Jason Gesser Will Join WSU Staff In Non-Coaching Role

It's been rumored for a while, and apparently it's now in the bag: As predicted by Vince Grippi two days ago, former WSU quarterback Jason Gesser reportedly will be joining the football staff in an off-the-field assistant role.

While there's been no official announcement from the school, Gesser told Cougfan.com on Thursday night that it's a done deal.

"It’s a way to get my foot in the door," Gesser told CF.C. "I'll be helping the offense out in whatever way I can and in whatever way is helpful to the assistant coaches and to Paul Wulff. I'll be breaking down those defenses and whatever they need me to do.

"I don't really know what my title is going to be but I'm basically going to be an assistant to the coaches... and I can't wait to help out offensive coordinator (Todd) Sturdy and all the coaches in whatever ways I can."

Gesser will not be able to do any direct coaching with players, as the NCAA limits the number of coaches a school can have, and WSU is already at its maximum. Gesser might have been in line for a graduate assistant job, but that's already gone to Kenny Alfred on the offensive side. Graduate assistants are directly involved in coaching the athletes on the field.

If that all sounds fuzzy, and if you're wondering exactly what the setup is going to be and are looking for a comparable situation, look no further than Marques Tuiasosopo at Washington. Essentially, it's a mutually beneficial situation where Gesser gets to get his feet wet on the coaching side at the collegiate level by doing administrative stuff and the school gets to have one of the program's icons in close proximity.

There is a proposal before the NCAA where schools could have more than two graduate assistants, but it appears extremely unlikely it will be adopted before next year.

I don't know if this makes WSU that much better in the fall, but it's never a bad thing to have a Pac-10 champion around to rub a little of that mojo on the current guys. I give it an enthusiastic thumb up -- and I'll give it two thumbs up if he wears his Rose Bowl ring everyday as a reminder of where the program was and where it's going again.