|
|
 |
|
|
March 19, 2003
Football: Penguins Make Additions to Coaching Staff
Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Football Coach Jon
Heacock announced on Tuesday he has
made two additions to his staff and
increased the duties of two current
assistant coaches.
Ken Conatser, who spent 15 years at YSU before leaving two
years ago, and Jerry Olsavsky, a
Chaney High School graduate who
played 10 seasons in the National
Football League, have been added to
the YSU staff while current
assistants Brian Wright and Brian
White will take on increased duties
in their positions. Conatser has
been named as YSU's special teams
coordinator while Olsavsky will
coach the linebackers.
Conatser left the Youngstown State program following the 2000
season to join Coach Jim Tressel's
staff as special teams coordinator
at Ohio State. After one season with
the Buckeyes, Conatser then spent
time at the University of Kansas as
an assistant coach.
"He has always been a key part of our football family and we
are excited to have him back,"
Heacock said. "He has a great amount
of experience and knowledge and has
always been important in helping us
with community service."
Conatser came to YSU in 1986 and during his tenure with the
Penguins coached a variety of
positions. While with the Penguins
he served in numerous capacities
including, assistant head coach,
offensive line coach, inside
linebackers coach, was the defensive
coordinator, the offensive
coordinator and the special teams
coordinator from 1989-94.
Olsavsky played 10 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker after a
standout college career at
Pittsburgh and an outstanding high
school career at Chaney High School
in Youngstown. A 10th-round draft
choice by the Steelers in 1989, he
played nine years in the Steel City
as a professional before spending
one year with Baltimore in 1998. In
his NFL career, he played in 117
games.
Prior to coming to Youngstown, Olsavsky was an assistant
Strength and Conditioning Coach at
North Carolina.
"He graduated from Chaney and played at Pittsburgh so it is
great to have a local guy on the
staff," Heacock said. "He has an
outstanding NFL background and
brings a lot to the table for us."
White has been elevated to the restricted-earnings coaching
position after spending last season
as a graduate assistant.
White, who was a contributor as a
defensive and offensive lineman for
the Penguins from 1990 through 1993,
is in charge of the tight ends and
will help with the special teams
this season.
"Brian has done a good job
and has earned the right to have
more duties on our staff," Heacock
said.
Heacock also said Wright, who is YSU's quarterbacks coach,
will also assume duties as the
Penguins' wide receivers coach.
Youngstown State begins spring practice on Friday, March 21
at 3:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. |
|
|
|
|
|
