Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Announces Spring Practice Dates
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 5, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest University will begin its spring practice drills on Tuesday, March 16 and will hold its 15 allowable practice sessions before concluding with the spring game on Saturday, April 17.
The Demon Deacons will generally practice on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through the next month though the exact schedule is subject to change. Weekday practices are expected to start at 4:15 p.m. and Saturday practices at 9:15 a.m.
The majority of the practices will be held at the Doc Martin Football Practice Complex on the Wake Forest campus. The Deacons will practice at BB&T Field on Saturday, March 27 and Saturday, April 10.
In addition, head coach Jim Grobe announced several changes to Wake Forest's coaching line-up.
The biggest change is the move of Steve Russ from coaching the tight ends and fullbacks to the defensive side of the ball where he will coach the linebackers. Russ played linebacker for Grobe at the Air Force Academy and during his NFL playing career with the Denver Broncos. Russ is also a former defensive coordinator at Syracuse. The tight ends will now be coached by offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke.
Associate head coach Billy Mitchell, who has been coaching the running backs and kickers, will also add the responsibility of mentoring the fullbacks.
Defensive coordinator Brad Lambert will move from coaching the linebackers to working with the safeties while defensive end coach Keith Henry will move from defensive ends to cornerbacks.
Tim Billings, who spent the last two years working with the entire secondary, will now coach the defensive ends. Ray McCartney remains as Wake Forest's defensive tackles coach and recruiting coordinator.
"We've wanted for a while to get Steve Russ back on defense," said Grobe. "We will do that this fall. Last year, I thought it would have been too disruptive. Now, with our re-alignment, this is a good time to move Steve. From a defensive perspective, with five coaches on defense, we'll have the opportunity to do a better job on that side of the ball."
