Jan. 10, 2000

LAS VEGAS - Craig Wederquist has been named UNLV's new defensive line coach, Rebel head coach John Robinson announced Monday.

A veteran of teams from the Big West and Mountain West conferences, Wederquist spent the last three years as the head coach of Tarleton State University located in Stephenville, Texas. Wederquist, 39, joined the NCAA Division II school in 1996 as defensive coordinator and was tabbed head coach in January 1997.

Wederquist replaces Jeff McInerney who left UNLV for Tulsa last month.

"Craig Wederquist is a great addition to the staff," Robinson said. "He is a highly qualified coach who has extensive experience on the Division I level. I expect outstanding results from his position this fall."

Before moving to TSU, Wederquist for two years served as defensive coordinator at the University of Pacific before the Tigers dropped football after the 1995 season. His extensive resume also includes stops at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (1993), Colorado State (1992), Utah State (1988-91), Central Missouri State (1986-87), Drake (1985) and Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa (1984).

A two-time all-conference performer while playing at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Wederquist was a 1982 draft choice of the USFL's Michigan Panthers. In addition to receiving his bachelor's degree from Drake, he earned his master's while at Tarleton State.

Wederquist and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of two sons and a daughter.