McInerney Adds Anno to Staff, Joins Group of Four New Coaches

Central Connecticut head football coach Jeff McInerney announced the addition of Sam Anno to his coaching staff for the 2008 season. Anno joins Ryan Nielsen, Jacob Rogers and Adam Jenkins as newcomers to the Blue Devil Staff. Nielsen, Anno and Rogers, all University of Southern California graduates, will help lead the defense, while Jenkins will be responsible for tight ends. Nielsen takes over as CCSU's defensive coordinator. Anno will tutor linebackers and special teams, and Rogers will coach the defensive line.

Anno joins the Central Connecticut staff after spending the last three seasons at his alma mater. After serving as a defensive and special teams graduate assistant at USC in 2005 and 2006, Anno was a video assistant on the 2007 staff. Prior to joining the USC staff, Anno spent 2004 as an assistant coach at Venice High School. He was also an assistant at Saint Monica High for four seasons (1996-99) and the defensive coordinator at Santa Monica High from 2000-01. Anno spent seven years in the NFL after graduating from USC in 1987. A linebacker and long snapper, he played with the Los Angeles Rams (1987), Minnesota Vikings (1987-88), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1989-91) and San Diego Chargers (1992-93). He received NFL Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 1989.

"Sam is going to bring tremendous energy to our team," McInerney said. "He is a great teacher, and his experiences at USC and in the NFL are going to be very useful in the continuing development of our student-athletes."

Anno is the final addition to the defensive staff, which will be run by Nielsen, a fellow USC graduate.

Nielsen spent the last three seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Mississippi. Last season, he coached Greg Hardy to Walter Camp second team All-America honors. A first team All-SEC selection, Hardy led the SEC and tied for sixth nationally with 10 sacks. He also ranked second in the SEC and fourth in the nation with 18.5 tackles for loss. He also coached Peria Jerry to second team All-SEC honors. In 2006, Nielsen helped tutor Hardy and Marcus Tillman to Freshman All-America honors. In his first season with the Rebels, Nielsen coached Michael Bozeman to honorable mention All-SEC honors while helping guide the Ole Miss defense to NCAA rankings of 27th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense.

Nielsen arrived at Ole Miss after spending the 2004 season as an administrative assistant coach at the University of Idaho. Prior to working with the Vandals, Nielsen spent the 2002 season as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Southern California, where he worked with the defensive line.

Nielsen started 30 games at defensive tackle, earning four letters with USC. He was voted the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1999. Nielsen spent time as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles during the summer of 2002 and played arena football for the Los Angeles Avengers during the 2004 season.

"We are very lucky to have Ryan on our staff," McInerney said. "He is another high energy guy who will get the most out of our players. His knowledge of the game is going to be invaluable to our success."

Rogers, another USC alumnus, begins his first season as an assistant after serving as a volunteer coach at Ole Miss last year. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Rogers played two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. A first team All-American offensive lineman at Southern California, he was a second round draft pick – the 52nd overall - for Dallas in 2004. In addition to spending 2004 and 2005 in Dallas, Rogers was on the Denver Broncos offseason roster in 2007.

A senior on USC's National Championship team in 2003, Rogers made the AP, Football Writers, Football Coaches, Walter Camp, SI.com and Collegefootballnews.com All-American first teams, becoming USC's first All-American first team offensive lineman since Tony Boselli in 1994. A Senior Bowl invitee, Rogers also earned second All-American honors from The Sporting News (second team) and Rivals.com (honorable mention). Additionally, Rogers, who was a two-time All-Pac-10 first team honoree, won the Pac-10's Morris Trophy as the league's top offensive lineman as a senior.

"Jacob's work ethic and determination is amazing," McInerney said. "He will be a tremendous asset to our players, both on and off the field."

Jenkins, who will also handle football operations, is McInerney's lone addition on the offensive staff. A Harvard graduate, Jenkins comes to the Blue Devils after spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator and line coach at Dean Technical High in Holyoke, MA. A four-year letterwinner at Harvard, Jenkins was the starting tight end on the undefeated 2004 squad. It was the first Crimson football team to go 10-0 since 1902.

"Adam comes recommended very highly from his coaching staff at Harvard," McInerney said. "His insight as a former student-athlete at this level will be very beneficial to our players."

Central Connecticut opens camp on Friday, Aug. 1 and will start the season at home against Bryant at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.