Jimmy Lake stands next to UW quarterback Patrick O'Brien (10) in 2021 as the Huskies celebrate a win over Arkansas State. Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Former UW Football Coach Jimmy Lake Rejoins Rams

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Feb 25, 2025 3:47 PM ET

Jimmy Lake, after getting fired for the second time in four seasons, has retraced his steps to find another football coaching job.

No, he's not returning to the University of Washington, rather he's rejoining the Los Angeles Rams, where he worked in 2023.

Lake, 48, will become a senior defensive assistant for Sean McVay' staff after getting dismissed in January following one season as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator.

On Monday, the Rams announced six new coaching additions, a group that included Lake and former UW offensive-line coach Scott Huff.

All of this comes, of course, after Lake was terminated as the Huskies head coach in 2021 after just 13 games in charge over two seasons -- the shortest UW football coaching stint since 1956, when Darrell Royal stayed just one season before leaving for Texas.

Lake's downfall in Montlake began with him angrily shoving a player during the UW-Oregon game in Seattle and having this moment captured for all to see on a national TV broadcast.

The Spokane product previously had been a UW secondary coach and defensive coordinator for six seasons for Chris Pertersen before hewas promoted to head coach once Petersen retired.

After taking a year off following his firing, Lake joined the Rams in 2023. He forged a relationship with then defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and accompanied him to Atlanta as his DC once Morris was hired as head coach.

However, their time in the southern city together ended abruptly after just one season when the Falcons finished 8-9 and had plenty of defensive issues.

This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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