Coaches

Carnell Lake is in his first season with the Steelers as the team’s defensive backs coach. He was hired by the Steelers on March 7th, 2011, after coaching defensive backs one season at his alma mater UCLA in 2009.

Lake, who played safety and cornerback for the Steelers from 1989-98, will enter his first season as an assistant coach in the NFL. After 13 seasons, Lake retired from the NFL in 2001 following two seasons with Jacksonville (1999- 00) and one with Baltimore (2001).

Following his retirement from football, Lake worked in a private business before starting his career in coaching as an intern with Green Bay Packers in 2010 and Philadelphia Eagles during their 2009 training camp.

Lake was a second-round draft pick of the Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft and went on to earn five Pro Bowl trips (four with the Steelers and one with Jacksonville Jaguars). He finished his career with 16 fumble recoveries, which are fourth in team history, and 16 interceptions as a Steeler. In 1997 Lake was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Year and was later named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

A three-year starter for the Bruins at outside linebacker, Lake was a first-team all-America selection as a senior (1988) as well as earning the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. Lake finished his college career with 45.5 tackles for loss and 25.5 sacks. Those totals are first and fourth in UCLA football history.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lake moved to California and attended Culver City High (Calif.). He and his wife, Monica, have three children, Siena (15), Quentin (12) and Austin (10). They currently reside in Orange County, California.