WSU reportedly hires new special teams coach from Bowling Green

While Eric Mele is one of the five assistant football coaches that did not take a new job this offseason, WSU will have a new special teams coordinator in 2018. That position will be filled by Bowling Green coach Matt Brock, according to reports from FootballScoop.com and Cougfan.com.

Brock was the special teams coordinator at Bowling Green for the last two years and looks like a solid hire. He was nominated for the Broyles award in 2017, given to the nations top assistant, and oversaw a significant improvement on special teams.

According to Bill Connelly’s S&P+ ratings, the Eagles had the 20th ranked special teams unit in the nation last season. In his first year they ranked 57th. To put that in perspective, under the guidance of Mele the Cougs’ special teams have ranked 79, 122, 105 over the last three years.

Erik Powell had an excellent season kicking the ball in 2017 but #SpecialForces has otherwise been shaky. The multiple punter experiment didn’t work last year and kick return coverage has been an issue for too long. The unit improved under Mele, but I can’t say I’m mad that someone new will be coaching special teams next season.

Mele reportedly will move to the offensive side of the ball in 2018. He could coach either running backs, a job that is currently vacant, or receivers. If the latter were to happen one of the current receivers coaches, Dave Nichol or Derek Sage, would replace the departed Jim Mastro as coach of the running backs.

*****

Basketball:

Grip on Sports: It's time for a late-season push for local colleges | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State is also seeking a bit of redemption, as the Cougars are mired in a six-game losing streak. They are also in the Pac-12’s cellar, with a 1-11 mark.

Slump-breaker: Washington State gets tough in 73-69 Pac-12 win over Colorado | The Spokesman-Review
Throughout Washington State’s prolonged slump, Ernie Kent has begged and pleaded for a tougher, more resilient group of Cougars. It was a long wait, but the Cougars finally delivered on their coach’s wish, fighting to the finish for a 73-69 win over the Colorado Buffaloes Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum.

Baseball:

Pac-12 Baseball Team Preview: Can Washington State Get Out Of The Bottom? - Building The Dam
The Cougars have their work cut out for them after two losing seasons in a row.

Bonner County Daily Bee - Sports, Veteran Cougs look to climb another rung in '18
The Washington State baseball team is no longer a young, inexperienced squad with a fresh head coach.

Baseball: Nebraska opens season against UC Riverside, Washington State | Big Red Today blog | omaha.com
The Cougars bring back eight starters from the lineup. Junior shortstop Andres Alvarez is the only .300 hitter returning (.308) and junior outfielder Justin Harrer (.298, five home runs, 32 RBIs) is also among Washington State’s top threats.

Football:

Death of Tyler Hilinski - Signal Opinion - The Daily Astorian
In a moment, something that should have felt distant became so deeply personal. On a wet and windy Tuesday night in January, my phone buzzed with a text message from an old friend. “Did you hear about Tyler Hilinski?”