Ithaca, NY (Sports Network) - The staff of first-year Cornell football coach David Archer is taking shape, including the hiring of Jared Backus as defensive coordinator and Jason Houghtaling as offensive coordinator.
Backus spent the last three seasons in the Ivy League as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Princeton. Houghtaling arrived at Cornell from Wagner, where he was the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator the last two seasons.
Other hirings to the staff were Shane Hurd (assistant head coach and quarterbacks), Greg Jones (secondary) and Mike Neuberger (running backs and tight ends)
In addition, assistant coaches Travis Burkett (assistant head coach and defensive line), Emani Fenton (recruiting coordinator and inside linebackers) and David Hanna (special teams coordinator and wide receivers) were retained to the staff, while longtime assistant Pete DeStefano was named the director of player personnel, alumni, community and career program.
Archer, a former Cornell player and assistant coach, has taken over a team that finished 4-6 last season.
