Head Football Coach Tim Brewster Announces Staff

University of Minnesota head football coach Tim Brewster has announced 12 members of his staff for the 2007 season. Mike Dunbar (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator), Everett Withers (Defensive Coordinator), Daniel Berezowitz (Recruiting Coordinator), John Butler (Linebackers/Special Teams), Tim Cross (Defensive Line), Thomas Hammock (Running Backs), Mark Hill (Head Strength and Conditioning), Derek Lewis (Tight Ends), George McDonald (Wide Receivers), Phil Meyer (Offensive Line), Will Peoples (Asst. Strength & Conditioning) and Randy Taylor (Director of Football Operations) have been named to Brewster’s staff.

“I couldn’t be more excited that we have been able to put together top coaches and recruiters throughout the country on this staff,” said Brewster. “I say that with confidence because I know these guys personally and they are proven in their profession. This staff will work harder than any in the nation. This a special day for the Gopher Nation and all its fans.”

ASSISTANT COACH/STAFF BIOS
Mike Dunbar, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Dunbar, a Tacoma, Wash., native, comes to Minnesota from California, where he served as the offensive coordinator last season. Prior to joining the Cal staff, Dunbar coached at Northwestern from 2001-05, the last four years serving as offensive coordinator. Dunbar started his coaching career as head coach at Central Washington from 1987-91 before leaving to serve as offensive coordinator at Toledo from 1992-96. He also took on the additional responsibilities of assistant head coach at Toledo from 1994-96. After five seasons at Toledo, Dunbar became the head coach at Northern Iowa, holding that position from 1997-2000. Under Dunbar’s direction as offensive coordinator, Cal ranked 12th in the nation in total offense in 2006 and was ranked among the top 35 in the country in both passing offense (17th) and rushing offense (33rd). Dunbar’s offense also averaged 32.8 points per game, which was 11th in the nation for scoring offense. As offensive coordinator at Northwestern, the Wildcats ranked fourth in the country in total offense in 2005, averaging 500.3 yards per game to become just the second team in the history of the Big Ten to generate at least 500 yards per game. He tutored Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez, who set 30 Northwestern offensive records and finished second in Big Ten history to Drew Brees in career passing yards (10,580), total offense (11,576) and completions (913). In 2005, Basanez set Northwestern season records for passing yards (3,622), total offense (4,027), completions (314) and touchdown passes (21). Dunbar owns a career record of 83-24-1 as a collegiate head coach. He was 29-15 at Northern Iowa from 1997-2000 and 54-9-1 at Central Washington from 1987-91. Toledo posted a 36-18-2 record during Dunbar’s five seasons, including an 11-0-1 mark in 1995 when Toledo won the Mid-American Conference title and defeated Nevada in the Las Vegas Bowl. As Toledo’s offensive coordinator in 1995, the Rockets set 21 offensive school records, including most points and most rushing touchdowns.

Everett Withers, Defensive Coordinator - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Withers has been with the Tennessee Titans from 2001-06 as defensive backs coach. He has played a key role in the development of young cornerbacks Adam “Pacman” Jones and Reynaldo Hill. Prior to working with the Titans, Withers was defensive backs coach at Texas from 1998-2000, where he guided a Longhorns secondary which ranked 75th in the nation in pass defense in 1997 (132.7 efficiency rating) to first in the nation in 2000 (88.02). Withers was also the defensive coordinator at Louisville from 1995-97. His 1996 defensive unit ranked fourth nationally in both total defense (235.8) and rushing defense (81.1), and led the NCAA in forced turnovers (41). While at Louisville, Withers helped current Dolphins All-Pro cornerback Sam Madison earn All-America honors for the Cardinals. The Charlotte, N.C., native’s first National Football League experience came with the New Orleans Saints when he worked as defensive quality control in 1994. Withers was defensive backs coach at Southern Mississippi for two seasons (1992-93) and outside linebackers coach at Tulane in 1991. The first three years of Withers’ coaching career came at Austin Peay, where he was defensive backs coach (1988), defensive coordinator (1989) and special teams/wide receivers coach (1990). Withers was a standout defensive back and captain at Appalachian State, where he played from 1981-85.

Daniel Berezowitz, Recruiting Coordinator
Berezowitz joins the Gopher staff after seven years at Arizona, including the past four seasons as recruiting coordinator. The Woodstock, Ill., native also served as the director of personnel and research for the Wildcats last season and played a key role in a second consecutive Top 20 recruiting class in February of 2006. Berezowitz was director of football operations for John Mackovic from 2001-03. Prior to joining the UA staff, he worked at Texas, where he held an operations director position for Mack Brown’s program from 1998-99. Berezowitz was a four-year letterwinner at quarterback for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1988-91. He later coached at UW-Whitewater as an assistant from 1992-94. After graduating from UW-Whitewater with a degree in athletic administration in 1994, Berezowitz spent four years at the North Carolina (1994-97) with duties as director of video operations and the school’s football center director.

