April 1, 2011
DAVIS, Calif. - Longtime assistant football coach Mike Moroski has been appointed assistant head football/tight ends coach, former NFL player Brad Bedell has joined the Aggie staff to coach the offensive line, and Wes Nurse comes from the University of Houston to coach the cornerbacks, in staff changes announced by head coach Bob Biggs.
Additionally longtime assistant Greg Chapla will move from coaching to become Director of Football Operations, replacing Josh Flushman who will assume more administrative responsibilities within the athletics program.
The changes were announced as UC Davis gets ready for the start of spring football practices which commence with conditioning drills next week.
Moroski is currently the longest-serving coach on Biggs' staff, getting set to start his 24th season with the Aggies. He has served in a variety of roles as offensive line coach and most recently offensive coordinator/tight ends coach. Moroski, a 1979 UC Davis alum who later played with Atlanta, Houston and San Francisco of the NFL, was a standout quarterback for the Aggies before playing professionally.
Bedell comes to UC Davis from Northern Colorado where he served on the Bears' staff in 2010. He previously interned with the University of Colorado program after playing five seasons in the NFL with Cleveland, Miami, Green Bay and Houston.
Bedell was named All-America by both the Football Writer's Association and by the Associated Press after his senior season at Colorado in 1999, also receiving All-Big 12 first-team accolades as well. He transferred to the Buffaloes after an All-America career at Mt. San Antonio Junior College.
"As I talked to people that I know in the business and as I did research, the name that kept coming up was Brad Bedell," Biggs said. "I'm really excited about what he will bring to the staff."
Nurse comes to UC Davis after serving the past three seasons on the staff at the University of Houston where he worked with the linebackers and defensive backs, among several other duties. He was an assistant coach at The Citadel for one season after beginning his coaching career for two seasons as a graduate assistant under former Aggie quarterback Chris Petersen at Boise State.
Nurse was a standout defensive back for Boise State from 1999-2003, starting for three seasons while earning a pair of All-Western Athletic Conference honors. He was a team captain, defensive MVP and helped the Broncos to four conference titles.
"I'm very pleased that we were able to get Wes to join our program," said Biggs. "He was another person whose name kept coming up as I did my research into quality coaches."
Nurse will replace Nevan Bergan who has moved on to other opportunities after coaching with UC Davis for three seasons.
Chapla moves from the sidelines to a key administrative role with the team as Director of Football Operations. His duties will touch nearly every aspect of the program including travel, budgeting and other areas. Chapla, a 1989 graduate of UC Davis, has been on the Aggies' staff for 22 seasons, serving as assistant coach for the offensive line, running backs and special teams. He's also served as the strength and conditioning coach and recruiting coordinator during his tenure.
"We're fortunate that we've been able to put somebody with a coaching background into the Director of Football Operations position," Biggs said. "He understands what coaches need to be efficient, particularly in a football program."
The Aggies will begin preparations next week for their final season in 2011 in the Great West Conference. They'll join the Big Sky Conference in 2012.
