Coaches promoted, hired for new season

Head coach Bill Snyder and the K-State football team finalized its 2012 coaching staff last week with the promotion of two coaches and hiring of another.

Tom Hayes will take over as defensive coordinator, Joe Bob Clements as defensive run game coordinator and newly hired Mike Cox as linebackers coach.

Hayes will be entering his second year on the K-State staff after serving as the secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator last season. He is taking over as defensive coordinator for Chris Cosh, who recently accepted the same position at South Florida.

Last season, Hayes was in charge of a unit that featured Nigel Malone, who led the Big 12 Conference with seven interceptions and was named a Walter Camp All-American. Along with Malone, the secondary also featured David Garrett, Tysyn Hartman and Ty Zimmerman, each earning Big 12 honors for their respective positions.

"Coach Hayes had a significant role in the continued improvement of our defense and brings a great deal of experience to the program," Snyder said in an interview with K-State Sports.

Hayes, a graduate from the University of Iowa, has 30 years of coaching experience, including time spent at three Bowl Championship Series schools as well as with the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins of the NFL.

Former K-State player Joe Bob Clements, who is entering his 11th season on the coaching staff, will take over the title of defensive run game coordinator in addition to his usual duties as defensive ends coach, a position he has held since 2003. Last season, he mentored defensive end Meshak Williams to all-Big 12 honors as the K-State run defense significantly improved from the year before, finishing fourth in the conference in rush defense.

"Coach Clements has been a loyal and highly competent member of our program for many years and is more than deserving of this advancement," Snyder said.

Clements played defensive end for coach Snyder and the Wildcats in the late 1990s, originally joining the team as a walk-on before earning a scholarship prior to the 1996 season. He graduated from K-State in 1999 and joined Snyder's staff in the same year.

The newest member to the coaching staff, Mike Cox, takes over as linebackers coach after spending the last three seasons holding the same position at the University of Washington. Prior to that, he spent two seasons coaching the secondary and linebackers for the NFL's St. Louis Rams. He has also spent time during his career coaching at Michigan State, Louisville, Utah State and Idaho.

"Mike brings experience and knowledge as well as the appropriate intrinsic values to our program," Snyder said. "Our players will have a great appreciation for him."

Cox spent his playing career from 1983-1986 at the University of Idaho, starting as linebacker for three of those seasons. He is still one of the schools all-time defensive leaders, recording 252 tackles during his career.

The coaching moves set the 14-man coaching staff in place as the Wildcats prepare for spring practice, which begins on April 4, with this year's Spring Game scheduled for April 28.