Tom Catlin, former Seahawks assistant coach, dies from surgery complications

Tom Catlin didn't need to utter a word to silence a room when he was the Seahawks' defensive coordinator.

"There was no clowning around in his meetings," said Cortez Kennedy, one of Mr. Catlin's former players. "He would just give you that look, and you'd know to cut it off."

Mr. Catlin was seriously stoic as the mind behind some of the best defenses in Seahawks history.

Mr. Catlin died Saturday in Seattle. He was 76. He experienced complications from surgery, according to his brother.

Mr. Catlin was part of Seattle's coaching staff from 1983 to 1995, serving as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for most of that time. In 1991, Mr. Catlin's defense allowed 261 points, still a franchise record for fewest in a 16-game season. The 1992 defense was considered to be even better, though. The Seahawks allowed more than 26 points only once despite having a historically inept offense. Kennedy was named the league's defensive player of the year even though Seattle went 2-14. Mr. Catlin was responsible for those defensive blueprints.

"He dissected the other team, and he got us so well prepared," said Joe Nash, longtime Seahawks defensive tackle. "It was almost like he knew what they were doing before they knew what they were doing."

Nash remembered one instance in particular, a Monday night game against San Diego and Don Coryell's air-it-out offense. Mr. Catlin came up with a game plan that included Nash covering running back Chuck Muncie. The Seahawks shut out San Diego 24-0 that night.

Mr. Catlin's game plans were as precise as his expectations for the players.

"No one was going to be out of alignment and be some place he wasn't," said Chuck Knox, who brought Mr. Catlin to Seattle. "Tom was that way. He insisted and demanded they perform and execute the defense the way it was called up."

Mr. Catlin played college football at Oklahoma, where he was a linebacker and center. The Sooners won the national championship in 1950.

Mr. Catlin coached with Knox for 19 seasons. Mr. Catlin retired from coaching in 1996 shortly after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "Tom Catlin was a great player and a great coach and a great friend," Knox said.

Material from The Associated Press

was used in this article.