The Redskins have hired veteran defensive line coach John Palermo to the coaching staff.
Palermo takes over management of the defensive line from Greg Blache, who now heads up the Redskins' defense.
Palermo, a 29-year veteran college coach, will make his professional coaching debut with the Redskins.
Palermo joins the Redskins organization after spending the 2007 college season with Tennessee Tech University where he served as defensive coordinator-linebackers coach.
The previous season, Palermo managed the defensive line at the University of Miami (Fla.). His defensive line helped set a school record by holding opponents to just 66 yards per game rushing.
Palermo spent the majority of his coaching career at the University of Wisconsin where he earned the title of assistant head coach-defensive line (1991-2005).
He produced four first-team All Americans, and his players were named first-team All-Big Ten nine times.
In addition, all four defensive linemen from Wisconsin's 2004 season were chosen in the 2005 NFL Draft.
In 1990, Palermo spent one season as the head coach at Austin Peay University.
Prior to his time at Austin Peay, he coached defensive line for Notre Dame University (1988-1989) and was part of the 1988 NCAA National Championship team along-side current Redskins executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato.
Palermo coached the defensive line at Minnesota from 1984-87, served as assistant head coach-defensive line and linebackers coach at Appalachian State in 1983-84 and coached defensive line at Memphis State (1980-82).
Palermo began his collegiate coaching career at Austin Peay as a defensive line coach.
He is a native of Newburgh, N.Y. He lettered in football at Florida State.
Palermo and his wife Donna have a son and a daughter.
-- MEIDT HIRED AS OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT
The Redskins have named Chris Meidt to their coaching staff as an offensive assistant.
Meidt, who has spent the past six seasons as the head football coach at St. Olaf College (Minnesota), will work closely with the offensive staff and newly named Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.
Meidt is expected to work closely with the Redskins' quarterbacks. Bill Lazor, quarterbacks coach for the last two years with the Redskins, has not been retained for 2008.
Meidt helped St. Olaf to its third straight eight-win season and has compiled a 40-20 mark since taking over as head coach in 2002.
It is first time since 1969-71 that St. Olaf has had eight or more wins in three consecutive seasons.
Prior to St. Olaf, Meidt had a successful tenure at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., where he served as offensive coordinator from 1995-2001 and helped lead the team to consecutive MIAC titles in 2000 and 2001.
The American Football Coaches Association named Meidt, who coached five first team All-Americans at Bethel, the 2001 National Assistant Coach of the Year.
Meidt was an All-State high school quarterback in Minneota, Minn., and played for his father Gerhard Meidt, a Minnesota Hall of Fame coach.
-- LAZOR, BURNS NOT RETAINED
Bill Lazor, who served as the Redskins' quarterbacks coach the last two years, was not retained by Jim Zorn.
Lazor had replaced Jack Burns as quarterbacks coach in 2006.
Burns, who had served as an offensive assistant the last two years, has also been released by the Redskins.
