Gill Announces Additions To Coaching Staff

Also promotes Barrett to Offensive Coordinator position

Danny Barrett

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo head football coach Turner Gill announced two new additions to the Bulls’ defensive coaching staff and several changes in job duties.

Robert Wimberly, who has most recently been at Liberty University, will coach Buffalo’s linebackers, while Jarod Dodson, formerly of the University of South Dakota, will coach Buffalo’s cornerbacks.

That completes the Bulls’ defensive coaching staff with Fred Reed, as previously announced, taking on defensive coordinator duties, while also coaching UB’s safeties. Brian Mohnsen, who came to Buffalo with Coach Gill in 2006, will now coach the defensive line after working exclusively with the Bulls’ defensive ends last year.

Brian Mohnson

“Brian has done a very nice job with our players the last three years and he was the best guy for our program to handle our defensive line,” said Gill.

In addition, Gill also announced that Danny Barrett, UB’s quarterbacks coach, will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2009.

“By virtue of the excellent job that Danny has done in his two years on our staff, he is ready to lead our offense forward in competing for MAC Championships in the future.”

Wimberly spent the past five seasons at Liberty University where he also had the role of Director of High School Relations. Wimberly’s work with the Flames’ linebackers saw them set several team records, including fewest points allowed (172), fewest average total offensive yards (306.0), shutouts (3), and helped the Flames rank 12th nationally in scoring defense (15.64 points per game) in 2006.

Robert Wimberly

In 2007, Wimberly’s linebackers continued to shine, helping Liberty finish the year ranked No. 24 in rushing defense (128.5 yards per game), No. 32 in scoring defense (22.3 points per game) and No. 40 in total defense (349.3 yards per game).

This past season, the Flames allowed less than 19 points per game – ranking 14th in the nation – and allowed touchdowns in the red zone only 59% of the time.

Wimberly helped shape one of Liberty’s rising stars in the National Football League, as the linebacker coach instructed Vince Redd during his final collegiate season. Redd, who was a Big South first-team all-conference honoree and honorable mention All-American, signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots after graduating in 2008.

Before coming to Liberty, Wimberly served as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Wisconsin during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Wimberly received his bachelor’s degree in science and hospitality management in 2002 at Alabama A&M. He completed his master’s degree in educational policy & administration at the University of Wisconsin in 2005.

“His outstanding job of coaching linebackers the past five years, combined with him being a phenomenal communicator, is why Coach Wimberly is the right person for our staff,” said Gill. The native of Miami, Fla., is married to the former Tracie Pruitt of Birmingham, Ala.

Jarod Dodson

Dodson, meanwhile, comes to Buffalo after serving as defensive coordinator at South Dakota in 2008 in his fifth year on the Coyote staff.

In his first year as USD’s defensive coordinator in 2008, Dodson helped form one of the top units in NCAA Division I FCS and the Great West Conference.

The Coyotes allowed 18.6 points per game, which ranked 14th nationally and best in the Great West Conference. The Coyotes were also ranked 24th nationally in total defense (313.6 yards per game), which was also best in the GWC. The Coyotes also had the top-ranked pass defense in the GWC (191.7 yards per game), and led the league in turnovers forced (24). USD also had seven players earn postseason honors from the GWC. The Coyotes also surrendered the fewest passing touchdowns of any team in the league and led the league in interceptions under Dodson’s guidance. The Coyotes also boasted the top red-zone defense in the GWC.

Following the 2007 season, Dodson was a finalist for the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award. The award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.

Dodson pulled double duties in 2007, working with the wide receivers and defensive backs. The production from the Coyote receivers helped the offense rank 6th in the nation in total offense (496.2 ypg) and 49th in passing offense (232.6 ypg).

In 2006, Dodson served as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. He helped coach a Coyote defense that ranked second in the NCC in scoring defense (19.5 points per game) and ranked first in the NCC and fourth nationally in rushing defense at 73.8 yards per game.

In 2005, Dodson was the wide receivers coach and helped coach the best offense in the nation as USD advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII playoffs, finishing 9-4 and was ranked 13th in the final AFCA poll.

Before joining the USD coaching staff, he served as the special teams coordinator at Michigan Tech. Dodson, had worked special teams and defense (linebackers, defensive backs) at Michigan Tech since the 2000-01 season.

“Coach Dodson’s interpersonal skills and experience as both a secondary coach and defensive coordinator made him the perfect fit for our defensive staff,” said Gill.

A native of Palmdale, Calif., he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in recreation in 1999 and received a Master of Arts degree in health, physical education and recreation in 2000 from USD. Jarod and his wife, Shannon, have four daughters, Mariah, LaRae, JaeLynn and Kendyl.