Two more assistant coaches have joined John Harbaugh’s Ravens staff: Jim Hostler is the Ravens’ wide receivers coach and Craig Ver Steeg is the team’s offensive quality control coach. Harbaugh has now added 14 coaches, including three coordinators, a special assistant to the head coach, and three on defense and seven on offense.
Hostler, who in 2007 was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, brings 19 years of experience to the Ravens’ receiving corps. He has tutored a number of NFL receivers, including Wayne Chrebet, Justin McCareins and Santana Moss.
“Adding another coach who has been a coordinator in the NFL brings quality experience to the staff,†said head coach John Harbaugh. “Jim’s emphasis on attention to detail and toughness match what we want to have on this team. A number of teams were looking at Jim, and we are fortunate to have him here in Baltimore.â€
Ver Steeg joins the Ravens, having spent the last 5 seasons with Rutgers serving as its offensive coordinator and coaching the Scarlet Knights’ running backs and quarterbacks. Ver Steeg has a 28-year coaching background.
“Craig brings a wealth of experience from both college and the NFL,†said Harbaugh. “He’s been a coordinator; he has coached running backs, quarterbacks and receivers. His experience and his knowledge will be invaluable to the development of our offense.â€
Bios on Hostler and Ver Steeg are below:
JIM HOSTLER
Wide Receivers Coach
College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Years with Ravens: 1
Years in NFL: 9
Years in coaching: 19
HS: Bethel Park (PA) HS
Born: 11/7/66 in Pittsburgh, PA
Jim Hostler (pronounced Hoss-ler) joined the Baltimore Ravens as the team’s wide receivers coach on Feb. 6, 2008. Hostler came to the Ravens after a 3-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, serving as offensive coordinator in 2007 after being promoted from QBs coach.
Hostler brings a wealth of experience to the Ravens’ wide receiving corps. As the same position coach for the New York Jets (2004) and as assistant wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints (2001-2002), the former college CB helped develop the likes of Santana Moss, Wayne Chrebet, Justin McCareins and Donte Stallworth. Hostler also worked with Pro Bowl WR Joe Horn in his time with the Saints.
McCareins had arguably his best season under Hostler in 2004, starting 16 games and finishing with a career-high 56 receptions and 770 receiving yards. Moss finished the 2004 season as a starter in 14 of 15 games played, with 45 receptions for a team-high 838 receiving yards and 5 TDs. With Hostler’s guidance, Moss also recorded a game-high 157 receiving yards against Detroit (11/7/2004), which remains the 4th-highest total in his career.
Hostler began his NFL coaching career with the Kansas City Chiefs as an offensive assistant/quality control coach in 2000. He moved on to the Saints in 2001 to assume the same position, with the added responsibility of assistant wide receivers coach in 2002. Joining the Jets in 2003, Hostler spent the next 2 years as QBs coach (2003) and WRs coach (2004). He then joined the 49ers as QBs coach when Mike Nolan took the reigns in 2005.
Under the tutelage of Hostler, 49ers QB Alex Smith became the franchise’s 1st QB to take every snap of the regular season (2006). The 2nd-year QB went 257-of-442 for 2,890 yards, a marked improvement from his rookie year, when he amassed 875 yards (84-of-165) in his 7 starts (9 games played). Due to his extensive work on the offensive side of the ball and his guidance of Smith, Hostler was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007.
Hostler got his coaching start at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where he sailed up the ranks from RBs coach to offensive coordinator in 9 seasons. Hostler was part of an IUP team that qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs 5 times in his 9 years, including a trip to the National Championship game in his 1st year. In his 1st coaching stint, Hostler had the opportunity to coach several positions, including both RBs (1990-92, 1994-96) and LBs (1997-98) and finished as the offensive coordinator/QBs coach in 1999, before making his debut in the NFL ranks.
Hostler spent the 1993 season as the offensive coordinator at Juniata (PA) College, where he was the youngest at his position in college football.
The Pennsylvania native had a stellar 4-year career as a CB for IUP. A 2-time All-Conference selection, Hostler and the Indians captured 2 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles and made 3 trips to the Division II playoffs, dominating the field with a 38-9 record. He was also a 1st-team All-ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) selection as a senior, after leading the team with 5 INTs.
Hostler earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology from IUP in 1989. Born 11/7/66, Jim attended Bethel Park (PA) HS. He and his wife, Jen, have 3 sons, Clint (9), Grant (7) and newborn Cooper, and a daughter, Attie (5).
