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John Fassel happy to remain Rams’ special teams coordinator on Sean McVay’s staff

John Fassel has been the Rams' special teams coordinator for five seasons. He finished this season as the acting head coach.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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As most coaches and scouts attending Senior Bowl workouts filed out of Ladd-Peebles Stadium late Tuesday afternoon, John Fassel stood ramrod straight on the sideline intensely monitoring the special teams drills.

Fassel, the Rams special teams coordinator for the last five seasons, has been retained as a member of new coach Sean McVay’s staff.

“I’m very grateful,” Fassel said, “very happy to be sticking around.”

Fassel said McVay informed him that he wanted him to remain on the staff on Jan. 13, the day McVay was introduced with a news conference.

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“He said he wants to keep me around – and that’s all I needed to know,” Fassel said. “I said, ‘I want to be here, so I appreciate it.’

“Our conversations have been great.”

Two members of Rams special teams made the Pro Bowl this season.

Punter Johnny Hekker was selected for the third time and long snapper Jake McQuaide, a sixth-year pro, made it for the first time.

“We knew Johnny had a good chance, but with Jake it was fireworks went off,” Fassel said. “Just a guy who’s totally under the radar for the right reasons – you don’t want to know about the long snapper – and he gets the nod.

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“He works so hard, he’s so tough and he doesn’t want to be recognized for anything – and then to actually get it? Really cool.”

Fassel could be the only holdover from former coach Jeff Fisher’s staff.

McVay hired Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator, Joe Barry as linebackers coach and Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach.

Many members of former coach Jeff Fisher’s staff have found other jobs.

Gregg Williams is now defensive coordinator and Clyde Simmons defensive line coach for a Cleveland Browns staff that is coaching the South team at the Senior Bowl. Mike Waufle is defensive line coach and Rob Boras tight ends coach for the Buffalo Bills. Frank Bush is linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins, Dennard Wilson is coaching defensive backs for the New York Jets and Mike Groh is now receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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gary.klein@latimes.com

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @LATimesklein

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