Wolf Pack loses CB coach Courtney Viney to another school

Chris Murray | Reno Gazette-Journal

Less than seven weeks before its season opener, the Wolf Pack football team is in the market for a cornerbacks coach.

Courtney Viney, who was considered an up-and-comer when Jay Norvell hired him as part of his initial assistant staff last year, won't return to the team for the 2018 season, Nevada announced Tuesday.

The Wolf Pack said Viney is moving to another unnamed institution in an off-the-field role.

“We thank Courtney for his time here and wish him the best,” Norvell said in a news release.

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Viney's departure means the Wolf Pack will have an entirely new secondary staff after safeties coach Matt Kirk wasn't retained following last season. He was replaced by UNLV's David Lockwood in February.

Nevada was Viney's first full-time assistant job. He played at UCLA, when Norvell was the Bruins' offensive coordinator, and New Mexico State before a brief career in the Arena Football League. Viney coached at Fresno’s Central East High before serving as a graduate assistant and special teams quality control coach position at Oklahoma.

He interviewed for a full-time position at Michigan during his Oklahoma tenure and was highly regarded as a recruiter, specifically in his hometown of Fresno. Nevada was the first school to give him a full-time position. Coaching at 27 last year, Viney was the youngest Wolf Pack assistant in the school’s FBS era (since 1992) and the fifth youngest in the Mountain West last season.

Norvell sang Viney's praises when he hired him last season, saying: "He's so positive out here, so much energy all of the time. He’s out here with his cleats on. We have a couple of coaches who still like to wear their cleats to practice. Very intelligent guy, very close to his players, always has a great relationship with them. Guys gravitate to him because of his positive spirit.”

The Wolf Pack's secondary largely struggled last season. Nevada ranked 110th out of 129 FBS teams in passing yards allowed per game (263.1) and ranked 121st in team passing efficiency defense. It 24 passing touchdowns allowed were 102nd in the NCAA.

Viney's departure means Nevada will make three changes to its 10-person full-time assistant staff this offseason. Lockwood replaced Kirk and Angus McClure replaced offensive line coach Mason Miller, who left for the same position at Washington State.

GANGI NAMED TO AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM

Nevada quarterback Ty Gangi was nominated for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team announced Tuesday by Allstate Insurance and the American Football Coaches Association.

The award honors individuals every year who exemplify service off the football field, working hard to better their community. Gangi was named as one of 169 nominees for the honor. The final team will be comprised of 22 players and one head coach at all levels of the NCAA and NAIA.

Gangi has spent his time serving the community by coaching youth football leagues, volunteering at multiple elementary schools and donating socks to the homeless. The Glendale, Calif. native also raised $1,200 and shaved his head for St. Baldricks and serves as a mentor at 360 Blueprint every week. On the field, Gangi led the conference in passing in MW games.

WOLF PACK LANDS 64 ON SCHOLAR-ATHLETE LIST

The Wolf Pack had 64 athletes earn MW Scholar-Athlete awards, the conference announced Tuesday. In total, the MW honored 789 athletes.

To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better while participating in varsity competition in a MW-sponsored sport.

Track & field topped the Wolf Pack with 17 recipients. Swimming and diving also was in double figures with 10. Soccer, softball, women’s basketball, football and volleyball all had five athletes honored. Four women’s tennis athletes were recognized while women’s golf, men’s tennis and baseball had two each.