New LB Coach

[SMU 86]

Per Coach Jones' twitter page.

http://twitter.com/CoachJuneJones

[RedRiverPony]

Joe Haering

Coached with JJ with the Falcons, I think

[SMU 86]

I believe you are right redriver. Josh at Ponystampede said the same thing.

[kull]

old school hire for sure. he has a killer right hand, left not so bad either.

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Joe Haering Joins Mustang Football Coaching Staff

Former NFL Assistant To Coach Linebackers

July 13, 2009

DALLAS (SMU)- SMU Head Football Coach June Jones has hired former NFL assistant coach Joe Haering as SMU's new linebackers coach. Haering comes to the Hilltop after spending the last 12 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where he served as a college scout.

Prior to joining the Bills' scouting staff, Haering was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Falcons from 1994-96. Haering oversaw the Falcons' linebackers and also served as defensive coordinator in 1995, when they earned a spot in the playoffs. His NFL coaching career began in 1978-79 with the New York Jets, where he served as the linebackers/special teams coach.

"Joe has a wealth of experience at both the pro and college levels," said Jones. "He was our defensive coordinator when we made the USFL playoffs with the Denver Gold in 1985 and again when we made it to the NFL post-season with the Atlanta Falcons in 1995. He also possesses that same positive attitude that we're instilled in our players. He will be a huge asset."

After his first stint in the NFL, Haering became offensive coordinator for the CFL's Hamilton TigerCats in 1980, and helped lead them to an Eastern Division Championship. He coached in the USFL for all three years that it existed, starting in 1983 under Hall of Fame coach George Allen with the Chicago Blitz. He then moved to become defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Maulers in 1984, and was defensive coordinator for the Denver Gold in 1985. He later served as head coach for the Pittsburgh Gladiators and the Cincinnati Rockers of the Arena League.

Prior to his pro coaching career, he spent 10 years at the college level, starting out as the linebackers' coach at Bucknell, his alma mater. Over the next 10 years he had stints at Kentucky, Boston University and Kent State.

Haering was an all-conference linebacker for Bucknell, and was a quarterback in high school. After graduating from Bucknell, he received a commission in the United States Army and served as a first lieutenant and company commander in Vietnam.

SMU players will report for fall camp on Aug. 7, with the opener scheduled for Sept. 5 when the Mustangs host Stephen F. Austin.

[PonyKai]

Stop me if I'm wrong, but I have to imagine that 12 years of experience as a college scout for a pro team will help in the recruiting pitch. He can sit there and say son, I know exactly what we look for in scouting NFL talent, and I'll make sure you're proficient in every one of those aspects of the game.

[mathman]

Stop me if I'm wrong, but I have to imagine that 12 years of experience as a college scout for a pro team will help in the recruiting pitch. He can sit there and say son, I know exactly what we look for in scouting NFL talent, and I'll make sure you're proficient in every one of those aspects of the game.

I was kinda thinking the same thing. And since he did it for 12 years, the Bills must have been pretty satisfied with the job he was doing. Makes me think he might just be a very good judge of talent. Of course I guess I need to look and see how the Bills have done the last 12 years first.

[StallionsModelT]

I like the hire. Agree that this should be an asset for recruiting.

[SMU89]

Good hire.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Great hire!

[Mustangsabu]

Seems like an awesome hire to me.