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February 21, 2009-Emporia State head football coach Garin Higgins has announced the addition of Bryce Saia to the Hornet coaching staff in the position of assistant head coach and secondary coach.

Saia has spent the last two seasons in the Arena Football League  with the Arizona Rattlers. Last season, Saia served as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, as the Rattlers advanced to the AFL playoffs.

"Bryce brings a wealth of experience, and all of it with winning football programs to Emporia State," said Higgins.  "His recruiting ties in the state of Kansas and in the Jayhawk Conference are a great asset to our program."

Before joining the Rattlers, Saia spent four years, from 2004-2007, coaching the defensive line at Southern Illinois University under former ESU head coach Jerry Kill. The Salukis were ranked either first or second in sacks and against the rush in the Missouri Valley Conference during his tenure and in 2004 had the top ranked scoring defense in the nation.

From 1998-2003, Saia served as the defensive coordinator and defensive back coach at Coffeyville Community College. The Red Ravens led the Jayhawk Conference in total defense in 2003 and were consistently ranked in the top ten nationally in defense. Prior to his stint at CCC, Saia coached the linebackers at Butler County Community College in 1997.

Throughout his years at Coffeyville and Butler Country, Saia coached numerous Division-I and NFL players, including current NFL stars such as Brandon Jacobs of the NY Giants, Jonathan Joseph of the Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Nelson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Travis Fisher of the Detroit Lions.

Saia’s first coaching position was as a defensive assistant at Ft. Hays State from 1994-1996 where he also received his Bachelors of Science degree. He played linebacker for his father Tom Saia at Butler County CC from 1990-1991.

He was a two-time all-state linebacker in high school, first as a junior at Buhler HS and again as a senior at El Dorado HS. He is married to the former Erin Castro and has a son, Nicholas Cole.

The Saia File

Coaching Career

▪ Defensive Assistant Coach, Ft. Hays State (1994-96)

▪ Linebackers & Runningbacks Coach, Butler County CC (1997)

▪ Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Coffeyville CC (1998-2003)

▪ Defensive Line Coach, Southern Illinois (2004-07)

▪ Defensive Line & Special Teams Coordinator, Arizona Rattlers (2007-2008)

HORNET FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Garin Higgins (ESU 1992) 3rd season

Assistant Head Coach/Secondary: Bryce Saia

 Def. Coordinator/Linebackers: Ken Gordon

Co-Off. Coordinator/Running Backs: Gary Manuel

Co-Off. Coordinator/OL/Recruiting Coordinator: Sean Clowers

WR/Strength & Conditioning/Special Teams: Matt Walter

Secondary: J.J. Milanovich  

Defensive Line: Mike LoPorto, Marcus Mead

###HORNETS###

Upcoming Events

• ESU vs. Washburn
Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. Jones Field at Welch Stadium

Recent Scores

• WU 56, at ESU 35 (Nov. 7, 2009)
• #23 MWSU 29 , at ESU 6 (Oct. 31, 2009)
• ESU 30, at TSU 24 OT (Oct. 24, 2009)
• #5 NWMSU 45 , at ESU 12 (Oct. 17, 2009)
• at PSU 44 , ESU 14 (Oct. 10, 2009)
• UNO 34 , at ESU 13 (Oct. 3, 2009)
• at FHSU 40, ESU 20 (Sept. 26, 2009)
• at MSSU 34, ESU 13 (Sept. 19, 2009)
• #13 UCM 24, ESU 21 (Sept. 12, 2009)
• Augustana 32, ESU 21 (Sept. 5, 2009)
• ESU 48, SWOSU 17 (Aug. 27, 2009)

Watering Hole Information