Hauck joins San Diego State staff

Former UNLV coach Bobby Hauck is staying in the Mountain West after being named San Diego State’s special teams coordinator Friday.

“I’m excited about being here and working for Coach (Rocky) Long first of all,” Hauck said. “They are really good guys on this staff, and this is a tremendous place to live, so I’m enthused about that.”

Having coached against the Aztecs, Hauck is familiar with their roster.

“You kind of know what we’re going to get and know the league,” he said. “Certainly, that makes the transition easier.”

He coached the Rebels the past five seasons before resigning in November, going 15-49, and led them to the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2013. Hauck also handled special teams for UNLV.

Before taking over UNLV, Hauck went 80-17 in seven seasons at Montana, appearing in three Football Championship Subdivision title games.

Hauck is the latest coach with Las Vegas ties to join San Diego State’s staff. Former UNLV standout Hunkie Cooper, who was the Canyon Springs High School coach the past six seasons, was hired Tuesday as the wide receivers coach.

Also, Jeff Horton is the Aztecs’ assistant head coach and running backs coach. He was the Rebels’ head coach from 1994 to 1998 and the receivers coach in 1990 and 1991.

The Aztecs will play at Sam Boyd Stadium next season. The conference schedule has not been released, but it won’t be the first time Hauck has returned to a school and coached from the opposing sideline.

“I’ve done that a couple of times in my career,” Hauck said. “Knowing everybody on the other sideline’s always a unique situation. I obviously have got a lot of guys that I care about in that locker room, and I hope good things happen for them.”

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.