Pack agrees to deal with new OC, adds one more to staff

The Wolf Pack's reshuffled offensive staff is starting to take form.

Late Wednesday night, Nevada signed Tim Cramsey to a letter of agreement to become the team's new offensive coordinator, according to a source with knowledge of the Wolf Pack's ongoing coaching searches. On Thursday, the Wolf Pack added Marc Nudelberg, previously of Florida, to the staff.

That agreement was first reported by FootballScoop.com, which said Nudelberg would coach the team's special teams and running backs. A source told the RGJ that Nudelberg would be the team's special teams coordinator but his role on the offensive staff is still to be determined.

Nudelberg will take over special teams duties from Lester Erb, who would then be freed to have a larger impact on the offense, per a source. Erb has been the Wolf Pack's special teams coordinator/running backs coach the last three seasons. During his career, which has included stops at Hobart College, Syracuse, Army, Iowa and with the Baltimore Ravens, Erb has coached wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.

Cramsey, who also will coach the Wolf Pack's quarterbacks, was Montana State's offensive coordinator the last three seasons and in 2015 led a Bobcats offense that ranked third in the FCS in points (41.9 per game), fourth in total offense (519.8 yards per game), seventh in passing offense (303.8) and 18th in rushing offense (216). Cramsey also has coached at New Hampshire, with former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, and Florida International, his lone stop at the FBS level, which came in 2012.

On Wednesday, the Wolf Pack had two offensive coaches depart the program: Jim Hofher (receivers coach) left to become the quarterbacks coach at Iowa State and Ron Hudson (offensive line) mutually agreed to part with the Wolf Pack. Last month, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich left Nevada to become Hawaii's head coach.

Nudelberg, the newest addition to the staff, served in 2015 as Florida’s quality control coach for special teams, which was not a full-time assistant position. He spent 2014 as Cincinnati’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He was an offensive graduate assistant for the Bearcats in 2013. Prior to his time at Cincinnati, he was at Florida State for eight seasons, including three as the quality control assistant for offense and special teams.

At Florida State, which is Nudelberg’s alma mater, he worked directly with Bobby Bowden and current Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher, starting as a student equipment manager in 2005 before working his way up the chain. Nudelberg also earned a reputation as a solid recruiter in his brief time as an assistant in Cincinnati.

The moves mean Nevada will have at least three new offensive coaches in 2016: Cramsey, Nudelberg and whoever takes over the offensive line. Erb and tight ends coach Cheston Blackshear, who just finished his second season at Nevada, also are on the offensive staff.

The Wolf Pack averaged 26.2 points per game this season, which ranked 86th out of 127 FBS teams. Nevada averaged 210.6 rushing yards per game, which ranked 26th in the nation, and produced two 1,000-yard running backs, one of just two teams to do so. The passing attack struggled, averaging just 164.5 yards per game (113th in the FBS). Improving the passing game will be a point of emphasis this offseason, coach Brian Polian has said.

Nevada returns 10 starters on offense and that doesn’t include Arizona Bowl offensive MVP James Butler, who was a backup this year but still produced the 11th best single-season rushing total in program history.

Also Thursday, Jason Cvercko, the Wolf Pack's director of recruiting operations, was hired by Hawaii under Rolovich for the same position.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story, citing the FootballScoop.com report, stated Nudelberg would coach running backs and Erb would move to wide receivers, however, according to an RGJ source, Nudelberg's position on the offensive staff has not been determined yet.