Feb. 26, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University head football coach Chuck Priore has announced two additions to his coaching staff in time for the beginning of spring practice. Jim Gush will join the staff as the assistant head coach of the defense, while Patrick Hatch comes on board as a graduate assistant that will be working with the defensive line.

Gush brings 28 years of coaching experience to the Seawolves. He spent six seasons (2002-07) at Southern Methodist University as the defensive coordinator for the Mustangs. In addition to his coordinator duties he also served as the position coach with the linebackers for one year and defensive backs for five seasons. Before joining the SMU program Gush spent three seasons at Kansas State. All three seasons he was with the Wildcats the program ranked among the top four in the nation in total defense, helping Kansas State to a bowl appearance in each of those seasons and a combined 28-10 record.

Prior to Kansas State, Gush spent 13 years at Garden City Community College in Kansas. After spending 10 seasons as the defensive coordinator for the program he took over as head coach in 1996, putting together a combined 29-7 record. In 1996 he led the team to a victory in the Real Dairy Bowl while the next year he led the squad to a Jayhawk Conference championship and a berth in the Red River Bowl, the national championship game. In 1998 the team also went to a bowl game, winning the Valley of the Sun Bowl.

With his knowledge of Texas high school football, Gush will also provide Stony Brook an opportunity to strengthen its recruiting efforts in that area of the country.

A 1981 graduate of Bucknell University, Gush served as a student assistant there while also serving on the staffs at Albany and Iowa State.

"Jim Gush has worked at a lot of different levels of football," said Priore. "He will bring to our defense the experience we need that will allow us to compete at the level that our program's goals are set for."

Hatch has been with the staff at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the past two seasons where he has worked with both the offensive and defensive lines. He also worked as the academic liaison and co-video coordinator for the Engineers.

Hatch is a 2006 graduate of Union College in Schenectady, New York where he was a four-year starter on the offensive line and a three-time All-Liberty League selection.

"Pat Hatch is a good, young football coach," said Priore. "We are excited about the opportunity to help him get his Masters degree and to assist him continue to build his career at the scholarship level of football."