Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Hill announces eight assistants
01/21/2016 | 12:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Nick Hill, who was named head football coach at Southern Illinois University on Dec. 23, announced eight assistant coaches on Thursday.
Kraig Paulson was named the program's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Paulson has served as defensive coordinator at Utah State, Montana and UNLV during the past 17 seasons. Montana won conference titles in all eight of his seasons as the Grizzlies' defensive coordinator, and they made three national championship appearances with Paulson as defensive coordinator. He coached nine All-Americans and one National Defensive Player of the Year at Montana, and eight players he recruited or coached are still playing in the NFL.
"With his experience, I could not have found a better coach," Hill said of Paulson. "He's coached in national championships. He's coached NFL players. He coached against (SIU) and held us to 129 yards. I feel very fortunate to have him not only as a defensive coordinator but also assistant head coach."
John Van Dam, will serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Van Dam played at Michigan State and has coached at Alabama, Michigan and Florida. Most recently, he was a program assistant at Florida, where he helped engineer a turnaround that culminated in the Gators reaching the Southeastern Conference title game and a New Year's Day bowl.
"John was recommended by so many great people on the offensive side of the ball," Hill said. "He's won a national championship with Nick Saban at Alabama. I got a call from (Florida head coach) Jim McElwain. Doug Nussmeier is a coach I've admired, and John was his right-hand man. He is very organized, and his passion is quarterbacks. We got a good one with John, and I look forward to working with him on offense."
Hill said he met with every member of the 2015 coaching staff and retained Ashton Aikens (wide receivers) and Austin Flyger (defensive line). Aikens begins his third season on the staff full-time, and Flyger starts his seventh season as the program's defensive line coach.
Four more new members of the staff all have ties to former SIU and Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill. Nate Griffin (tight ends/fullbacks), Trevor Olson (offensive line) and Melvin Rice (cornerbacks) were all members of the Golden Gophers' staff last season. Marty Rodgers (safeties) played for Kill at Southern from (2006-09) and was an All-MVFC safety for the Salukis and spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff at North Dakota.
"I'm pleased to keep Ashton and Austin, and I believe our new staff checks all the critical boxes," Hill said. "Kraig has a national championship ring. John has worked for three BCS powerhouses. Nate, Trevor and Melvin cut their teeth under Coach Kill. I played with Marty and have tremendous respect for him. Together, this is a staff that shares my passion to make Saluki Football great again, on and off the field."
