Oregon Announces Football Staff Changes

Salem-News.com SPORTS

EUGENE - University of Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti has announced a realignment of his football staff that includes the reassignment of long-time assistant head coach Neal Zoumboukos as well as the return of Tom Osborne as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.

The 46-year-old Osborne spent the last six seasons as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Arizona State after coordinating Oregon’s specials teams and tutoring its tight ends from 1995 through 2000.

Zoumboukos, who has accumulated 27 years as an Oregon assistant coach -- the longest continuous tenure of any assistant coach in the Pac-10 Conference -- will assume the title of special assistant to the director of athletics.

In his new role, Zoumboukos will continue to serve in an administrative role to Bellotti and the football program as well as a liason between incoming director of athletics Pat Kilkenny and the university campus community.

“Neal Zoumboukos has played an integral role in the success of Oregon’s football program for more than two decades and is regarded very highly among numerous university circles as well,” Kilkenny said. “His value to me will be immeasurable, not only within the athletics department but in helping me become familiar with the different constituents on campus. I am extremely pleased and fortunate that Neal has agreed to fill this role.”

The 39-year coaching veteran joined the Oregon staff in 1980, where he spent all but one of his first 25 years tutoring its offensive line.

He first shifted duties to coach the Ducks’ tight ends for one season during the 1994 Rose Bowl campaign before returning there for the last two seasons, along with the responsibilities of overseeing the team’s special teams play. He also was elevated to associate head coach in 2005.

Included among the standout players he coached were first-team all-conference choices Gary Zimmerman and Adam Snyder, who both advanced to the NFL.

He also helped hone the skills of tight end Josh Wilcox, who established the school’s one-game record for most receptions by a tight end (11) in the 1995 Rose Bowl, as well as Dante Rosario, with the Ducks’ third-leading receiver from a year ago (42) establishing a school record for most catches from a player at his position.

He also was instrumental in the recruitment of such notable standouts as quarterback Bill Musgrave, all-time rushing leader Derek Loville, All-America cornerback Alex Molden, and current running back Jonathan Stewart.

But Zoumboukos’ responsibilities extended far beyond the field of play.

He was charged with the additional duties as administrative assistant in 1983, was further elevated to the position of assistant head coach during the spring of 1990, as well as assumed many department administrative tasks during former head coach Rich Brooks’ two-year stint as athletics director (1992-94).

“I want to personally thank Neal Zoumboukos for his outstanding service to this university, the athletics department and our football program,” Bellotti said. “He has been an outstanding teacher, coach and mentor to the student-athletes he has been associated with. He also has been a friend, confidant and co-worker to me whom I have trusted and leaned on my entire time as a football coach.

“He will be missed on the football field but I am pleased he will continue his association with this athletics department and help our new athletics director with his efforts to move this athletics department forward.”

Osborne was named the Division IA National Special Teams Coordinator of the Year by American Football Coaches Monthly Magazine following the 2003 season.

His success in placing a high priority on the different phases of the kicking game has been well documented. He was in charge of elements that ranked among the nation’s top 26 11 of his last 12 years as well as accumulated Pac-10 leaders on sevens occasions.

Along the way, he has been instrumental in the development of 16 All-Americans, 14 first-team all-conference standouts ane 12 second-team all-league honorees in his 24-year coaching career.

Last year, Arizona State ranked second in the country in kickoff returns (26.42 avg.) as well as second in the Pac-10 in net punting (37.24 avg.).

During his stint with the Sun Devils, Osborne’s units blocked 11 punts, ranked as high as eighth nationally in punt returns in 2005 (14.96 avg.), ninth in kickoff returns in 2001 (25.04 avg.), 16th in kickoff coverage in 2004 (17.93 avg.) and 16th in net punting (38.79 avg.).

Yet his role tutoring tight ends certainly has not taken a back seat.

Zach Miller earned first-team All-America honors in 2006 after catching 50 passes for 484 yards and four touchdowns.

Over the past three seasons, Miller caught more passes (144) than any other tight end in the country while his yardage (1,512) was second nationally during that span.

Under Osborne’s supervision, Oregon’s special teams play was arguably the best in the Pac-10, if not the country.

The Ducks ranked either first or second in the Pac-10 in kickoff coverage each of his six seasons, among the top three in kickoff returns five of six years and among the top three in net punting on four occasions.

His final year in Eugene in 2000, Oregon led the league in kickoff coverage (17.04 avg.), kickoff returns (22.5 avg.) and net punting (37.7 avg.).

From a statistical standpoint, Osborne also coached Oregon’s top two tight ends of all time (Wilcox - 103 receptions, Blake Spence - 92 catches). During his six years, the Ducks’ tight ends annually averaged close to 50 catches for 700 yards and seven touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Oregon staff, the Washington native coached running backs and tight ends at Boise State for two seasons (1993-94) and coached at Portland State from 1986-92.

The 1983 Washington State graduate and former wide receiver served as a student coach for the Cougars (1981-82) as well as a graduate assistant (1983-85) at his alma mater.

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