On the day the University of Washington football team formally announced what is expected to be the final addition to its coaching staff, coach Steve Sarkisian also threw around some new titles.
The Huskies officially hired former Cal assistant Eric Kiesau as offensive coordinator Wednesday morning. Kiesau replaces Doug Nussmeier, who spent the past three seasons at UW but is reportedly on his way to Alabama to become offensive coordinator of the defending national champion Crimson Tide.
The school also announced some new job descriptions for three of the four remaining assistants from last season. Johnny Nansen will no longer coach the defensive line but has been given the titles of assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and special-teams coordinator. Wide receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty has been named the pass game coordinator. And running backs coach Joel Thomas will serve as associate head coach of the offense.
Kiesau, who graduated from high school in 1991 and went on to play quarterback at Portland State, had two stints as a Cal assistant — from 2002 through 2005 and again while serving as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2011. In between, he spent five seasons at Colorado, including the final two as the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator.
During Kiesau’s final season at Colorado, his offense ranked 79th in the nation in yards per game and 59th in passing yards per game.
His role at UW should be similar to that of Nussmeier. Kiesau will work with the quarterbacks and help develop offensive game plans while Sarkisian does the play-calling.
Kiesau is the fifth assistant coach added to the UW staff since the end of the 2011 season. The other four, including former Cal assistant Tosh Lupoi, are on the defensive side of the football.
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