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News Nuggets, 07.19.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Former ECU assistant VanDerHeyden retires from UAB staff

UAB is losing one of college football's most experienced assistant coaches. Offensive line coach Larry VanDerHeyden, who served a two-year stint at East Carolina in the early stages of his career, has announced he is retiring.

VanDerHeyden, 65, has been in the coaching ranks for a period spanning five decades. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1964 at his alma mater, Iowa State.

He spent a large part of his career as an assistant coach at Clemson, serving 14 years (1979-92) on the Tigers' staff under head coaches Danny Ford and Ken Hatfield, first as offensive line coach and then as offensive coordinator his final three seasons there.

"I've had great time coaching and being at UAB," said VanderHeyden. "This is something I have thought about and I feel it is time to do."

'Coach Vandy' came to UAB in January, 1995, the same year Watson Brown became head coach. He came to Birmingham from the University of Arkansas where he was the offensive line coach for the Razorbacks for two seasons (1993-94). His stint at Arkansas followed his long tenure at Clemson.

VanDerHeyden was the offensive coordinator at Memphis State (1975-78). Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Virginia (1974-75) and ECU (1973-74), where he served under Sonny Randle with both the Cavaliers and the Pirates.

His coaching resume also includes working as the offensive coordinator at Indiana State (1969-73), assistant coach at Drake (1969) and defensive line coach at Iowa State (1965-67).

"I knew this was something Coach Vandy had been thinking about, and something he and I have talked about," said UAB head football coach Watson Brown. "He's been here since the start and we are certainly going to miss him. We are excited for Coach Vandy and Lois and I know this is something he feels he is ready to do. We had a plan in place if this happened."

With VanDerHeyden stepping down, Brown said that Brandon Herring, a former Blazer player who coached tight ends in 2003, will coach the Blazer offensive guards and centers.

Rick Christophel, a long-time coach who spent the past two years as a senior associate athletic director at UAB, is returning to the field and will serve as assistant head coach, working with offensive tackles and tight ends.

Brown also said that Coach Pat Sullivan who has continued with his recovery from his battle with cancer, will be back on board this fall as the Blazers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Bearcats land junior college punter

CINCINNATI — Brian Steele, a punter from Scottsdale (AZ) Community College, has signed a scholarship letter with the University of Cincinnati and will join the Bearcat team this fall.

Steele averaged over 40 yards per punt while sharing the role with Michigan State signee John Goss at Scottsdale in 2003. Steele was the team’s specialist newcomer of the year. He also was named one of the top four freshman participants at the Arizona Combine, a junior college showcase held this spring.

Steele, who will be a sophomore in terms of eligibility at UC, was a first team all-conference tight end as a senior at Southside High in Elmire, NY. He moved to Payson, AZh, following graduation, where he met former New England Patriots kicker Shawn McCarthy, who encouraged him to try punting in junior college.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007