This year’s coaching staff for Waynesburg University’s football program looks a little different compared to last season.

Under head coach Chris Smithley, a pair of new graduate assistants join the coaching staff for the first time this year along with a new running backs coach.

With a history in coaching which spans nearly 40 years, new running backs coach Russ Moore brings veteran experience to the staff. Formerly working as the Athletic Director for Waynesburg Central High School, Moore said he hopes to help solidify the run game.

“Everything I’ve ever done my whole life is if we threw more than six passes a game, that was a lot,” Moore said. “We’ve always been a run first team, so run game is what I know more than the pass game. Right now, that is my goal, to help the running backs.”

Smithley said Moore brings the Yellow Jackets experience in every aspect offensively.

“I hire offensive coaches—guys that have a lot of run game and offensive line experience,” Smithley said. “That is what makes our team go, ultimately, at the end of the day. So everything [Moore] brings to the table is what we wanted as an addition to our staff.”

With an emphasis on the run game, Moore said the overall offensive goals for the team focus around the gritty ‘old Waynesburg College attitude.’

“I think we’ve run the ball a lot this year and I think that is what [Smithley] wants to establish in the conference,” Moore said. “A lot of the teams that we play are pass first and run second. I don’t know if we want to be a run first, pass second [offense], but we definitely want to improve the run aspect of the game.”

Having been with the team since the spring, Moore said he sees potential in both the running backs and attributes it to their youth. Smithley is also optimistic about the ground game as a whole.

“I think the running back situation at this school is going to be very good,” Smithley said. “We’re running the ball pretty decent this year already and I think as the younger kids learn what is going on and as the offensive line matures…I think the run game will become very good.”

Besides the addition of Moore to the coaching staff for the Yellow Jackets, two new graduate assistants join Smithley. Brent Blacharczyk, who graduated last year with over 166 collected tackles, returns to work with the defensive line.

In addition to Blacharczyk, Dalton Wildman joins the graduate assistants to work with the linebackers.

“[Wildman] is from West Greene, so he is a local kid,” Smithley said. “He played defensive back for me and all the special teams for me when I was over there [at Washington & Jefferson]. [Wildman] is just a hard worker and a great kid.”

Already two games into the season, Smithley said he appreciates the work ethic behind Blacharczyk and Wildman.

“Both [Blacharczyk and Wildman] have worked their butts off,” Smithley said. “Both are hard workers and know the game and have been a great addition to our staff up to this point.”