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If you’ve been following the news on Nick Rolovich’s first coaching staff at Washington State, you probably saw Tuesday’s news coming. We first wrote about the reported hire nine days ago. It was around that same time that, during an interview with KJR-AM in Seattle, Rolovich declined to confirm a report on Jake Dickert becoming his new defensive coordinator, but added “sometimes when there’s smoke there’s fire.”
His former team, Wyoming, even announced Dickert’s departure, naming Washington State as his new destination.
We knew it was happening. And Tuesday, it officially happened.
In a release, Rolovich and WSU announced Dickert as the newest defensive coordinator and linebacker coach for the Cougs. In a statement Rolovich said he was “pumped” about bringing his former Mountain West Conference rival along with him to the Palouse.
“We have competed against him the past couple years and his defenses play tough, they play physical and they play as one,” Rolovich said. “Jake came highly recommended from a number of coaches around the country and he has been very successful in recruiting and developing players from this area of the country.”
Dickert has been in the coaching ranks for the past 13 years, including the last three at Wyoming. Last season he was elevated to the title of defensive coordinator, and had plenty of success with the Cowboys. In 2019, Wyoming was sixth in the FBS in red zone defense, 11th in rush defense (allowing 107.1 yards per game) and 11th in scoring defense (allowing 17.8 points per game). In fact, the Cowboys allowed more the 22 points just once, in a 37-31 upset win against SEC foe Missouri.
Dickert took to Twitter on Tuesday to express his excitement about joining the WSU coaching staff.
My family and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the WSU family and the Pullman Community. #GoCougs #ClawsOut #CodeCougs https://t.co/whzq5d3uQ7
— Jacob Dickert (@CoachDickert) January 28, 2020
Washington State also took to Twitter to spread the news of the hire. The team’s account posted this quote from NFL player Andrew Wingard talking about his former position coach at Wyoming.
Nothing but love for our new defensive coordinator @CoachDickert from Andrew Wingard, one of his former all-conference players at Wyoming and currently with the @Jaguars! #GoCougs | #LetsRoll pic.twitter.com/l2iWZWL1HM
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) January 29, 2020
With this hire finally official, and the (reported) addition of Andre Allen from Hawaii as receivers coach yesterday, we have a mostly complete idea of what Rolovich’s coaching staff will look like next season.
ICYMI, Nick Rolovich's #WSU staff is (unofficially) complete: Brian Smith (OC), Jake Dickert (DC), Craig Stutzmann (QB), Andre Allen (WR), Mark Weber (OL), John Richardson (CB), Ricky Logo (DL), Mark Banker (S), AJ Cooper (LB), Michael Ghoubrial (ST). https://t.co/lBPwwFnt5X
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) January 28, 2020
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