Mosley Resigns For Health Reasons, Matsakis To Coach Running Backs

April 27, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Earle Mosley has resigned his position as University of Kansas running backs coach for health reasons, Head Coach Mark Mangino announced Friday. Louie Matsakis will replace Mosley as the running backs coach and will also serve as special teams coordinator.

“Earle did an outstanding job with our running backs,” Mangino said. “He surely will be missed. However, we will continue to encourage Earle as he deals with his health issues. Earle has been a coach for 35 years and has touched a lot of lives in a positive way.”

Mosley was entering his third year with the Jayhawks’ program and was coming off a year in which he guided Jon Cornish to a school-record 1,427 yards and the Big 12 rushing title. He came to KU after working for five seasons with the Chicago Bears and enjoyed a long career with successful stints at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.

Matsakis rejoined the staff this season after a one-year stint as special teams coordinator at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. The Shadyside, Ohio, native also worked at KU during the 2004 and 2005 seasons as quality control coordinator.

“Louie has worked in our program and has made many contributions,” Mangino said. “He knows our offensive and special teams systems inside and out.”

At Capital, Matsakis guided first team All-OAC and All-American placekicker Matt Spitz and first team All-OAC punt returner Thom Hausler. The Crusaders set a school record for wins in a season with 11 and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Division 3 Championships. Capital was ranked third in the final NCAA Division 3 poll.

In his first stint at KU, Matsakis assisted with the day to day operations and game planning alongside the special teams coordinator. Among his many administrative duties, he performed statistical analysis for the offense and special teams, performed self-scout and opponent scouting reports for the special teams coordinator and was involved in the areas of on-campus recruiting, camps and clinics.

Matsakis also held positions at Texas State University-San Marcos as special teams coordinator during the 2003 season and as special teams intern at Texas Tech University from 2000 to 2002.

At Texas State, Matsakis developed All-Southland Conference punter Cory Elolf, who was ranked seventh nationally and first in the Southland in punting average (43.35 yards per punt). He also worked extensively with the Bobcat offense which finished first in the conference and seventh nationally in total offense with 443.42 yards per game. At Texas Tech, Matsakis worked with special teams and was part of a staff that went to three consecutive bowl games.

Matsakis was a three-year letterman as a place kicker and punter at Emporia State University from 1995-98. He completed a degree in Finance from ESU in May of 2000. He set the ESU single season record for most extra points made in a season with 47 and set single game records with most PATs attempted and made with nine.