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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo football staff has undergone some changes in the wake of running backs coach Dennis Greene accepting the head coaching job at Erie Community College.

Head coach Craig Cirbus has announced that Chuck Williams, former head football coach at Canisius College and long-time high school coach at North Tonawanda, has joined his staff as tight ends coach. Williams, who had coached UB's defensive secondary from 1985-89, returns to the Bulls after resigning as head coach of the Golden Griffins after the 1999 season. "We are extremely fortunate to have Chuck and his many years of coaching experience join our program," said Cirbus.

In addition, Jim Gibbons, a six-year member of the UB football staff, has been named running backs coach while John Opfer, a 1998 UB graduate, will take over the strength and conditioning duties. Opfer had previously served as a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning at the University of Tennessee after interning with the Buffalo Bills last summer.

Gibbons came to UB in 1995 from Buffalo State where he had coached the wide receivers and tight ends as the Bengals made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Gibbons spent his first two seasons at UB working with the Bulls' tight ends as a graduate assistant before transitioning to a full-time position as strength and conditioning coach. He is a 1990 graduate of Ithaca College where he helped the Bombers to the 1988 NCAA Division III Championship.

Opfer earned three letters for Coach Cirbus (1996-98) while playing fullback, wide receiver and defensive back and excelling on special teams. The North Ridgeville, OH native will oversee all of the off-the-field fitness responsibilities of the Bulls with the goal of adding muscle mass while decreasing body fat.

In addition, UB has hired two graduate assistant coaches while repositioning several other spots. Mark Maier's title has changed from recruiting coordinator to director of football operations and Tony Latona, who had previously served as graduate assistant on the offensive line will now act as an administrative assistant. Norman McCarter has also been added as the football office business manager, coming over from UB's External Relations office.

The Bulls also hired Doug Socha as a defensive graduate assistant. Socha comes to UB from College of the Canyons Junior College in Valencia, CA where he coached the defensive secondary for the past two seasons.