John Butler, Linebackers/Special Teams - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Butler will serve as linebackers and special teams coach for the Gophers after spending the past four seasons (2003-06) in the same capacity at Harvard. Butler’s special teams units annually ranked among the best in the Ivy League, including a 2004 season in which the Crimson registered four special teams touchdowns. No other Ivy League school had as many as one touchdown on special teams in 2004, while Harvard also added four special teams blocks and saw opponents convert just six field goals during the season. Working with Harvard’s linebackers, Butler had four first team All-Ivy League selections. Before his stint with the Crimson, Butler coached safeties and was the special teams coordinator at Southwest Texas State in 2001. The Philadelphia, Pa., native spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons at Midwestern State University, where he was the defensive coordinator and coached the team’s linebackers and safeties. Prior to his work at Midwestern State, Butler was a graduate assistant at Texas under both John Mackovic and Mack Brown. Butler began his coaching career at his alma mater, Catholic University, working as the team’s secondary coach in 1995. He became the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator in 1996, when the team finished in the top 25 in Division III in total defense. Butler was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Catholic, where he was part of the biggest turnaround in Division III history. The football team went 1-9 in his junior campaign, but finished 8-2 when he was a senior.

Tim Cross, Defensive Line - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Cross becomes the Gophers defensive line coach after serving the past two seasons (2005-06) in that capacity at Syracuse. In his first season with the Orange, Cross mentored NFL Draft selections James Wyche and Ryan LaCasse. In 2006, he mentored Big East sack leader Jameel McClain. Cross was an assistant strength coach at Texas from 2001-04 prior to joining the Orange coaching staff. During his time at Texas, Cross assisted in the development and implementation of the strength and speed programs for the Longhorns’ football squad. He was responsible for creating training programs for a Doak Walker, a Butkus and a Nagurski Trophy winner. Prior to his arrival at Texas, Cross was the head football coach at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colo., from 1997-2000. He also spent one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at TJHS. As head coach, Cross led the team to four consecutive league titles and had a 42-game conference winning streak. He mentored 14 high school All-Americans, 20 all-state picks and 31 first team all-conference players. Cross coached two future NFL first-round draft picks in his time at Thomas Jefferson in Daniel Graham (New England Patriots) and Andre Woolfolk (Tennessee Titans). As a player at Northern Colorado, Cross was a four-year letterwinner, earning All-North Central Conference honors as a linebacker.

Thomas Hammock, Running Backs - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Hammock joins the Gophers after coaching running backs at Northern Illinois the past two seasons (2005-06). Hammock leaves one great running program for another as Northern Illinois and Minnesota have each posted a 1,000-yard rusher the past eight seasons. Prior to joining the NIU staff, Hammock spent two seasons at Wisconsin, working one year as an administrative assistant with the football program and one as a graduate assistant. He initially worked with the Badger running backs under offensive coordinator Brian White in 2003 and then assisted offensive line coach Jim Hueber in 2004 as the Badgers made Music City (2003) and Outback (2004) bowl appearances. Hammock starred as a running back at Northern Illinois, ranking eighth on Northern Illinois’ all-time rushing list with 2,432 career yards, along with 12 100-yard rushing performances in 32 varsity appearances. A two-time Husky captain and first team All-MAC selection, Hammock also became NIU’s initial first team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America pick and first team Academic All-America repeater.

Mark Hill, Head Strength and Conditioning
Hill comes to Minnesota from Arizona, where he spent the past three seasons (2004-06) as the associate director of performance enhancement. The Lanett, Ala., native began his collegiate coaching career at Oklahoma in 2000 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach prior to his job with the Wildcats. As a player, Hill was a three-year starting wide receiver for Tennessee-Chattanooga. He led the Mocs and was second in the league in receiving in 1998, earning first team All-Southern Conference honors. Hill had 53 receptions for 683 yards and two scores in 1998 and also returned 12 kickoffs for 279 yards. He finished his career with 100 catches for 1,329 yards.

Derek Lewis, Tight Ends - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Lewis arrives at Minnesota from North Texas where he became the Mean Green’s defensive ends coach following the 2006 season. From 2005-06, Lewis worked at Texas as a graduate assistant, where he was part of the staff that captured the 2005 BCS national title. Before joining Mack Brown’s staff, Lewis spent two seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000) and was part of the Super Bowl XXXIV championship team. A New Orleans, La., native, Lewis was also a four-year letterman at Texas (1995-98), earning All-Big 12 honors in 1998 and being named Consistent Offensive Player and Outstanding Tight End for the Longhorns that same season. Lewis hauled in 18 catches for 236 yards and six touchdowns in a senior campaign that was highlighted by his 61-yard reception on fourth and inches that helped seal the 1996 Big 12 Championship game for Texas.

