COACHING
With a head coach and offensive coordinator who come from a team that relied heavily on its tight ends, the position will be more prominently featured in the Panthers' offense. The man charged with directing Carolina's tight ends is Pete Hoener, a veteran of 12 seasons as an NFL assistant - the last six with the San Francisco 49ers.
During his tenure with San Francisco, Hoener played an instrumental role in the development of tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, both of whom were drafted by the 49ers in 2006. Hoener helped Davis become one of the most versatile and complete tight ends in the game as both a receiver and blocker, and he turned Walker, a wide receiver in college, into an explosive receiving threat.
In 2010, Davis ranked first on the 49ers with 56 receptions, 914 receiving yards and seven touchdowns to become the first tight end in franchise history to lead the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in consecutive seasons. Walker also experienced a productive campaign, recording career highs with 29 catches and 331 yards.
The previous year, Hoener tutored Davis to one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in recent NFL history. Davis compiled 78 receptions for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns, an effort that resulted in being selected a Pro Bowl starter. Davis' 13 touchdowns tied the NFL single-season record for the most touchdowns by a tight end and equaled the most touchdown catches in the NFL, making him the first tight end in the Super Bowl era to lead or tie for the league lead in receiving touchdowns.
Hoener joined the 49ers from the Chicago Bears, where he oversaw the offensive line in 2004. His flexibility was on display, as the Bears employed seven different starting combinations among the front five. Under Hoener's guidance, center Olin Kreutz earned Pro Bowl honors.
Prior to the Bears, Hoener spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, serving as the offensive line coach in 2003 and tight ends coach from 2001-02. It marked his second stint with the Cardinals after entering the NFL coaching ranks as the team's tight ends coach from 1985-86 when the franchise was in St. Louis.
While with the Cardinals, Hoener worked with tight end Freddie Jones, who finished first on the team with 44 catches for 358 yards in 2002. Jones became the first tight end to lead the team in receiving since Jackie Smith in 1973, and his 44 receptions were the most by a Cardinals tight end since 1968.
Along with his NFL experience, Hoener gained 24 years of knowledge on the college level as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Beginning as a graduate assistant at Missouri in 1975, he then coached the offensive line at each of his next seven stops: Illinois State in 1977, Indiana State from 1978-84, Illinois from 1987-88, Purdue from 1989-91, Texas Christian from 1992-97 and Iowa State from 1998-99. In addition to his role as offensive line coach, Hoener also held the responsibilities of offensive coordinator at Indiana State, Texas Christian and Iowa State. He handled the running backs at Texas A&M in 2000 before returning to the NFL in 2001.
PLAYING AND PERSONAL
Hoener played tight end and defensive end at Bradley, where he earned a degree in physical education. Hoener and his wife, Marianne, have three daughters: Jennifer, Kathleen and Lisa. Last name is pronounced Hay-ner.
HISTORY
Tight end/defensive end: Bradley 1969-70. College coach: Missouri 1975-76, Illinois State 1977, Indiana State 1978-84, Illinois 1987-88, Purdue 1989-91, Texas Christian 1992-97, Iowa State 1998-99, Texas A&M 2000. Pro coach: St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals 1985-86, 2001-03, Chicago Bears 2004, San Francisco 49ers 2005-10, joined Panthers in 2011.
COACHING
With a head coach and offensive coordinator who come from a team that relied heavily on its tight ends, the position will be more prominently featured in the Panthers' offense. The man charged with directing Carolina's tight ends is Pete Hoener, a veteran of 12 seasons as an NFL assistant - the last six with the San Francisco 49ers.
During his tenure with San Francisco, Hoener played an instrumental role in the development of tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, both of whom were drafted by the 49ers in 2006. Hoener helped Davis become one of the most versatile and complete tight ends in the game as both a receiver and blocker, and he turned Walker, a wide receiver in college, into an explosive receiving threat.
In 2010, Davis ranked first on the 49ers with 56 receptions, 914 receiving yards and seven touchdowns to become the first tight end in franchise history to lead the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in consecutive seasons. Walker also experienced a productive campaign, recording career highs with 29 catches and 331 yards.
The previous year, Hoener tutored Davis to one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in recent NFL history. Davis compiled 78 receptions for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns, an effort that resulted in being selected a Pro Bowl starter. Davis' 13 touchdowns tied the NFL single-season record for the most touchdowns by a tight end and equaled the most touchdown catches in the NFL, making him the first tight end in the Super Bowl era to lead or tie for the league lead in receiving touchdowns.
Hoener joined the 49ers from the Chicago Bears, where he oversaw the offensive line in 2004. His flexibility was on display, as the Bears employed seven different starting combinations among the front five. Under Hoener's guidance, center Olin Kreutz earned Pro Bowl honors.
Prior to the Bears, Hoener spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, serving as the offensive line coach in 2003 and tight ends coach from 2001-02. It marked his second stint with the Cardinals after entering the NFL coaching ranks as the team's tight ends coach from 1985-86 when the franchise was in St. Louis.
While with the Cardinals, Hoener worked with tight end Freddie Jones, who finished first on the team with 44 catches for 358 yards in 2002. Jones became the first tight end to lead the team in receiving since Jackie Smith in 1973, and his 44 receptions were the most by a Cardinals tight end since 1968.
Along with his NFL experience, Hoener gained 24 years of knowledge on the college level as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Beginning as a graduate assistant at Missouri in 1975, he then coached the offensive line at each of his next seven stops: Illinois State in 1977, Indiana State from 1978-84, Illinois from 1987-88, Purdue from 1989-91, Texas Christian from 1992-97 and Iowa State from 1998-99. In addition to his role as offensive line coach, Hoener also held the responsibilities of offensive coordinator at Indiana State, Texas Christian and Iowa State. He handled the running backs at Texas A&M in 2000 before returning to the NFL in 2001.
PLAYING AND PERSONAL
Hoener played tight end and defensive end at Bradley, where he earned a degree in physical education. Hoener and his wife, Marianne, have three daughters: Jennifer, Kathleen and Lisa. Last name is pronounced Hay-ner.
HISTORY
Tight end/defensive end: Bradley 1969-70. College coach: Missouri 1975-76, Illinois State 1977, Indiana State 1978-84, Illinois 1987-88, Purdue 1989-91, Texas Christian 1992-97, Iowa State 1998-99, Texas A&M 2000. Pro coach: St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals 1985-86, 2001-03, Chicago Bears 2004, San Francisco 49ers 2005-10, joined Panthers in 2011.
