Three days after a perfect finish at the Sugar Bowl, changes on the Utah coaching staff continue.
Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder struck again as offensive line coach Charlie Dickey has accepted an assistance coaching position with the Wildcats, where he will be the boss of the KSU offensive line next season. Although the departure of Dickey to Kansas State is a loss, head coach Kyle Whittingham hired John Pease, a 19-year NFL veteran, as his new defensive line coach. Pease and now full-time defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake will be at the defensive helm next season for Utah.
“We are very fortunate to have John Pease joining our staff,” said head coach Kyle Whittingham. “As a defensive line coach, the experience and expertise that he brings to our program is second to none.”
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native is a U alumnus, who played for the Utes from 1963-64 and was named the team’s Most Inspirational Player. Pease’s coaching resume includes eight years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spent time as the defensive line coach and the defensive coordinator. He most recently was the defensive line coach in the 2004-05 season with the New Orleans Saints after going into retirement. During his time in the NFL, Pease led all active coaches in career sack production with 811 total sacks.
“In addition to coaching the defensive line, Coach Pease will also serve as our assistant head coach,” Whittingham said. “Hiring John was a unique opportunity and we jumped on it.”
Dickey coached and developed All-MWC offensive linemen Zane Beadles and Robert Conley during his tenure at the U that started in 2005.
He coached four first-team all-conference offensive linemen during his time with Utah: Jesse Boone (2005), tackle Tavo Tupola (2006) and Beadles and Conley in 2008.
Whittingham now has two coaching positions to fill as Dickey and former offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig both accepted coaching spots on Snyder’s new KSU staff.