George McDonald, Wide Receivers - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
McDonald joins the Gopher staff after spending the past two seasons (2005-06) as the offensive coordinator at Western Michigan. In 2005, McDonald tutored Bronco wideout and current Green Bay Packer Greg Jennings, who was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Co-MVP (Vern Smith Award) of the MAC and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. Jennings also became the Broncos’ all-time leader in receptions, touchdown receptions and all-purpose yards in 2005, and ranked second in career receiving yards. Prior to his work at WMU, McDonald spent the 2004 season instructing tight ends at Stanford, following a three-year stint as receivers coach at Northern Illinois (2001-03). While at Stanford, McDonald developed tight end Alex Smith into a first team all-conference performer. Smith concluded his career as the program’s all-time leading receiver at tight end and was drafted in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McDonald, a native of Buena Park, Calif., also coached receivers at Bucknell during the spring of 2001 and worked as a graduate assistant at Ball State University in 2000. As a player, McDonald lettered four seasons as a receiver at Illinois (1995-98), finishing with 59 career receptions and 589 yards. As a kickoff returner, McDonald produced 1,276 yards on 57 returns in 44 contests. A two-sport athlete, McDonald ran track as a freshman and senior, earning All-Big Ten honors his final campaign with a school-record time of 6.74 in the 60 meters to claim the league title.

Phil Meyer, Offensive Line - WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Meyer spent the past seven seasons as the head coach at Wisconsin-Oshkosh before accepting a position as the offensive line coach at Minnesota. Meyer helped restore pride in UW-Oshkosh’s NCAA Division III football program during his tenure as head coach. The Titans won 17 games over the past three seasons for their third-highest three-year total in the 112-year history of the program. UW-Oshkosh registered a non-losing record in each of the past three seasons for a feat last accomplished at the conclusion of the 1970 campaign. Prior to becoming head coach at UW-Oshkosh, Meyer was at Iowa State from 1995-99, where he tutored quarterbacks for two seasons and tight ends and special teams for three seasons. In 1998, Meyer coached Todd Bandhauer, the first quarterback in Iowa State history to notch a pair of 2,000-yard passing seasons. Meyer’s coaching career began in 1980 at Illinois State as a graduate assistant. From there he moved on to New Berlin Eisenhower High School (Wis.) as an assistant coach in 1981. Meyer would return to college coaching, helping coach the offensive line for Illinois teams that participated in the Liberty Bowl in 1982 and the Rose Bowl following the 1983 season. Meyer would move on to Southeast Missouri State from 1984-88, including three years as the Indians’ offensive coordinator. Following his tenure at SMSU, Meyer served as offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois from 1989-93 and at Illinois State in 1994.

Will Peoples, Asst. Strength & Conditioning
Peoples is making his second stop at a Big Ten school after working as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Iowa in 2006. Peoples, a Round Rock, Texas, native, earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. Peoples was a wide receiver at Oklahoma and a member of three OU teams that claimed Big 12 titles. He was honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2002 and a member of the 2004 Academic All-Big 12 Team. His receiving yardage total in 2002 ranks 13th-best for a single season at Oklahoma and he also ranks in the Sooners’ top 20 in career receiving yards. He tied the Big 12 championship game record with eight receptions in the 2003 title game. Peoples signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills following his collegiate career.

Randy Taylor, Director of Football Operations
Taylor joins Brewster’s staff after spending the past five years (2003-07) working for Taylor Scouting Services and Scout.com as the Director of NFL Experts as well as the Regional Manager for West Coast College Recruiting. Prior to his work with TSS, Taylor was the director of football operations at UCLA from 1996-2003. While at UCLA, Taylor was named the Nation’s Top Director of Football Operations for Recruiting Success in 2000-01 by ESPN. Before joining the UCLA staff, Taylor served as president of Taylor Sports Enterprises from 1989-96. A three-year letterman (1976-78) and All-Big Ten selection at center at Illinois, Taylor’s coaching career began in 1979 when he joined the Illinois staff as a graduate assistant offensive line coach. He then moved into administration, becoming the assistant director of operations at Illinois in 1980 and the assistant to the head football coach from 1981-84. Taylor went on to become the assistant to the head football coach at UNLV from 1985-87, where his duties centered on directing the administration of the football program, including media and community relations, fundraising, recruiting, NCAA compliance, athlete advising and camp production. Following his work at UNLV, Taylor joined the San Jose State staff as assistant athletic director for two seasons (1988-89).

2007 GOPHER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Tim Brewster
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Mike Dunbar
Defensive Coordinator: Everett Withers
Recruiting Coordinator: Daniel Berezowitz
Linebackers/Special Teams: John Butler
Defensive Line: Tim Cross
Running Backs: Thomas Hammock
Head Strength & Conditioning: Mark Hill
Tight Ends: Derek Lewis
Wide Receivers: George McDonald
Offensive Line: Phil Meyer
Asst. Strength & Conditioning: Will Peoples
Director of Football Operations: Randy Taylor

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