Jan. 5, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF Head Coach George O'Leary finalized the impending changes on his football coaching staff on Friday by switching running backs coach Jim Bernhardt over to the defensive staff and re-assigning the running backs to offensive coordinator Tim Salem.
Bernhardt, who also serves as the Golden Knights' recruiting coordinator, will take over as the defensive line coach. Entering his third-year as an on-field coach for the Golden Knights, Bernhardt is no stranger to the defensive side of the ball. He has twice been a defensive coordinator in his coaching career. First, at Hofstra from 1988-90, then Bernhardt held the post for three of his four seasons at Brown University (1990-94).
"This move allows Coach Bernhardt to return to the defensive side of the ball," O'Leary said. "That is where his background is as a coach and he will do a good job for us over there."
Salem will now take on the responsibility of running backs coach as well as continue to coordinate the UCF offense. The fourth-year coordinator has coached the quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers in his three seasons with the Golden Knights.
Recently promoted David Kelly will coach the Golden Knight receivers. The veteran coach spent his first year on the UCF staff as the Director of High School Relations.
O'Leary will have three new coaches on his staff for the start of the 2007 spring practices. Joining Kelly as newcomers are former Iowa State defensive coordinator John Skladany, who took the same post at UCF on Dec. 4, and former Kansas assistant coach Earnest Collins, who joined the Golden Knight staff on Dec. 20 as the secondary coach.
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