Seven assistants join Hauck’s staff

Moving quickly in an attempt to play catch-up in recruiting, new UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck on Monday announced the hiring of seven coaches to his projected nine-man staff.

J.D. Williams will serve as UNLV's assistant head coach, Rob Phenicie will be the offensive coordinator, Cedric Cormier will coach the receivers, Chad Germer will be the offensive line coach, Ty Gregoriak will be the linebackers coach, and Dominic Daste will coach the tight ends. They join Kraig Paulson, who last week accepted the defensive coordinator's position.

Two spots remain to be filled on Hauck's staff, one each on offense and defense, and it appears there will be no holdovers from former coach Mike Sanford's staff. UNLV will be looking to sign 19 players to scholarships come Feb. 3 after using six of its allotted 25 on gray-shirt players.

"The majority of our staff is now in place and we're excited to get on the road and recruit the best possible class," Hauck said in a statement Monday. "Most of these coaches bring with them Pac-10 or Mountain West Conference experience or ties. I also have a strong history with all of them, which will translate into a smooth transition as we get going."

Williams, who played for the Buffalo Bills and appeared in four Super Bowls, served as Utah's secondary coach this past season. In addition to his assistant head coaching duties, Williams will coach UNLV's defensive backs and serve as the Rebels' pass defense coordinator.

Phenicie, who spent a year on John Robinson's UNLV staff in 1999, will serve as Hauck's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was with Hauck at Montana, overseeing the passing game. Phenicie previously coached receivers at Wyoming.

Paulson had been Hauck's defensive coordinator at Montana and also will coach the defensive ends at UNLV. Gregorak spent seven years at Montana and was the school's recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching the linebackers.

Cormier comes to UNLV from Miami of Ohio. Before that, he spent two years with Hauck at Montana. Germer also coached the offensive line at Montana. Before that, he was at Wyoming.

Daste has spent the last seven years at Montana and, in addition to coaching the tight ends, was the school's running game coordinator in 2009.