SIUC football finalizes coaching staff

By Gus Bode

The SIUC football program will begin the 1998 season with three new additions to the coaching staff with intentions of improving on last year’s 3-8 record.

Head coach Jan Quarless completed the staff by adding defensive line coach Craig Naivar, offensive line coach David Paffenroth and tight ends/assistant offensive line coach Jim Zebrowski. The additions increase the number of coaches from seven to 10 this year.

Naivar is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University. There he played quarterback his freshman year, (1990) before switching over to the defensive backfield for his remaining three.

Advertisement

He was special teams captain in 1992 and defensive team captain in 1993. He earned academic all-conference status three years and played on conference championship teams in 1992 and 1993.

After graduation, Naivar became a graduate assistant at Hardin-Simmons for one season prior to being promoted to special teams coordinator in 1995. He then had a stint at the University of New Mexico in 1996 and 1997.

Paffenroth split time as a running back, along with playing on the defensive line and as a linebacker at Penn State University in the early 1980s. He played on the 1982 national championship team, before moving on to a three-year career in the NFL as a linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs (1983-1985).

Paffenroth began coaching in 1992 as defensive line coach at William Jewell College and served his next four seasons as offensive coordinator at Missouri Western State College. Last season, he was in the same position (offensive coordinator) at West Texas A&M.

Zebrowski returns after serving as graduate assistant for the Salukis last season. He takes on the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach task this year.

He is a graduate of Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where he lettered in football.

The Salukis open the season Sept. 5 at Murray State University in Murray, Ky.

Advertisement*

Advertisement