[cwstech]

UNC has officially named 2 new assistant football coaches with an additional one to be named soon.

Steve Hagan, the offensive coordinator at Fresno State has been named as an offensive assistant coach (possible qb coach) and Charlie Williams, the WR coach from Arizona who was also the WR coach at Miami under Butch Davis has been named an offensive assistand coach (most likley WR coach).

Also, Nebraska Defensive Line coach, John Blake, has agreeded to join the staff. Blake is a huge pickup as he is regarded as the best recruiter in the nation.

Things are looking bright for UNC as a stellar staff is being formed.

Possible future hires have been said to be:

Oakland Raiders DB coach Chuck Pagano as Defensive Coordinator
Current UNC LB coach Tommy Thigpent to stay
Current UNC S&C coach Jeff Conners to stay
Nebraska RB coach Randy Jordan as RB coach
Buffaloe Bills OL coach Larry Zierlein as OL coach

And the Offensive Coordinator has been rumored to be 5 different guys:

Larry Coker (recent Miami head coach but also Butch Davi's OC at Miami when the would post 30+ points a game)
Steve Logan (former ECU coach but regarded to be one of the best offensive minds in the game. He is currently the OC for NFL Europe's Rhein Fire)
Larry Fedora of Oklahoma State
Rod Chudinski of the San Diego Chargers
And Walt Harris of Stanford

More info to come as things change.

[Lefty Noob]

I would assume Coker will get a head coaching job somewhere, but if he doesn't, I think he'd be a good hire, reuniting with Davis. Just stay away from Walt Harris.

[cwstech]

John Blake has been confirmed as the first defensive coach hire by Butch Davis. Blake left Nebraska where he served as the Defensive Line coach. He is regarded as the best recruiter in the nation.

Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- John Blake, most recently the defensive line coach at Nebraska, has been hired as a defensive assistant coach, University of North Carolina head coach Butch Davis announced Friday.
Davis and Blake previously worked together as members of Jimmy Johnson's staff with the Dallas Cowboys. Blake joined the Dallas staff as defensive line coach after Davis was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1993. That year, Dallas ranked eighth in the league in total defense and beat Buffalo, 30-13, in Super Bowl XXVII. After Davis left to become the head coach at Miami in 1995, Blake remained in Dallas and won another Super Bowl title under head coach Barry Switzer.
"John brings a unique blend of college and pro experience to North Carolina," says Davis. "He has experience as a Division I head coach and is known throughout the country as a terrific recruiter and teacher. I had the pleasure working with John when we were both assistants for the Cowboys, and his commitment to excellence both on and off the field is unmatched."
"I'm excited to be working with Coach Davis again," says Blake. "We won a lot of games together in Dallas, succeeding on the highest level. I look forward to doing the same thing at North Carolina. I'm thrilled to bring my family to Chapel Hill." Many observers consider Blake to be the nation's top recruiter. Nebraska's 2005 class was considered by most recruiting analysts to be one of the top five in the country. His role in helping bring some of the country's most talented players to Lincoln led to Blake's inclusion as a finalist for National Recruiter of the Year by Rivals.com. He also was responsible for recruiting the majority of starters on Oklahoma's 2000 national championship team.

John Blake Hired As North Carolina Assistant Football Coach :: Blake is first defensive coach hired by Davis.

[cwstech]

Sam Pittman Named Offensive Line Coach

Davis adds former Northern Illinois line coach to staff.


Dec. 20, 2006
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- University of North Carolina head coach Butch Davis announced Wednesday the hiring of Sam Pittman as the Tar Heels' offensive line coach. Pittman comes to Carolina after serving four seasons as Northern Illinois' offensive line coach (2003-06) and three years as its assistant head coach (2004-06). This season, the Huskies' offensive line paved the way for the nation's leading rusher, Garrett Wolfe, to run for more than 1,900 yards.

In four years at NIU, Pittman produced nine All-Mid-American Conference linemen, including seven first-team selections. NIU had a tailback top the 1,500-yard rushing mark all four years.

"Sam has established himself as one of the top college offensive line coaches in the country and was highly recommended by several NFL player personnel directors," says Davis.

"Northern Illinois has posted several impressive performances during his tenure and has been among the nation's top 20 rushing teams over the last three years. Sam is an outstanding teacher and is an excellent addition to our staff."

"I'm excited about the opportunity to work with Butch Davis at North Carolina," says Pittman. "Carolina has everything in place to be one of the top programs in the country. I look forward to building relationships with the current student-athletes and recruiting several outstanding players to UNC. Jamie and I look forward to living in Chapel Hill."

The staff is being assembled. I'm excited about this.