by US Fed News

University of Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen announced on Monday that Dan Hammerschmidt has joined the Wyoming Football staff as its new wide receivers' coach. Hammerschmidt comes to Wyoming from Rice University , where he was the receivers coach for the Owls this past season. He helped lead Rice to a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 Conference USA mark, placing the Owls in a tie for first in the West Division with Tulsa. Rice concluded the 2008 season with a 38-14 victory over Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl.

"To be able to attract someone of Dan's (Hammerschmidt) experience and talent to our staff is very exciting," said Christensen. "Not only has he been a very successful coach and former offensive coordinator, but he knows this league as good as any coach out there. "I am thrilled to add both a veteran coach, in Dan, to our staff, as well as to add another coach who has experience teaching the spread offensive system similar to the one we ran at Missouri." Prior to coaching at Rice, Hammerschmidt was the offensive coordinator for Sonny Lubick at Colorado State for seven seasons. Before serving as the Rams' offensive coordinator, Hammerschmidt was the wide receivers coach for CSU for five seasons, beginning in 1996. During his 12 seasons as a coach at Colorado State, he helped guide the Rams to seven bowl berths. CSU won three MWC Championships during his tenure (1999, 2000 and 2002) and one Western Athletic Conference title (1997). "It's feels great to be back in the Mountain West Conference and to be at the University of Wyoming," said Hammerschmidt. "This is a great league, and this part of the country is not only where I've spent most of my professional career, but my kids were born here. "I believe Coach (Dave) Christensen is going to bring an exciting style of offense to Wyoming Football and Mountain West Football . We're out recruiting hard right now, and I think we've got a great start. "I of course have many years of experience competing against Wyoming as a player and a coach, and I know the great tradition and success this program has had in the past. I'm now excited to be part of that." In 2008, Hammerschmidt coached Rice All-America receiver Jarett Dillard, who earned First Team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and CBSSports.com and earned Second Team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and SportsIllustrated.com. Dillard holds the NCAA record for career touchdown receptions, with 60. Dillard and sophomore wide receiver James Casey were both named First Team All-Conference USA in 2008. Rice ranked No. 5 in the nation in passing offense (327.2 yards per game), No. 8 in scoring offense (41.3 points per game) and No. 10 in total offense (470.9 yards per game). Hammerschmidt began his college coaching career in 1986 as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Colorado State. The next year, he moved on to TCU, serving as a graduate assistant coach for one season in 1987. He gained his first full-time coaching position under Steve Spurrier at Duke in 1988, coaching the Blue Devil outside linebackers and special teams. He coached at Duke for six seasons, from 1988-93. He then coached defensive backs at VMI for two seasons, 1994 and 1995. He returned to Colorado State in 1996. Hammerschmidt was an outstanding player at CSU, starting as a defensive back all four seasons (1982-85) of his college career. He went to NFL training camp with the Indianapolis Colts in 1986, but after being cut began his coaching career. A native of San Diego, Calif., where he played at Helix High School. Hammerschmidt has two children, Holly and Michael.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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