UNLV football shuffles coaching deck

UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck said it was time to "freshen up our approach a little bit," so he changed both coordinators Tuesday but kept his staff intact.

He promoted tight ends coach Brent Myers to offensive coordinator and secondary coach J.D. Williams to defensive coordinator.

Previous offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie will continue to handle the quarterbacks, and now former defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson will remain the outside linebackers coach. Paulson also will be the assistant head coach, a position previously occupied by Williams.

Hauck, in his third year with the Rebels, needs something to kick-start a program that has won two games each of the past two seasons.

UNLV was fourth from last nationally last season in offense, averaging 273.8 yards per game. The Rebels' defense, which allowed a 443.2 average, ranked 105th of 120 teams.

"We need to expand what we're doing, and I just thought it was appropriate with the number of wins we had the last two years," Hauck said of the reasoning behind the changes.

He could have gone outside the staff to look for his coordinators, but was satisfied with the candidates already inside the Lied Athletic Complex.

"The idea that we are going to be able to have continuity here from last season to next really is a big deal," Hauck said. "It's hard to come by. In fact, it's one of those things if you look around the country, people desire that and can't get it. When you're looking at coaching staffs and see staffs that don't have long-term continuity, it's not as good. When you have upheaval year in and year out, it's hard to have consistency."

Hauck said these changes weren't made to make a statement that he wasn't sitting still.

"I do things because I think they're the right thing to do, not for any other reason," Hauck said.

Myers and Williams are in their third seasons at UNLV.

Myers, 51, previously was an assistant at Louisville, Arizona State, Utah and Washington. He was offensive coordinator at Boise State in 1998 and 1999 and at Northern Arizona from 1992 to 1997.

In 1999, Boise State won its final six games -- all while scoring at least 33 points -- to finish 10-3. The Broncos scored more than 40 points four times over that stretch and more than 50 points twice.

Williams, 44, never has been a defensive coordinator, but since 2000 has coached at Utah, Washington, California and Fresno State. The former first-round draft choice also played for three NFL teams over seven seasons, appearing in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills.

Hauck said Phenicie and Paulson took the news of their demotions well.

"They want to win, and it's part of the business, maybe not the most enjoyable part of this profession," Hauck said. "They're awfully good coaches, and I think we're real fortunate they decided they wanted to contribute to what I hope is a drastic improvement for our team."

■ UP NORTH -- Former longtime UNLV assistant Mike Bradeson was named UNR's defensive coordinator. He coached at UNLV from 1996 to 2009, and was the Rebels' defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.