UH's Sumlin Announces Coaching Staff Restructuring

[MrMustang1965]

University of Houston head football coach Kevin Sumlin announced Tuesday a restructuring of his coaching staff for the 2011 season. Long-time collegiate coach Leon Burtnett, who tutored Cougar linebackers from 2008-10, will use his skills to assist in the program's administration as the Director of Player Personnel and Quality Control. Sumlin filled the open linebacker coach position with former Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Jamie Bryant. He is the second defensive hire in the past month after the addition of defensive line coach Carlton Hall.

"Coach Burtnett has been a huge part of my football career, beginning with my time as a player under him at Purdue," said Sumlin. "He has been a great mentor to so many players and coaches and his new role will take full advantage of his experience in this business."

"I am excited about Jamie joining our staff," Sumlin added. "He fits what we do very well and has a strong reputation for his development of players. His personality will make this transition a smooth one with the defensive staff and our linebackers. As a former coordinator he also brings great experience to our defensive room."

Burtnett moves to his new role after 38 years of coaching college and professional football, including a five-year stint as head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers. The former Big Ten Coach of the Year tutored over 40 All-Conference players and put nearly 30 gridders in the National Football League.

Bryant comes to Houston after 10 years at Vanderbilt where he most recently served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach in both 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the defensive unit ranked ninth nationally in pass defense and 46th nationally in scoring defense.

The Fredericktown, Ohio native tutored Vanderbilt's first-ever All-American defensive back in D.J. Moore in 2008. He also produced All-SEC defensive backs in three consecutive years -- Moore in 2008, Myron Lewis in 2009 and Casey Hayward in 2010. Hayward led the SEC in passes defended and ranked second in interceptions. Moore and Lewis were also NFL draftees, with Moore selected in the fourth in 2009 and Lewis in the third round a year later.

In addition to Lewis and Moore, Bryant had two other players on NFL rosters at the beginning of the 2010 season -- Ryan Hamilton with Philadelphia and Reshard Langford in Kansas City.
Prior to Vanderbilt, Bryant was an assistant at North Carolina for the 2001 season alongside former Vanderbilt head coach Robbie Caldwell. That year, an aggressive defense helped the Tar Heels win seven of their final nine regular-season games, including impressive routs of ACC foes Florida State and Clemson, before defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footb ... 11aaa.html

[Bergermeister]

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