Weber State University’s football program has added to their defensive coaching staff, as head coach Jay Hill named Joe Dale as a new assistant coach.

Dale will coach safeties for the Wildcats, which was his position when he played at the University of Utah.

While playing for the Utes, he was a four-year letterman and started every game in his final two seasons.

Dale contributed heavily to Utah’s 2008 win over the University of Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He also earned Defensive MVP honors in their 2007 Poinsettia Bowl win over the Navy Midshipmen.

“I’m really excited to be at Weber State and work at a program that has had a lot of success recently,” Dale said. “It’s good to be in a defensive scheme that I played in, and it’s great to be around a good coaching staff with so much experience that can help me learn and grow as a coach.”

Dale coached most recently at Minot State University in North Dakota, serving as a defensive back coach and special teams coordinator over the last two seasons for the Beavers.

The Wildcats will look to continue their 2017 success, in which they reached the FCS quarterfinals and nearly knocked off No. 1 James Madison.

With six returning starters on defense, Coach Dale will look to sharpen the skills and experience WSU has already established. He will work with junior Trey Hoskins, sophomore Preston Smith and the rest of the WSU defensive backs group.

“Joe is someone I’ve known a long time since we recruited him at Utah in 2006,” Hill said. “He was a tough, intelligent player and showed the ability to get along with everyone. He knows our defense and the techniques that we use and I think he’ll do a phenomenal job in recruiting. He will be a great fit in our program.”