WKU Football head coach Willie Taggart has announced one new addition to his coaching staff, and several changes in responsibility as the Hilltoppers head into spring practice and the 2012 season.
 
Nick Sheridan, who served as an offensive graduate assistant for WKU last season, has been promoted to a full-time assistant, and will serve as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Sheridan, a former QB at Michigan, fills the opening left by Zach Azzanni, who joined the coaching staff at Wisconsin this off season after serving as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for WKU in 2011. Sheridan worked primarily with the quarterbacks last season during his year as a graduate assistant. A native of Saline, Mich., the 2010 Michigan graduate saw action in 12 games under center for the Wolverines during his career, including making four starts during the 2008 season. Sheridan comes from a coaching background as his father, Bill, was recently named the defensive backs coach at Ohio State after serving the last seven years as an assistant coach in the NFL.
 
In addition to the addition of Sheridan to the staff, four other changes will take place on the offensive staff. Terry Obee, who coached the running backs last season, will return to his role as wide receivers coach — a position he held during his first year on the Hill in 2010. Taggart will once again handle the running backs, a duty he assumed during his first year as head coach after a successful stint as running backs coach at Stanford prior to returning to WKU. Walt Wells will continue as running game coordinator but will also now coach the entire offensive line, while Stu Holt – who served as offensive tackles/tight ends coach last season, will now focus exclusively on the tight ends.
 
A shuffle in responsibilities will also take place on the defensive staff as Karl Maslowski — who has served as both linebackers coach and special teams coordinator each of the past two seasons — will shift his focus solely to the Hilltoppers’ special teams efforts. Raymond Woodie will now shift to linebackers coach after two seasons working with the defensive ends, and Eric Mathies will now coach the entire defensive line.
 
The Hilltoppers made a remarkable turnaround in 2011, recovering from an 0-4 start to finish the season 7-5 and take second place in the Sun Belt Conference. WKU’s 7-1 record in the Sun Belt last season marked the biggest one-season improvement in league wins in Sun Belt Conference history and the Hilltoppers’ current seven game conference win streak is the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. WKU had an all-time program high nine players earn all-conference honors, and Bobby Rainey was named to five separate All-American teams including earning second-team All-American honors by the prestigious Walter Camp Football Foundation and Sports Illustrated.
The only loss for WKU in the last eight games came at #1 LSU. The Hilltoppers open spring practice on March 19, with the annual spring game slated for April 14. WKU opens the 2012 regular season at Houchens-Smith Stadium against Austin Peay on September 1. On September 22, the Hilltoppers host Southern Miss, who went to their 10th consecutive bowl game last year and finished the season ranked 19th in the nation. WKU also hosts Sun Belt Conference foes Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee and North Texas. Tickets for all 2012 home games are now available via wkusports.com or fans may call 1-800-5-BIG-RED.
2012 WKU Football Coaching Staff
Head coach: Willie Taggart (WKU, 1998), Third Season
Assistant Coaches:
Lance Guidry (McNeese State, 1995), Defensive Coordinator, Second Season
Alonzo Hampton (Louisiana-Monroe, 1997), Defensive Backs, Second Season
Stu Holt (North Carolina, 1995), Tight Ends, Eighth Season
Karl Maslowski (WKU, 2003), Special Teams Coordinator, Third Season
Eric Mathies (Murray State, 1998), Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator, Eighth Season
Terry Obee (Oregon, 1990), Wide Receivers, Third Season
Nick Sheridan (Michigan, 2010), Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator, First Season
Walt Wells (Belmont, 1993), Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator, Tenth Season
Raymond Woodie (Bethune-Cookman, 1996), Linebackers, Third Season
