Coaching positions for football in Northern Colorado will change in 2024.

In a statement from the athletic department, second-year Bears coach Ed Lamb stated that while a few positions on the Northern Colorado football coaching staff are still vacant, six other positions are being switched about.

Preston Hadley will still be the defensive coordinator this season and will also be in charge of the linebackers. Hadley was the defensive coordinator and also worked with safeties the previous year.

Along with the promotion to associate head coach, Aaron Fernandez also received the title of NFL liaison. Once more, Fernandez will oversee the defensive line.

For 2024, Michael Smith, the running backs coach and associate head coach, will oversee special teams.

To replace Blair Peterson as offensive coordinator, Justin Walterscheid, the special teams coach from the previous season, was named in the middle of December. After the season, Peterson—who was also the quarterbacks coach—left the team to take a position in Utah that did not involve football.

Micah Simon, the wide receivers coach, also departed UNC during the season. Since then, he has been the University of New Mexico’s wide receivers coach.

The positions of wide receivers coach and quarterback coach are still available. Dennis Driscoll, associate athletic director at UNC, stated on Wednesday that the program is in the process of appointing coaches to those roles.

The following three coaching modifications for 2024:

1. James Pazak, from linebackers to safeties.
2. Nick Nissen from tight ends to offensive line
3. Spencer Patterson from offensive to tight ends.

According to UNC release, Lamb stated that the Bears improved as a result of the staff adjustments. Last autumn, UNC concluded with a record of 0-11, marking the program’s first losing season in 11 games since 2011.

“The transition will be easy, and there is a sense of familiarity with our returning student-athletes on the roster,” Lamb stated in the press statement. “Eager to wrap up our recruiting class for 2024 and prepare for spring practice.”

During the early signing period in December, UNC announced the addition of 14 players to the roster.

February 7 is National Signing Day, the official football Division I and II signing day.