Feb. 4, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford completed his 2006 coaching staff Saturday with the announcement that Tony Dews will come aboard as linebackers coach and associate coordinator of special teams.

Dews comes to UNLV after two seasons coaching tight ends and offensive tackles as well as directing the special teams at Central Michigan, which finished 2005 with its first winning season since in seven years at 6-5.

"We did a national search to find both the best person and assistant football coach and I know we have found that in Tony Dews," Sanford said. "We wanted to add someone with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and his background in special teams was a real plus."

Dews, a 1997 graduate of Liberty University, joined the Chippewas from the College of the Holy Cross where he served as a defensive line coach. After earning his undergraduate degree in psychology/social science, Tony served as a volunteer tight ends coach at Lynchburg from August 1996 through May 1997 before going to Bainbridge (Ga.) High School as an assistant.

Dews joined the staff at Millersville University as the defensive line coach from June 1998 through March 1999 when he went to West Virginia University as a graduate assistant. He spent one season with the secondary and special teams and two seasons with the offensive line.

Dews then moved on to California University (Pa.) from March 2002 through May 2003 before he took the job at Holy Cross. He earned a master's degree from West Virginia in 2000 in athletic coaching education.