CRAIG VER STEEG
Offensive Quality Control
College: USC
Years with the Ravens: 1
Years in the NFL: 3
Years in coaching: 28
HS: Redondo (Redondo Beach, CA) HS
Born: Sept. 11, 1960, Inglewood, CA
Offensive Quality Control
College: USC
Years with the Ravens: 1
Years in the NFL: 3
Years in coaching: 28
HS: Redondo (Redondo Beach, CA) HS
Born: Sept. 11, 1960, Inglewood, CA
Craig Ver Steeg (pronounced ver stegg) joined the Baltimore Ravens as the team’s offensive quality control coach on February 8, 2008. Ver Steeg brings 28 years of coaching experience with him to Baltimore, including 2 professional seasons (1996-97) as an offensive assistant/quality control coach for the Chicago Bears. Most recently, he served as RBs coach (2007) and offensive coordinator (2003-06) for Rutgers and was Utah’s offensive coordinator/QBs coach from 2001-02. Ver Steeg previously coached with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, when the duo was together at the University of Cincinnati from 1990-93.
In 5 seasons at Rutgers, Ver Steeg tutored some of the most prominent players in school history. In 2007, he coached All-American RB Ray Rice, who rushed for a school-record 2,012 yards and 24 TDs on 380 carries. Rice averaged 154.8 yards per game and was part of an offensive unit that produced 456.3 net yards per contest. On the season, the Scarlet Knights averaged 198.0 rushing yards per game. Rice finished his career holding several other Rutgers records, including career yards rushing (4,926), career rushing TDs (49) and single-game rushing yards (280). As a junior in ‘07, Rice became the 13th player in NCAA history to gain more than 2,000 rushing yards in a season. He was also a Doak Walker Award finalist (nation’s top running back) and earned team MVP honors for the 2nd straight year.
In his final season (2006) directing Rutgers offense, Ver Steeg’s rushing attack ranked 15th in the country, averaging 180.2 yards per game. The Scarlet Knights also produced 29.8 points per game, ranking 22nd among Division I teams. In 2005, Rutgers was 2nd in the Big East in both total offense (406.3 ypg) and passing (234.6 ypg). The 2004 Scarlet Knights boasted the nation’s No. 6-overall and Big East’s top-ranked passing attack (310.5 ypg). Rutgers also finished 3rd in the Big East in total offense (407.7 ypg).
In Ver Steeg’s 1st season (2003) as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator, he oversaw a unit that scored 329 points, the 5th-highest point total in school history. The Scarlet Knights produced 4,423 total yards of offense, also 5th most in Rutgers annals. Additionally, Ver Steeg coached Rutgers QBs from 2003-05. In his dual role, he tutored QB Ryan Hart, who established nearly every school passing mark in 3 starting seasons under center. Hart’s career records include: passing yards (8,482), attempts (1,217), completions (735) and TDs (52).
Prior to joining the Scarlet Knights’ staff, Craig served as Utah’s offensive coordinator and QBs coach for 2 seasons (2001-2002). Ver Steeg helped recruit current 49ers QB Alex Smith to Utah and coached the young signal caller in his 1st season. That year, with Ver Steeg guiding the Utes’ attack, Utah’s offense improved 50-or-more spots nationally in nearly every offensive category. The 2001 Utes finished 24th in the nation in total offense, including 12th in rushing. Ver Steeg also coached at Utah from 1986-87 as a graduate assistant and in 1989 as the school’s QBs coach. During that time, he worked with NCAA record-setting QB Scott Mitchell, who went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL. In 1988, Ver Steeg served as Utah’s recruiting coordinator.
Prior to his 2nd stint at Utah, Ver Steeg was the QBs coach and recruiting coordinator at Illinois (1997-00). He tutored Illini QB Kurt Kittner, who as a sophomore in 1999, broke Jeff George’s single-season record for TD passes with 24. Kittner was also named Illinois’ MVP in 1999 and garnered MVP honors at the MicronPC.com Bowl that year.
Current Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and Ver Steeg were both members of the Chicago Bears’ coaching staff from 1996-97. Under head coach Dave Wannstedt, Ver Steeg worked with Bears QBs as the team’s offensive assistant/quality control coach, while Schiano was the defensive assistant.
Ver Steeg also served as the passing game coordinator, QBs and WRs coach and recruiting coordinator at Harvard (1994-95). From 1990-93, he was the recruiting coordinator at Cincinnati when Harbaugh was coaching the team’s DBs. Ver Steeg also coached the Bearcats’ QBs (1992-93) and WRs (1990-91) during his time with Cincinnati. In 1993, Cincinnati compiled an 8-3 record and won the Independent Football Alliance championship.
Ver Steeg’s 1st taste of collegiate coaching came at his alma mater (USC) in 1984, entering the ranks as a graduate assistant. He graduated from USC in 1983 and later received his master’s degree in education from USC in 1986. Born 11/11/60 in Inglewood, CA, Ver Steeg attended Redondo (Redondo Beach, CA) HS. He lettered in both football (defensive back) and wrestling all 4 years. Craig and his wife, Lisa, have a son, Ian (4).
