Sanchez adds 3 more to coaching staff

UNLV’s football program received some rare positive national attention Thursday when new coach Tony Sanchez was interviewed by phone on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the popular ESPN Radio show.

Sanchez used the opportunity to announce three additions to his coaching staff.

Jamie Christian will coach running backs. He was at Houston the past three seasons, overseeing special teams, inside receivers and tight ends. He went to Houston after five seasons at Arizona State, and also made stops at Idaho (2006), Sacramento State (2005), the San Francisco 49ers (2003-2004) and Northern Arizona (2002).

Joe Seumalo will handle the defensive line, and he coached that unit at Oregon State since 2006. Before that, Seumalo was at San Jose State (2005), Cal Poly (2001-2004) and Hawaii (1999-2000).

J.D. Williams rejoins UNLV as the cornerbacks coach. He also was an assistant with the Rebels from 2010 to 2012, serving as defensive coordinator his final season. UNLV’s scoring defense went from giving up 40.4 points per game in 2011 to 32.6 in the one season under his watch.

Williams was at Georgia State the past two seasons as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. He also has been an assistant at Utah (2009), Washington (2006-2008), California (2002-2005), Fresno State (2000-2001), Cal Poly (1999) and San Jose State (1998).

Sanchez will announce his defensive coordinator and safeties coach on Friday.

He received national coverage on Thursday from Cowherd, who began his career in Las Vegas. In setting up the interview, Cowherd asked if Sanchez is “the next Chip Kelly?”

Kelly is known for the innovative offense he created at Oregon and took to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.