The Steelers announced today that Carnell Lake has been hired as the team's new defensive backs coach. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Lake, who played safety and cornerback for the Steelers from 1989-98, will enter his first season as an assistant coach in the NFL. 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 the Philadelphia Eagles during their 2009 training camp. He then coached one season at his alma mater, UCLA, coaching defensive backs in 2009.
Lake was a second-round draft pick of the Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft and went on to earn four Pro Bowl trips with the team. He finished his career with 16 fumble recoveries, which are fourth in team history, and 16 interceptions as a Steeler.
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.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lake moved to California and attended Culver City High (Calif.). He and his wife, Monica, have three children.
