Aug. 12, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University football head coach Jack Harbaugh announced the addition of three new members to the staff Monday in preparation for the 2002 season.
T.J. Weist will assume duties as running backs coach, Lance Vermeil is the new strength and conditioning coach and Markell Rice - a three-year letterwinner for Harbaugh from 1992-94 - will volunteer assisting defensive coordinator David Elson in the secondary.
Weist (pronounced WEEST) comes to the Hill from Indiana, where he served as wide receivers coach from 1997-2001. While at IU, he also held special teams responsibilities with the return units and was the recruiting coordinator his first two years. Weist also was the receivers coach at Tulsa (1996-97), Southern Illinois (1994-96), Michigan (1990-94) and Alabama (1988-90), serving as SIU's recruiting coordinator as well. A native of Bay City, Mich., Weist was a wide receiver at Alabama from 1984-87, taking part in three postseason bowl games. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1988, then added an exercise physiology master's degree one year later. He replaces Roscoe Echols, who has assumed duties as an administrative assistant and assistant football coach at Bowling Green High School.
"We are very fortunate to get a man of his experience this late," said Harbaugh. "The expertise he brings is in the transition with our offense - his experience working with Antwaan Randle El is unique to us and the stage we are at in our development. We can count on T.J. not just for his position, but for offensive background and experience."
Vermeil has spent the last two years at Athletic Development in Schererville, Ind., training athletes from grade school through the professional ranks on sprint technique, plyometrics, weight lifting, flexibility and nutrition. He also worked with the Loyola (Ill.) basketball program prior to the 2000-01 season, has served an internship with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League and worked at Vermeil's Sports and Fitness as an assistant strength coach in 1996. Vermeil is a 2000 graduate of Loras (Iowa) College with a bachelor's degree in physical education. His father, Al, is a strength and conditioning coach with the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls while his uncle, Dick, currently coaches the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL after leading the St. Louis Rams to the 2000 Super Bowl title.
"To get someone with the background that Lance has at this time is fortunate," Harbaugh said. "With his dad's experience with the San Francisco 49ers and his uncle currently coaching in Kansas City, we think that we've identified him as someone who eats and sleeps football."
Rice was a defensive back at Western for three years, coming to the Hill from Gallatin (Tenn.) High School. In three years, he posted 174 tackles (122 unassisted) including five stops behind the line of scrimmage, grabbed three interceptions and caused four fumbles. Rice was second on the 1994 squad with 77 tackles, while as a junior his 70 stops ranked fifth on a team that finished with an 8-3 record.
"Markell has had success in the business world, but now he has returned to WKU to get his teacher's degree," said Harbaugh. "He approached us about volunteering because he's also interested in coaching. We're lucky to have him come back."
Western will have two-a-day workouts all week leading into Saturday's (Aug. 17) first preseason scrimmage. The Hilltoppers open the season at I-A Kansas State on Aug. 31 in Manhattan, Kan., with kickoff set for 6:10 p.m. (CDT)
- WKU -
