New Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain hired former Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier to the Rams’ staff Wednesday.
Napier, who served as Alabama’s offensive quality control assistant this past season under McElwain, was the youngest offensive coordinator in Clemson history when he was hired at age 29 in 2009. That season, the Tigers scored a school-record 436 points. His title and duties at CSU will be announced later.
Dave Baldwin was named CSU’s offensive coordinator last week, and Tim Skipper and Tim Duffie were named assistants. Tom Ehlers has been retained as director of operations.
• Billy Gonzales, a graduate of Thornton High School and former receiver at CSU who served as Louisiana State’s receivers coach last season, has been named offensive coordinator at Illinois.
Tracy on deck at banquet. Rockies manager Jim Tracy brings baseball back to the forefront Friday as the keynote speaker at the third annual Colorado Dugout Baseball Hall of Fame banquet at the Hyatt Denver Tech Center. The banquet is being held in conjunction with the fourth annual Colorado Dugout Coaches Clinic scheduled at the hotel today through Saturday.
Ten new members are scheduled for induction into the Colorado Dugout Baseball Hall of Fame.
The 2012 class includes Mesa State Junior College coach Bus Bergman, Arvada High School coach and Major League Scouting Bureau member Bob Meisner, Chatfield coach Ron Gabbert, Niwot coach Bob Bote, Smoky Hill and Regis coach Steve Cavnar, umpire Bud Schoepflin, Mitchell coach Bob Gill, La Junta coach Jim Sullivan, Cherry Creek assistant coach Jerry Scavarda and Denver Post sportswriter Irv Moss. The banquet begins at 6 p.m.
Denver Post staff and wire reports
