PULLMAN — Washington State’s new football coach, Mike Leach, has announced the rest of his coaching staff, adding former Montana assistant Mike Breske as defensive coordinator.
Leach made the announcement Friday night. Breske has spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator at Montana and previously coached at North Dakota State and was the defensive coordinator at Wyoming from 2003-08.
The group includes six coaches who previously worked with Leach: Dave Emerick (chief of staff), Clay McGuire (offensive line), Eric Morris (inside receivers), Eric Russell (assistant head coach/special teams), Dennis Simmons (outside receivers) and Antonio Huffman (director of football operations).
The newcomers to Leach’s staff are: Jeff Choate (linebackers), Jim Mastro (running backs), Joe Salave’a (defensive line) and Paul Volero (outside linebackers). Chote spent the past six seasons at Boise State.
Tennessee hires Sunseri
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has hired Alabama assistant head coach Sal Sunseri to be its defensive coordinator, Volunteers coach Derek Dooley announced.
Sunseri replaces Justin Wilcox, who left Jan. 2 to join the staff at the University of Washington.
Sunseri has spent the past three seasons coaching the linebackers for the Crimson Tide, who won the BCS national championship game on Monday.
Bradley out at Penn St.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley is officially leaving Penn State.
The veteran assistant under former coach Joe Paterno wasn’t expected to be retained by new Nittany Lions head coach Bill O’Brien.
On Friday, Bradley posted on his Twitter account that he finished packing up his office late Thursday night.
“Walked out the doors proud with a lot of great memories and friends and a better man,” Bradley wrote.
Bradley served as interim head coach for the season’s final four games following Joe Paterno’s dismissal on Nov. 9.
Barner coming back
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon running back Kenjon Barner says he’s returning for his senior season.
Barner was the Ducks’ second-leading rusher behind LaMichael James the past two seasons. James announced last week that he was going to forgo his senior year to enter the NFL draft.
Barner ran for 939 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season. He also caught 17 passes for 184 yards and three scores.
Among other players who announced their decisions Friday:
• Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and defensive back J.T. Floyd will be back for their senior seasons. Robinson could be among the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy in 2012. He threw for 2,173 yards and ran for 1,176 in his first season under new coach Brady Hoke.
• Georgia coach Mark Richt said linebacker Jarvis Jones is returning for the 2012 season.
• Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson decided to come back for his senior season, bypassing the NFL in favor of chasing both Southeastern Conference and national titles.
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