University of Houston Athletics
Briles Doles Out Promotions, Additions To Staff
3/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 3, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - University of Houston head football coach Art Briles announced Friday the promotion of three members of his staff and the addition of two former players to the Cougar program.
Rafe Mata, who has spent six season working with the Cougar football program including the last season as an offensive graduate assistant, has been promoted to full-time, where he will coach the inside receivers and tight ends. In his six seasons with the Cougars, Mata has assisted the quarterback, tight end and wide receiver coaches and maintained the organization of many other offensive, special teams and recruiting duties.
Both Brian Gamble and Matt Mattox have been promoted to graduate assistants for defense and offense, respectively. A former standout at Texas A&M, Gamble spent this last season as an administrative assistant helping with the defense. This promotion allows Gamble to do on-the-field coaching for the first time.
As for Mattox, he moves over from the weight room to assume the graduate assistant chores on offense, where he will assist Randy Clements with the offensive line. Mattox played two seasons for the Cougars (2002-03) after transferring from Butler County Community College where he was a junior-college All-American.
Briles also announced that former UH standouts, Joe Clay and Anthony Evans, would come on board as administrative assistants. Both Clay and Evans are four-year lettermen for the Cougars and played for Briles in recent seasons. A former all-conference defensive end, Clay will help with the defense, while Evans, who just finished up last fall and is ranked in the UH Top 10 in both rushing yards and rushing attempts, will assist on offense.
"It bodes well for our program that these five gentlemen want to be with our program," added Briles. "They all like what's happening here, and all believe in what's going on. They're all hard workers that the Cougar family should be very proud of."
The Cougars open up spring practice next week on Tuesday, March 7. The annual Red-White game is slated for Saturday, April 8 at 11 am at the Carl Lewis International Track and Field Complex.
---www.UHcougars.com--
Transaction---Announced the promotion of Rafe Mata to assistant coach, as well as Brian Gamble and Matt Mattox to graduate assistant coaches. Also, announced the hiring of Joe Clay and Anthony Evans as administrative assistants.
