Secondary coach Tony Oden leaving Saints for Jaguars

Several reports are confirming that New Orleans Saints secondary coach Tony Oden will be joining the staff of the Jacksonville Jaguars under new head coach Mike Mularkey.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker knows Oden well as they both grew up together in Ohio.

It’s unclear if the Saints would have retained Oden or not moving forward considering defensive coordinator Gregg Williams decided to move on to the Rams with friend Jeff Fisher, and the Saints ranked 30th against the pass under Oden in 2011.

Last season he was promoted from assistant secondary coach, where he had spent the previous five seasons, into the full time role once Dennis Allen was hired by the Denver Broncos to become their new defensive coordinator.

To replace Oden the Saints may look internally and could consider promoting the Mike Mallory, the assistant secondary coach, to the full time coach — just as they did with Oden last year.

New Orleans is in no rush to find it’s next defensive coordinator, but they did meet with former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo yesterday and are likely hoping to lock him down as he is the best defensive coordinator currently available on the market.

Catch up on other Saints news you may have missed:

• New Orleans Saints sign four more players to offseason roster
• New Orleans Saints Pete Carmichael Jr. draws interest from a new team
• New Orleans Saints begin offseason roster moves
• New Orleans Saints to interview Steve Spagnuolo Wednesday
• New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton didn’t push Gregg Williams out
• New Orleans Saints new defensive coordinator already on staff?
• No word yet on Steve Spagnuolo, New Orleans Saints deal