OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have promoted linebackers coach Greg Mattison to replace departed Rex Ryan as their defensive coordinator, according to a person with knowledge of the hiring.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the transaction was not formally announced. The Ravens called a news conference for Monday afternoon to introduce their new defensive coordinator.

The 59-year-old Mattison was hired by first-year coach John Harbaugh in February 2008. Although he has only one year of NFL experience, the longtime college coach was defensive coordinator at Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida.

He replaces Ryan, who served as defensive coordinator with Baltimore for four seasons before leaving last week to accept the job as head coach of the New York Jets.

Mattison inherits a defense that ranked second in 2008 and is traditionally one of the fiercest in the NFL. Mattison worked extensively this season with standout linebackers Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott.

During his tenure as a defensive coordinator in college, Mattison coached 11 players who made it to the NFL, including seven drafted in the first three rounds. He ran the defense on the 2006 Florida team that won the national championship.

Mattison has 39 years of coaching experience. He started his career at the high school level before serving as an assistant at Illinois, Cornell and Northwestern. He met Harbaugh while serving a six-year stint at Western Michigan from 1981-86.

Mattison then spent two years at Navy, followed by stays at Texas A&M, Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida.

Since the Ravens came to Baltimore from Cleveland before the 1996 season, all their defensive coordinators have gone on to become head coaches: Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Ryan.