Jim Anderson was born March 27, 1948, in Harrisburg, Pa. He graduated from Cal Western with a degree in physical education, and has a lifetime teaching certificate in California. Jim and his wife, Marcia, have a son, Derek.

Jim Anderson is in his 26th year as Bengals running backs coach. He is the only Bengal to log even as many as 20 seasons as a position coach, coordinator and/or head coach. He has coached a long line of Bengals running backs to outstanding performances, with five earning spots in the Pro Bowl, and last season he guided a notable comeback season for Cedric Benson, a high first-round draft pick who had struggled to break through in three seasons with Chicago.

A distant second behind Anderson in Bengals coaching tenure is Dick LeBeau, whose 18 seasons included 15 as an assistant, one year split between assistant and head coach, and two years as head coach.

Among current NFL position coaches, Anderson has the most years with his team. He took over that designation in 2007, following the retirement of Dick Hoak, who spent 35 seasons as running backs coach for the Steelers.

Anderson joined the Bengals in 1984, after 13 seasons as a college coach. He has worked under five Bengals head coaches — Sam Wyche, Dave Shula, Bruce Coslet, Dick LeBeau and Marvin Lewis.

Anderson has been the coach in charge of nearly every running back listed in the Bengals record book. His roster of Pro Bowl backs includes:

• James Brooks
• Harold Green
• Corey Dillon
• Lorenzo Neal
• Rudi Johnson

Anderson is also one of the coaches behind the NFL’s top team rushing performance in the last 58 years. On Oct. 22, 2000, when Corey Dillon rushed for 278 yards vs. Denver, the team gained 407 on the ground. It’s the fifth-most rushing yards in NFL history and the most since 1950, when the N.Y. Giants gained 423 against Baltimore.

In addition, Anderson coached Ickey Woods, who was a league-wide sensation as a rookie in 1988 before having his career derailed by an ’89 knee injury.
Anderson’s coaching excellence was recognized following the 2001 season when he was interviewed for the Stanford University head coaching job. Anderson was on the Stanford coaching staff from 1980-83.

Anderson’s troops won NFL rushing titles in 1988 and ’89, and won the AFC rushing crown in ’86. From 1986-90, the Bengals finished 2-4-1-1-5 in league rushing. Other NFL top-10 rushing finishes by the Bengals during Anderson’s tenure include eighth in 1992, ninth in ’97, tied for sixth in ’99 and second in 2000.

PLAYING AND COACHING HISTORY - 1967-69: Linebacker-def. end at Cal-Western (U.S. International). 1970-71: Assistant coach (AC), Cal Western. 1973: AC, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College. 1974-75: AC, Nevada-Las Vegas. 1976-79: AC, Southern Methodist. 1980-83: AC, Stanford. 1984-present: AC, Bengals.