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USF Finally Hires Defensive Coordinator

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

Updated: 03/03/2009 05:43 am

TAMPA - After getting turned down by a handful of candidates during the past two weeks, University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt finally found his defensive coordinator late Tuesday: former University of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Joe Tresey.

Ironically, Tresey was the first person Leavitt interviewed after Wally Burnham was hired as Iowa State's defensive coordinator. Leavitt did not offer Tresey the job then, but after Iowa State secondary coach Chris Ash was the latest to decline an offer to be a co-coordinator at USF early Tuesday, Leavitt turned to Tresey, who interviewed for a second time in Tampa.

Tresey, who did not return calls seeking comment, was at Cincinnati the past two seasons. However, he was fired by UC coach Brian Kelly reportedly for interviewing for the defensive coordinator's job at Miami.

It's unknown whether Tresey will coach linebackers or defensive backs at USF. The Bulls still have one opening on their defensive staff with spring practice beginning Monday.

Before coming to Cincinnati, Tresey also worked with Kelly at Central Michigan. A 1982 Ohio State graduate, Tresey also previously was defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern.

USF also added former Bowling Green wide receivers coach Stephen Bird as an offensive graduate assistant.

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