University of Houston Athletics
Sumlin Adds Anderson To Staff
2/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Houston, Texas - University of Houston head football coach Kevin Sumlin announced on Tuesday the hiring of B.J. Anderson as his new offensive line coach. Anderson replaces Joe Gilbert who left last month to join the staff at Illinois.
Anderson arrives at Houston after spending three seasons at Sam Houston State.
"B.J. Anderson is a coach I've known since 2000," Sumlin said. "He has tremendous rapport with the high school coaches in this state. He is a native Texan from Van, out in East Texas, and really has done a good job wherever he's been with the offensive line and tight ends.
"He is a teacher of technique and an excellent recruiter."
Following the Bearkats' 2006 campaign which saw an SHSU squad predicted to place no higher than sixth in the conference end up as league runner-up, Anderson coached two first team All-Southland Conference linemen, Lance Hancock and Brandon Hale. Hancock was a repeat All-SLC selection. He also earned All-Southland honors Anderson's first year at Sam Houston along with Jared Westerman. The 2006 Bearkat offensive line led the way for the league's top rusher and Southland Offensive Player of the Year D. D. Terry.
Prior to his stint at Sam Houston State, Anderson spent three seasons at Tarleton State University, where the Texans compiled a 24-8 record. Tarleton State won division titles in the Lone Star Conference in both 2002 and 2003, advancing to the NCAA Division II national playoffs in 2003.
In his third season at Tarleton in 2004, Anderson coached two NCAA Division II All-Region offensive linemen who blocked for an All-American running back.
In 2003, his offensive line paved the way for an attack that averaged 471.6 yards per game. At one point during the season, the Texans ranked number one in the nation in NCAA Division II total offense. During the 2002 season, Anderson's offensive line paved the way for Tarleton State to average 394.6 yards per game in total offense. In both 2003 and 2004, Anderson tutored the Lone Star Conference North Division Offensive Lineman of the Year.
A native of Van, Texas, Anderson came to Tarleton after three seasons as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M. He was responsible for instruction of the Aggies' offensive tackles and working with the scout team. It was at A&M that Anderson first encountered Sumlin.
"I am very excited about being here (and) I look forward to working with this staff," Anderson said. "This is a great bunch of guys that Coach Sumlin has put together here, and I am looking forward to getting down here and getting started.
"I've known Kevin since I worked for him at Texas A&M. He is a great football coach, a great family man, and he has put together a bang-up staff here. I am really looking forward to being a part of that."
Anderson served four seasons with the staff at Stephen F. Austin, working with the offensive line and tight ends. He holds a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin.
Anderson and his wife, Stacey, are the parents of a son, Justus James Anderson, born Dec. 26, 2006.
Sumlin also announced the addition of Jake Spavital to the staff as the graduate assistant on offense. Spavital, who is the younger brother of current cornerbacks coach Zach Spavital, spent last season as the offensive graduate assistant at Tulsa. He played football at Missouri State University, where he graduated in 2008.
---www.UHCougars.com---
TRANSACTION --- Announced the hiring of B.J. Anderson as offensive line coach and Jake Spavital as offensive graduate assistant.
