Cardinals name Bettcher defensive coordinator

Feb 4, 2015 - 8:32 PM Tempe, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - The Arizona Cardinals named James Bettcher defensive coordinator on Wednesday.

Bettcher replaces Todd Bowles, who left the position to become head coach of the New York Jets in mid-January.

Bettcher, 36, coached the Cardinals outside linebackers the past two seasons after working in the same capacity with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.

He was part of a defensive coaching staff that helped the Cardinals finish with the NFL's top ranked run defense (84.4 yards per game) in 2013 while collecting 47 sacks, the third-highest total in franchise history.

In 2014, Arizona's defense allowed just 18.7 points per game, the fifth-lowest average in the league while allowing 20 points or fewer in an NFL-high 13 games.

The Cardinals also named Bob Sanders linebackers coach and Wesley Goodwin assistant to the head coach, and promoted Mike Chiurco to defensive assistant/assistant defensive backs coach.