Just 17 days after he was named the new Utah State University football coach John L. Smith today announced the names of the men who will be his assistant coaches for the 1995 season.
"He has already assembled his first recruiting class," said Aggie athletic director Chuck Bell. "Their credentials are most impressive."As expected, four of them make the move to USU from Smith's former team, University of Idaho, tight-end coach Nate Kaczor has been retained from Charlie Weatherbie's 1994 USU staff, and Smith brings in the offensive coordinator from Nevada, defensive coordinator from Hawaii and a former Miami All-American and former Dennis Erickson assistant to be defensive line coach.
Bob Peterino, who spent last season as offensive coordinator/quarterback coach for nationally ranked Nevada, is USU's new offensive coordinator.
Art Valero, who spent five years at Idaho with Smith, becomes USU's new assistant head coach and offensive line coach.
Chris Smeland, who spent four years at Hawaii, three as defensive coordinator, will be USU's defensive coordinator.
Mike Cox, seven years as linebacker coach at Idaho after playing there, moves with Smith to USU as linebacker coach.
Paul Petrino, Bob's younger brother, was an assistant for three years at Idaho abd becomes the Aggies' new wide receiver coach.
Former All-Pac 10 free safety at Washington State, Artie Holmes, who coached Idaho's secondary last season after a year at Central Washington and a year at Western Washington, will be the new Aggie secondary coach.
Greg Mark comes to USU from Erickson's Miami staff, where he was a graduate assistant for three years, to be defensive line coach. Smith was an Erckson assistant at Idaho, Wyoming and Washington State.
Charles Chandler, eight years the running back coach at Central Washington, where he was also head track coach, will be USU's new running back coach.