Kirk Olivadotti returns to the Redskins for an 11th season, this time as a defensive assistant.

Olivadotti served as Redskins linebackers coach from 2007-09 and was a defensive assistant and quality control coach from 2000-06.

Olivadotti has been a member of Redskins coaching staffs that have guided Washington to finish among the top 10 in overall defense in seven of his 10 seasons with the club.

In 2008, Olivadotti’s linebackers played a pivotal role in Washington ranking fourth overall in yards allowed per game (288.8), sixth overall in points allowed per game (18.5) and eighth overall in rushing yards allowed per game (95.4 yards).

Middle linebacker London Fletcher led the team with 146 tackles and outside linebacker Rocky McIntosh finished second with 104 stops.

The previous year, in Olivadotti’s first season as the linebackers coach, Washington finished eighth in the NFL in overall defense (305.3 yards per game) and fourth in the league in overall rush defense (91.3 yards per game). The tandem of Fletcher (156 tackles) and McIntosh (105 tackles) finished as the team’s top tacklers.

Throughout his NFL coaching career, Olivadotti has worked with some of the best defensive minds in the NFL, including Ray Rhodes, Marvin Lewis, Gregg Williams and Greg Blache.

Olivadotti began his NFL coaching career with the Redskins in 2000 as a defensive quality control coach. He served in that role for the four seasons and also helped coach the defensive backs.

He continued as quality control coach in 2004, but he took on a role in assisting Danny Smith and the Redskins’ special teams unit.  In 2006, Olivadotti’s role expanded to working with Blache and the Redskins’ defensive line.

Olivadotti began his coaching career on the college level, working with wide receivers and tight ends at Maine Maritime for one season (1997).

He moved to Indiana State as an assistant coach for two years (1998-99) before making the transition to Washington and the NFL.

Olivadotti was a four-year letter winner as a wide receiver at Purdue from 1993-96.  Olivadotti earned his bachelor’s degree in education and his master’s degree in education administration, both from Purdue.

He is the son of Tom Olivadotti, a long-time defensive coach in the NFL with Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota, New York Giants and Houston.

Olivadotti and his wife, Keely, have a daughter Kasyn.  The family resides in Ashburn, Va.