Monday he had ever signed a contract with the Saints.
Tobin accepted the job of defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears, a position that was vacated last week by Buddy Ryan, architect of Chicago's Super Bowl-winning defense. Ryan accepted the head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sidwell, 41, worked with Mora between 1968-1973 as defensive assistant for the University of Colorado.
He has coached at the universities of Nevada-Las Vegas and at Southern Methodist University between 1974-1981. Sidwell was with the New England Patriots three years as linebacker coach, before moving to Indiana.
