Irish lose Rosburg to Browns
By TIM CASEY
Assistant Sports Editor
Although it appears Joker Phillips will be named an assistant, the Irish still must fill two other coaching vacancies. Former safeties coach Lou West is now the defensive coordinator at Toledo.
And on Monday, cornerbacks coach Jerry Rosburg bolted to the National Football League. Rosburg was named as the special teams coach for the Cleveland Browns.
During the 2000 season, Rosburg coached a punt return unit that ranked 12th in the nation and blocked six punts.
"He was a mastermind at the whole special teams thing," said cornerback Jason Beckstrom, who also played on the kickoff, punt and punt return teams. "That was really his big deal. He came in and just totally changed the special teams and made everything more aggressive. Obviously it worked."
Rosburg arrived in 1999 after spending the two previous seasons as Boston College's secondary coach. He also coached at Northern Michigan, Western Michigan, Cincinnati and Minnesota.
In Cleve-land, Rosburg will join the staff of head coach Butch Davis, the former University of Miami coach.
"I'm sad about him leaving," Beckstrom said. "I really got to know him and think highly of him as a coach. He helped me develop as a player as far as technique and he really knew the defense well. He was a big part of our program."
Rosburg flew to Cleveland early last night and was unavailable for comment.
Notes:
u Nine seniors will apply for a fifth year of eligibility.
They include: fullback Jason Murray, offensive linemen Kurt Vollers, John Teasdale, Casey Robin and J.W. Jordan, defensive linemen Grant Irons and Andy Wisne, and defensive backs Justin Smith and Ron Israel.
u The first of 15 spring practices will be held on March 27. The annual Blue-Gold Game will take place on April 28.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 14, 2001
