UW

UW announces Petersen’s staff; Lupoi reassigned

Dec 30, 2013, 2:41 PM | Updated: Dec 31, 2013, 12:23 am

By Brent Stecker

New Huskies coach Chris Petersen isn’t wasting time, as the school announced Monday that all but one spot on his coaching staff have been filled.

Petersen will bring eight assistants on board that coached with him during some or all of his time at Boise State. They are Pete Kwiatkowski at defensive coordinator, Jonathan Smith at offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Chris Strausser at associate head coach and offensive line coach, Bob Gregory at assistant head coach and linebackers coach, Jimmy Lake at defensive backs coach, Jeff Choate at defensive line and special teams coach, Brent Pease at wide receivers coach and Keith Bhonapha at his running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.

The only spot yet to be filled is tight ends coach, though Petersen expects to name one “in the coming days,” according to GoHuskies.com.

Not included on the staff is former Washington defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, who is being investigated for allegations that he paid for private tutoring for a recruit, which is a violation of NCAA rules. Lupoi has been reassigned to other duties within the athletic department.

Also new to the staff are Tim Socha as strength and conditioning coach, Tacoma native Rich Rasmussen as director of player personnel, and Mike McHugh as the director of football operations.

Damon Huard will remain the program’s chief administrative officer.

Kwiatkowski spent the past four seasons as Petersen’s defensive coordinator at Boise State, and before that was his defensive line coach. From 2006 to 2013, Kwiatkowski’s defense led either the WAC or Mountain West Conference in total defense and scoring defense.

Smith was Petersen’s quarterbacks coach at Boise State for the last two seasons.

Strausser spent the past two years as Boise State’s associate head coach, which capped a seven-season run of a second stop with the school.

Gregory, a Washington State graduate, was linebackers coach (2010-2013) at Boise State, and served as the Broncos’ interim coach following Petersen’s hiring at Washington through last week’s Hawaii Bowl. Before that, he was defensive coordinator at Boise State (2001) and California (2002-2009).

Choate most recently was Florida’s linebackers coach and special-teams coordinator. He also had a six-year stint as an assistant at Boise State, plus a year as linebackers coach at WSU.

Pease comes from Florida, where he was offensive coordinator this season. He was also Boise State’s offensive coordinator in 2011, when the Broncos averaged 44 points and 481 yards per game, and its wide receiver coach from 2006 to 2010.

Lake, who is coming off two seasons as the Broncos’ defensive secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator, is an Eastern Washington graduate who was UW’s assistant defensive backs coach in 2004.

UW

Pac-12...

The Associated Press

Pac-12 Commissioner Kliavkoff jabs Big 12, touts future after USC, UCLA

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff said his conference is far from finished, despite the defections of Southern California and UCLA.

2 years ago

UW Huskies...

Brandon Gustafson

Huard breaks down what he was told was ‘worst day’ in Pac-12 history

Former UW QB and current college football analyst Brock Huard shared his thoughts on the departure of USC and UCLA from the Pac-12.

2 years ago

WSU Jahad Woods...

Brandon Gustafson

Bumpus: WSU, other small schools ‘going to suffer’ after Pac-12 shakeup

In his latest video for Seattle Sports 710 AM, Michael Bumpus discusses the fallout of USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

2 years ago

Pac-12...

Brandon Gustafson

What report of USC and UCLA leaving Pac-12 means for UW and WSU

With reports of shakeup to the Pac-12 conference, Michael Bumpus explains what that means for UW and WSU going forward.

2 years ago

Hugh McElhenny...

The Associated Press

Hall of Fame NFL RB, UW standout Hugh McElhenny dies at 93

NFL Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny, an elusive running back from the 1950s who starred for the Washington Huskies, has died. He was 93.

2 years ago

UW Huskies Lindsay Meggs...

The Associated Press

UW Huskies baseball coach Lindsay Meggs retires after 13 seasons

UW Huskies baseball coach Lindsay Meggs announced his retirement Monday after 317 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons.

2 years ago

UW announces Petersen’s staff; Lupoi reassigned