Arth Completes Akron Football Staff

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AKRON, Ohio — University of Akron head coach Tom Arth announced seven new members that complete his football staff on Friday.

Joining the Zips are coaches Jonathan Cooley (defensive backs/corners/nickels), Jayden Everett (running backs), Bryan Gasser (pass game coordinator/wide receivers) as well as staffers Claire Crosby (assistant director of football operations), Chad Pearson (strength and conditioning coach for football), Will Wiedeman (strength and conditioning assistant coach), and Rich Worsell (director of football research and analytics).

The hirings are pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.

"We are proud to announce the completion of our football staff," Arth said. "This is a great group who will not only be able to teach, lead, and recruit our student-athletes at the highest level, but will also be outstanding representatives of the University of Akron and excellent role models for each member of our program. We are all excited and motivated by the challenges ahead and look forward to our team returning to campus and beginning our preparations for the 2019 season."

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[full bios are available on www.GoZips.com]

Cooley took over as secondary coach for Kent State in 2018. He followed Arth to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the 2017 season. Cooley served as the Mocs' defensive backs coach. The Mocs led the Southern Conference in total defense, allowing just 326.4 yards per game and 309.6 yards per contest in conference games. Chattanooga also led the SoCon in pass defense and ranked second in first downs allowed.
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Everett served as the running backs coach at Central Michigan during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, then-sophomore Jonathan Ward emerged as a budding star under Everett's tutelage, rushing for 1,019 yards, rolling up 470 yards in receptions, and scoring 13 touchdowns. He became the first CMU back to rush for 1,000 yards since 2014.

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Gasser served as the wide receivers coach at Iowa State for the last three seasons (2016-18). His work with Iowa State's receiving corps and special team units, which he mentored in his first two years in Ames, have drew rave reviews.

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Pearson served as the director of athletic performance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga two seasons (2017-18). He spent six years on the strength and conditioning staff at Minnesota.

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Akron, which returns 51 letterwinners, begins spring drills on Saturday, March 9. UA opens the 2019 season at Illinois on August 31. The home opener is slated for Sept. 7 against UAB.

Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all six home games as well as a parking pass– can be purchased now to lock in the 2018 pricing for the 2019 season, starting at only $60 each. Renewals (for current season ticket holders) and new seats are now available for purchase by calling or texting 888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Akron Coaching Staff
Tom Arth (John Carroll '03'78), Head Coach | Quarterbacks
Matt Feeney, Defensive Coordinator | Inside Linebackers
Tommy Zagorski, Offensive Coordinator | Offensive Line
Brian Cochran, Defensive Line
Chris Cook, Tight Ends | Offensive Tackles
Jonathan Cooley, Defensive Backs | Corners & Nickels
Jayden Everett, Running Backs
Shelton Felton, Outside Linebackers | Defensive Ends
Bryan Gasser, Pass Game Coordinator | Wide Receivers
Chris Hurd, Special Teams Coordinator | Fullbacks | H-Backs
Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., Secondary | Safeties
Andrew Hauser (Defense), Jason Herchek (Offense), Ty Hundley (Defense), Xavier Quigley (Offense), Graduate Assistants

Support Staff
Sherry Butler, Administrative Assistant
Ben Murphy, Director of Football Operations
Scott Aligo, Director of Player Personnel
Chad Pearson, Strength & Conditioning Coach for Football
Rich Worsell, Director of Football Research & Analytics
Claire Crosby, Assistant Director of Football Operations
Will Wiedeman, Strength & Conditioning Assistant Coach
T.J. Owens, Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant
Eythan Puhalla, Video Operations Graduate Assistant
Kyle Foster, (Special Teams) Assistant
Jake Schaefer, (Offense) Assistant
Anthony Cicione, Steve Donatell, (Defense) Assistants
Sean Levy, Recruiting/Operations Assistant
Brian Reinke, Recruiting/Operations Assistant
Jon-Carl Hostetler, Nick Carillon, Volunteers

The University of Akron Athletics

Players Mentioned

Kyle Foster

Andrew Hauser

Xavier Quigley

Brian Reinke

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