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Lester Erb brings 13 years of Big Ten experience at Iowa to his new job as Rutgers running backs coach.

(Iowa Hawkeyes)

Rutgers has an experienced voice for one of its most experienced position groups.

Veteran Big Ten assistant Lester Erb, who spent 13 years at Iowa under the league's dean of coaches Kirk Ferentz, is on board as the new Rutgers running backs coach.

Chris Ash's coaching staff -- which no longer includes running backs coach Zak Kuhr, who is expected to take a job at Texas State -- reports back from a holiday break Thursday.

Rutgers returns seniors running backs Robert Martin and Josh Hicks, who combined have more than 3,000 career yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Both are coming off career-worst seasons.

Rutgers also is hot pursuit of Cherokee High School running back Jon Lovett, who committed, de-committed and is considering recommitting.

Erb was named a Top 25 recruiter by Rivals.com in 2005 and 2012 and figures to take over Lovett's recruitment. He also received a ringing Twitter endorsement Wednesday night from his most recent boss, former Nevada coach Brian Polian.

Here's an in-depth look at Erb's background:

Most recent job: Nevada wide receivers coach/assistant head coach.

Most notable past job: Iowa running backs coach/special teams coach.

Connection to Ash: Erb has not previously worked with Ash, but the beginning of his 13-year tenure at Iowa (2000-12) overlapped with Rutgers offensive line coach A.J. Blazek's stint as a graduate assistant at his alma mater. He coached against Ash and Rutgers offensive coordinator in the Big Ten.

Rutgers is getting a great coach, and a better man. Congrats to the Erbs! #Family https://t.co/ku1b8tfB8X — Brian Polian (@BrianPolian) January 5, 2017

Ash's thoughts: "I am excited to welcome Lester and his family to Rutgers. Lester is a great football coach and recruiter with proven success in the Big Ten. His experience coaching in this league will be a major asset to the young men in our running backs room."

Prominent proteges: During his time at Iowa, Erb mentored Winslow Township High School alum-turned-New York Jets draft pick Shonn Greene during his 2008 Doak Walker Award-winning season. He also worked with two-time NFL Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding when he was with the Hawkeyes.

East coast ties: The Milton, Pa. native coached at Hobart College in New York from 1991-93, at Syracuse from 1994-96 and at Army in 1999.

Age: 47

Twitter handle: @LesterErb

Playing background: Erb was a record-setting wide receiver at Bucknell, who was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1990.

Education: Bachelor's, Business Administration, Bucknell, 1991; Master's, High Educational Administration, Syracuse, 1996.

Full coaching history:

2016: Nevada wide receivers coach/assistant head coach

2013-15: Nevada running backs coach/special teams coordinator

2008-12: Iowa running backs coach/special teams coach

2000-07: Iowa wide receivers coach/special teams coach

1999: Army tight ends coach

1997-98: Baltimore Ravens assistant coach

1994-96: Syracuse assistant coach

1991-93: Hobart wide receivers coach

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.