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LeBeau makes a house call
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
By JEFF GATES
Contributing Writer

The Doctor was in.

And he made a very special house call.

As Dick LeBeau looked across the plethora of admirers who had gathered Saturday to pay homage to him ? and to support the field house that will be built in his honor at his alma mater ? two men were seated in London High School Ray Chadwell Gymnasi-um paying very close attention.

They knew they only got where they were by serving their blitz-filled residencies under LeBeau?s tutelage.

?He has been a great mentor to me,? said Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. ?He is the doctor of defense.?

While the pinnacle of Lewis? coaching career so far has been as the defensive coordinator for a Baltimore Ravens defense that dominated football on its way to a victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, it was the tutoring prior to that which likely laid the groundwork for success.

From 1992 to 1995, Lewis was linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His mentor at that time was LeBeau, who was serving as Blitzburgh?s defensive backfield coach and defensive coordinator.

?I remember calling my parents and telling them how excited I was to be coaching with Dick LeBeau,? Lewis said, recalling that February 1992 life-changing moment. ?I told them I was going to be coaching with one of those guys whose football trading card I had.?

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