Northern Colorado football coach Earnest Collins Jr. announced the members of his coaching staff Wednesday. Collins retained two coaches from the staff of his predecessor, Scott Downing. Collins, a former UNC defensive back and punt returner, brought four coaches with him from Alcorn State and hired two others.
Keith Grable remains the Bears’ recruiting coordinator and will be the wide receivers coach on Collins’ staff. Grable, a former Bears wide receiver, has been a member of the UNC coaching staff since 2000. Graduate assistant Zak Bigelow, a former Bears kicker, also was retained.
Offensive coordinator Michael Armour, defensive coordinator Zach Shay, running backs coach Terrance Robinson and linebackers coach Derrick Davison came with Collins from Alcorn State.
James Jones, a former Kansas State and Dartmouth assistant, will be the Bears’ special-teams coordinator and defensive line coach. Jon Boyer will coach UNC’s quarterbacks after four seasons as Mesa State’s offensive coordinator. Boyer is a former UNC quarterback.
“This staff will work tirelessly to make UNC the best it can be,” said Collins, who was hired Dec. 28.
The Bears have 16 starters back from a 2010 team that was 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the Big Sky Conference.
Rapids, MLS going drafting.
Major League Soccer will conduct its SuperDraft today, and the MLS Cup champion Rapids will pick last in each of the first two rounds.
The three-round draft in Baltimore begins at 10 a.m. ESPN2 will televise the first round.
The Rapids traded their third-round pick. They will select 18th in the first round and get the 36th overall selection at the end of the second round.
