HCA: Several Washington State assistant coaches are expected to follow Mike Leach

With news of Nick Rolovich being named the 33rd head coach of the Washington State Cougars the question of who will his assistants be comes to mind. Theo Lawson of the Spokesman Review came out on Monday afternoon saying that as many as four assistants will be joining Mike Leach at Mississippi State.

Steve Spurrier Jr., Eric Mele, Matt Brock, Mason Miller, Tyson Brown, and Dave Emerick are all expected to be joining Leach in Starkville. The announcement doesn’t come as a surprise that Leach will be bringing in his own guys to the SEC. While nothing has been formally reported, there have been many signs and reports of them leaving.

Spurrier Jr. has been the outside receivers coach for the past two years and his father Steve Spurrier Sr. told Chris Fetters of 247Sports that his son will be heading to Mississippi State. The SEC is familiar territory for him as he spent 11 seasons on Spurrier Sr. staff at South Carolina and another year at Oklahoma before heading off to Western Kentucky and then Washington State.

Mele has been with the program for five years and spent the last two as the running backs coach. After leading James Williams and Max Borghi to phenomenal back to back seasons, it is not a surprise that Leach is bringing a guy who is familiar with his air raid to help lead the offense. He also spent time as the special teams coach and can bring in that extra factor.

Miller, who has been the offensive line coach for two years is expected to move along as well. He has spent most of his coaching career with the air raid as he worked with Hal Mumme before joining the Cougars. He was the guy behind one of the best offensive lines in college football that protected Gardner Minshew and Anthony Gordon, both of which own records for conference and school history.

Outside linebacker Moon Ashby told 247Sports Recruiting expert Brandon Huffman that Brock will also be leaving. Another second year guy, Brock was the outside linebackers and special teams coach under Leach.

Strength and conditioning coach Tyson Brown began following Mississippi State twitter accounts following the announcement of Leach’s departure. After spending four years working under then strength and conditioning coach Jason Loscalzo, Brown left Pullman for a job at Elon University that lasted about three weeks before Leach convinced him to come back as the head strength and conditioning coach. He has spent two years at that role.

Emerick, who has been with the football program for eight years as the Chief of Staff, will likely also be going with Leach. The two spent time at Texas Tech together before he was one of Leach’s first hires after being named the head coach in 2011.

It is still unknown what will be happening with the rest of the staff including Roc Bellantoni and Darcel McBath who were named co-defensive coordinators following the departure of Tracy Claeys mid-season. Jeff Phelps (defensive line) and Kendrick Shaver (safeties) are also a few names on defensive to keep an eye out for to see what they will end up doing. Dave Nichol (inside receivers) seems to be the only offensive coach that has not been decided.

While the air raid and the run and shoot have some similarities, it is expected that Rolovich will be bringing in his own guys to help with the transition.

Who would you like to see on the coaching staff as we begin a new era of Washington State football?

*****

Football:

33 for 33: Get to know new Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich

Nick Rolovich, whose run-and-shoot offense helped turn around the Hawaii football program, is set to replace Mike Leach at Washington State, becoming the 33rd head coach in Cougar history.

Reports: WSU Cougars to hire Hawaii’s Nick Rolovich to replace Mike Leach as head coach

A quick and concise search to find the next football coach at Washington State has apparently ended.

Reports: As many as four Washington State assistants set to join Mike Leach at Mississippi State

At least four WSU assistant coaches appear to be joining Leach in the SEC.

Nick Rolovich finalizing deal with Washington State to be head coach
Washington State is close to finalizing a deal with Hawaii's Nick Rolovich to be the Cougars' head coach after Mike Leach left for Mississippi State.