IN BRIEF : Dave Adolph of Browns Hired as Assistant Coach by Raiders

Dave Adolph, defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns the last three seasons, was hired today by the Raiders as an assistant coach.

Adolph, 51, will coach the linebackers and will have the responsibility of organizing the Raiders’ defense, executive assistant Al LoCasale said. Adolph will start his new job next week.

Adolph is the first new assistant hired by the Raiders. Since the 1988 season ended, five assistants--Charlie Sumner, Willie Brown, Earl Leggett, Nick Nicolau and Jimmy Warren--have either been fired or resigned.

Adolph was an assistant coach for the Browns from 1979-84. He was an assistant for the San Diego Chargers in 1985 before returning to Cleveland. The Browns made the playoffs in each of the last three years.

Adolph attended the University of Akron before serving three years as an officer in the Air Force. He began his coaching career in the prep ranks in 1962 and was an assistant at Akron the following year.

Adolph later served as an assistant at Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio State before being hired by the Browns in 1979.

The Raiders were 7-9 last season under first-year head coach Mike Shanahan. Their defense allowed 369 points, the highest total allowed by a Raider team since 1962.