John L. Smith continued the rebuilding process of Fort Lewis College football by adding three new coaches to his staff this week.
Jared Burton, Jeff Cheek and Dwain Crawford have been working with the Skyhawks all offseason, and the college officially named them as new assistant coaches this week.
“We have to put a product on the field that people want to see, and that is our obligation as coaches and players,” Smith said during an April interview after spring practices. “For me, that means bringing in the best coaches to help put the players in the best position possible.”
Cheek is the team’s new offensive line coach. Cheek previously coached at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where he was an offensive coordinator for two seasons. He also spent time as the quality control assistant at Fresno State University. He earned a graduate degree from Boise State University after coaching stops at several smaller colleges. As a player, Cheek spent three seasons playing left guard for the Boise State Broncos.
“Jeff is a great addition to our offensive staff because of his thorough knowledge of offensive line play,” Smith said in a news release.
Burton will work with the team’s wide receivers while also running the team’s travel operations and video coordination.
Burton has experience in the state of Colorado after spending 2012 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Denver East High School. He held the same position from 2006-08 before going to the University of Northern Colorado from 2009-2011. He coached the Bears’ tight ends and assisted the wide receivers coach and offensive line coach.
“Jared has a great background, particularly in the passing game,” Smith said in a news release. “He makes a great addition to our offensive staff and receiver corps.”
Crawford will work with the Skyhawks defensive backs. He arrives in Durango after working with the University of Wyoming as a defensive graduate assistant and safeties coach during the 2013 season.
Crawford was a four-year player at Baylor University as a safety. He earned Big 12 Honorable Mention honors and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award while playing for the Bears.
A native of Texas, Smith is excited to see how Crawford can help the Skyhawks recruit the state.
“He is actually a kid out of Dallas. We want to break in and recruit Dallas because we have direct flights from Durango to Dallas. It is crazy for us not to recruit that,” Smith said during the April interview. “He won’t only help us as a DB coach, but also as a guy who can get out and recruit the city of Dallas.”
FLC opens its regular season Sept. 6 at the University of California-Davis.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
