(Yes, it’s one of those days college football news-wise, thank you very much)
In a press release, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe announced Friday multiple changes within his Blue Devils coaching staff. And, as we are inherently lazy -- and have some four-wheelin’ to get to on and around God’s Country -- we’ll just go ahead and give you the release, in its entirety.
Enjoy...
“We are very excited with our recent hires and adjustments to the staff,” Cutcliffe stated. “I have either coached or fostered long term relationships with each of these young people and their families. It is great to surround yourself with people you deeply care for and know are winners on and off the field. We approach the 2011 season with great enthusiasm.”
Cutcliffe tabbed Ben Loebner and John Russell as graduate assistant coaches on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, respectfully. Loebner, a 2009 Duke graduate, has spent the last two seasons on the Blue Devil staff as a recruiting assistant while Russell joins the program after lettering four seasons as a defensive lineman at Wake Forest where he helped the Demon Deacons to a ledger of 33-19 along with the 2006 ACC Championship.
Kerry Johnson, who lettered as both a defensive back and wide receiver under Cutcliffe at Ole Miss, shifts from his role as an assistant on the strength and conditioning staff to an operations assistant position with the Duke offensive coaches. Leon Wright, an All-ACC cornerback during his playing days at Duke, serves as the defensive operations assistant.
Marcus Johnson, a former All-SEC offensive lineman at Ole Miss who spent five seasons in the NFL, replaces Kerry Johnson as an assistant in the strength and conditioning department.
Ethan Johnson, a staff member since 2006, becomes Duke’s assistant director of football relations, replacing the departed Terrell Smith. Jomar Wright, who spent last year as a graduate assistant coach, moves into the role of recruiting assistant while former Blue Devil All-American defensive lineman Vince Oghobaase has been added as a staff assistant.
In the equipment room, Tommy Phillips has been promoted to assistant football equipment manager, replacing Todd McMinn, who left the program to become the director of football equipment operations at the University of Cincinnati. Ben Sherrill replaces Phillips as an equipment assistant.