Typically, when a head coach decides to let go a coach, or coaches, prior to their bowl game, it opens the door of opportunity for graduate assistants, quality control coaches, and analysts to step in an essentially audition for a full-time position on the staff.
That's traditionally what happens, but at Nevada Jay Norvell has decided to fill his three open positions on staff in a rather unconventional way.
After deciding to part ways with defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, secondary coach David Lockwood, and safeties coach Mike Chamoures following the conclusion of the season, Norvell has decided to fill the open roles on his staff by looking outside the building.
Former Weber State (FCS - UT), and Sacramento State (FCS - CA) head coach Jody Sears, former Cal Poly defensive coordinator Josh Brown, and Narbonne HS (CA) assistant John Landwehr are all joining the staff on an interim basis to help the team prepare for their bowl game.
Both Sears and Brown are veterans of the coaching profession, while Landwehr is the lone guy with previous coaching experience with the program after serving as a defensive quality control coach in 2015 and a defensive graduate assistant with them from 2016-18.
“We’re excited to have these high quality coaches with us as we prepare for a really good Ohio team in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl,” Norvell shared via Nevada Sports Net. “With the early signing period behind us, our sole purpose is to prepare our players to win the bowl game. We will focus on filling permanent additions to the staff in January.”
Norvell notes in the article that a national search for a full-time replacement will begin following the bowl game.
For now though, those three guys have a unique inside track to the full-time roles. It will be interesting to see what is decided after the bowl game.