By The Daily Item
LEWISBURG -- Two assistants under Tim Landis will return to the sidelines this fall, along with a new face with local ties, as new Bison football coach Joe Susan completed his coaching staff on Tuesday.
Susan announced the eight members of his first staff, including offensive coordinator Bryan Bossard, defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin and returning coaches Mike O'Connor and R.D. Montgomery. Additionally, former Bison player Matt Borich, Valparaiso co-offensive coordinator Chip Taylor, Ohio State grad assistant Chad Rogosheske and former Cornell assistant Ross Pennypacker have joined Susan's staff.
"I feel very fortunate to have these guys here with me," said Susan, who was hired as Bucknell's 26th head coach in late January. "They bring a lot of experience and will serve as role models to our players both on and off the field. I know they will do a great job teaching our players."
Bossard will take over duties as the offensive coordinator, and will also coach the wide receivers and running backs. Last year O'Connor mentored the defensive line, but this year he will coach the quarterbacks, a position he played in college, and share running back duties with Bossard. Rogosheske will also be involved on offense, coaching the offensive line, while Montgomery will oversee the tight ends.
In addition to his duties as defensive coordinator, Carlin will coach the linebackers. Borich (defensive line), Taylor (cornerbacks/special teams) and Pennypacker (safeties) will also concentrate their efforts on the defensive side of the ball.
Like Susan, Bossard is a graduate of Delaware and a former Bucknell assistant, having played for the Blue Hens from 1985-88 and coached the Bison in 1992 and 1993. Recently, Bossard has been on the staffs at Pittsburgh (2008-09) and Maryland (2005-07). At both places, he coached the wide receivers and returners, while also recruiting in the Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C., areas.
Carlin, a 1987 graduate of Juniata College, returns to Pennsylvania after a number of stops at both the FCS and FBS levels. For the last six years he was an assistant coach at Ivy League institution Cornell. During that span he served two stints at defensive coordinator, covering four seasons. In his first year (2004) the Big Red finished seventh nationally in rush defense and 13th nationally in scoring defense (18.1 ppg). After a two-year tenure as the team's offensive coordinator, Carlin returned to the defensive side of the ball and was once again responsible for defensive play calling and game planning.
Carlin got his start at the Division I level as a graduate assistant at Nebraska under legendary coach Tom Osborne from 1994-96. During that span the Cornhuskers went 36-2 and won two national titles.
A standout defensive lineman and linebacker at Bucknell from 1997 to 2000, Borich earned three varsity letters, received the Coaches Award for Leadership and was a member of Bucknell's class with the most wins in school history (29) during his time as a Bison. He totaled 62 tackles in 32 career games and graduated in May of 2001 with a degree in economics.
A native of nearby Winfield, who played football at Selinsgrove, Borich spent the last six years coaching the defensive line at Princeton. In addition to on-field coaching duties, he recruited student-athletes in 11 states, mainly in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.
Taylor has spent six of the last seven years coaching at Valparaiso and has steadily moved up the staff, culminating in an appointment as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this past fall. In his only year in that role, Taylor helped the Crusaders improve upon their pass completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes from 2008.
A veteran mentor with 12 years of college football coaching experience, Rogosheske comes to Bucknell after three years as a graduate assistant at Ohio State. During that span the Buckeyes won three Big Ten titles, competed in the Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl, and played in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.
While at Ohio State, Rogosheske worked directly with the specialists, including long snappers, punters and kickers, coordinated the defensive scout team and assisted with the offensive line.
Like Carlin, Pennypacker comes to Bucknell from Cornell, having served as the cornerbacks coach for the Big Red the previous two seasons. Prior to his stint at Cornell, Pennypacker was a grad assistant and assistant coach at Villanova for two years. His duties with the Wildcats included serving as the team's video coordinator and assisting with the defensive backs.
One of two returning members from last year's staff is O'Connor, who like Susan, previously coached at Rutgers under former Bison football player Greg Schiano.
A Lewisburg native and a former quarterback at Lafayette, O'Connor initially joined the Bucknell staff as an assistant coach in the winter of 2009. He spent the previous four years as a grad assistant and full-time assistant coach with the Scarlet Knights.
O'Connor is the son of former Bucknell assistant football coach Mike O'Connor and the grandson of former Bucknell head coach Fred Prender.
Montgomery returns for a second season at Bucknell as well. He joined the staff last August and worked predominantly with the tight ends.
A 2004 graduate of Wake Forest, Montgomery was a four-year member of the Demon Deacons' football squad and also played one season of basketball.
