Trio Added to Miami Football Staff
1/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 15, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio -- A pair of Miami Football greats highlight the latest additions to the coaching staff, Head Coach Don Treadwell announced today. Jay Peterson returns for his second stint as linebackers coach while Deland McCullough has been promoted from intern to running backs coach. Nick Siatras, formerly at Michigan State will lead the defensive linemen.
"Jay has lived the Miami Football tradition both as a player and as a coach. His passion for Miami and wealth of football knowledge will elevate our team," Treadwell said. "Deland has also lived the Miami football tradition. I coached Deland his freshman year at Miami. He was a great player then and is an even better person now. Our running backs will thrive under his leadership. Nick brings a great work ethic, enthusiasm and tremendous computer technical knowledge. His ability to relate to his players will be also be a strength."
Peterson has 26 years of coaching experience at the professional, collegiate and high school levels, including serving as Miami's linebackers coach under the late Randy Walker from 1991-98. The Hopedale, Ohio, native joins the RedHawks after two years at Illinois State, where he helped turn around a defensive unit that totaled just three interceptions and 11 quarterback sacks in 2008, ranking 115th of 118 teams in turnover margin (-1.36). The 2009 Redbird defense picked off 14 passes, the most since 2006, and registered 25 sacks. Much of that turnaround was due to a change in the linebacking corps, which had a pair of freshmen named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.
Prior to coming to Illinois State, Peterson spent five years at Eastern Michigan, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2004-08, while also holding the title of assistant head coach during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. In five seasons, the Eagle defense improved dramatically, from a high of 469.6 yards allowed per game in 2004 to a drop of almost 100 yards in 2006, at 388.3 yards per game.
From 1999-2003, Peterson coached at Northwestern, first overseeing the linebackers and special teams before moving to the defensive line for the last two seasons. In 2001, Northwestern's linebackers were rated among the best in the nation, with two players, Kevin Bentley and Billy Silva, both making the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. He also coached Napoleon Harris, who was a first-round pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2002.
During his first stint at Miami, Peterson was in charge of linebackers and helped with the special teams. During that time, he coached several All-MAC linebackers, including two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year JoJuan Armour. Armour was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Another Peterson pupil, Dustin Cohen, was named third-team All-America by The Football News, along with Armour.
Peterson has also spent time coaching in the professional ranks, as he spent three summers in the NFL Minority Coaching Internship program, serving various roles with the Indianapolis Colts (1995), Detroit Lions (1997) and Chicago Bears (2001). He was also an assistant football coach at three high schools in the Cincinnati area: Cadiz (1985-87), Anderson (1988-89) and Withrow (1990) High Schools.
As a player, Peterson was a standout running back, earning four varsity letters from 1980-83. His career total of 2,874 rushing yards still ranks fifth on Miami's all-time career rushing list. He served as a co-captain as a senior and was a first-team All-MAC selection in 1982, a second-team pick in 1983 and an honorable mention choice in 1981.
Peterson earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1985. He and his wife, Freda, have a daughter, Jada.
McCullough begins his first season as the RedHawks' running backs coach. Last year, McCullough served as an offensive and special teams intern, where he worked closely with All-MAC wide recievers Armand Robinson and Nick Harwell. Additionally, McCullough assisted with the special teams units and played a role in the success of all-conference placekicker Trevor Cook and punter Zac Murphy.
A first-team All-MAC running back in 1992 and 1995, McCullough ended his career as the Mid-American Conference and Miami record holder for career rushing yards (4,368) and career rushing attempts (949). He was the first Miami football player to lead the team in rushing four years, topping 1,000 yards rushing three times. McCullough was also the first Miamian to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors (1992) and was later a finalist for the Doak Walker award as the nation's top running back. From 1996 through 2000, he played professional football for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles and also for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He was inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Following his playing career, McCullough returned to the Cincinnati area, working in education at the high school level as a teacher, head football coach, athletic director and Principal since 2000. As a coach and athletic director, he was responsible for the placement of over 100 student scholarship athletes.
McCullough's family includes his wife, Darnell, and sons Deland Jr., Dasan and Daeh.
Siatras enters his first year as defensive line coach at Miami, having been officially named to the staff on Jan. 15. The appointment marks the first full position assignment for the up-and-coming coach.
Siatras, 29, spent the previous four seasons at Michigan State, most recently serving as a video intern. He also worked closely with linebackers coach Mike Tressel.
In 2006, Siatras served as a staff assistant for head coach Mark Dantonio at Cincinnati. On the field, Siatras worked with the defensive backs as well as helping with scout team duties.
During the coaching transition at UC, Siatras held the title of interim defensive line coach for the Bearcats in the inaugural International Bowl, a 27-24 Bearcat victory over Western Michigan.
Siatras was a student intern coach at Ohio State in 2004-05, assisting the secondary and the scout team. He began coaching at Upper Arlington High School in 2003 as an assistant working with the defensive line.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native played offensive and defensive line at Campbell Memorial High School, earning first-team All-Northeast Ohio honors as a senior. He played one season (2000) at center at Youngstown State.
Siatras earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from Ohio State in 2006 and a master's degree in sports administration from Michigan State two years later. He is engaged to Katie Shenoo of Chicago, Ill.
