Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert has announced the addition of four new coaches to complete his 10-person coaching staff.  The 49ers have hired Drew Dayton as Inside Linebackers Coach, Damien Gary as Running Backs Coach, Johnson Richardson as Tight Ends Coach and John Russell as Assistant Secondary Coach.

"This group fits in with the staff that's in place from a  character standpoint, a recruiting standpoint and how we treat our players," Lambert said. "We couldn't be more excited about bringing them in.  They will bring a great intensity level that will be good for us both on and off the field. The important thing that really came through in the process is that they are really fired up to be here and excited about Charlotte starting football." 

Gary was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Georgia, who helped key the Bulldogs 2002 SEC Championship team.  He coached at Mars Hill for the last two years as the Wide Receivers Coach.  He also had responsibility with the special teams return units and worked as an academic coordinator.  He served as an assistant varsity and junior varsity football coach at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga. from 2005-2010.

Georgia's all-time career punt returner in both returns (114) and yards (1253), Gary was also a member of Georgia's 2002 Sugar Bowl Championship team.  Gary was a wide receiver for Georgia from 2000-03, playing alongside current 49ers football assistant Joe Tereshinski.  He graduated in December, 2005.

"Damien played for us at the University of Georgia," Lambert said.  "He has a lot of experience on the offensive side of the ball.  He played wide receiver so he'll help us with our passing game. I've known him for a long time and I like the kind of person he is and the direction he'll give our student athletes."

Dayton, a 2003 Wake Forest grad, has coached at Duke for the past six years.

"Drew brings us a lot of experience on the defensive side of the football," Lambert noted.  "He's worked with both the secondary and the linebackers. He also worked extensively with special teams.  He's from North Carolina and that was important to us from a recruiting standpoint.  He's the kind of guy we want working with our young men."

Dayton, a defensive back during his four-year playing career with the Demon Deacons, has handled Duke's Defensive Quality Control for the last three years.  Prior to that, he spent one year at Duke Defensive Graduate Assistant and two years as Duke's Offensive Graduate Assistant.  He began his coaching career as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne from 2003-06.

While playing at Wake Forest, Dayton helped the Demon Deacons to victories in the the 1999 Aloha Bowl and the 2002 Seattle Bowl.

Richardson, a tight end at Wofford from 2006-10, has served as the Tight Ends Coach/Offensive Graduate Assistant for the last two years at Wingate.  A 2010 Wofford grad, Richardson was a member of Wofford's 2007 Southern Conference Championship team. 

At Wingate, Richardson served as the Assistant Video Coordinator and Long Snappers Coach in 2011 and the Assistant Offensive Line Coach and Director of Football Operations in 2010.  Prior to his college playing days, he was an equipment and sideline assistant for the Carolina Panthers.

"Johnson comes highly recommended from Wofford and coach Mike Ayers -- and we have a lot of respect for him and the way they run their program," Lambert said.  "He played tight end and has coaching experience at that position, as well.  We're excited to have him in our program."

Russell starred at Wake Forest from 2006-09 and has been Duke's Defensive Graduate Assistant this past year.  After a stint in the NFL that included a 2010 season with the Buffalo Bills, Russell joined Duke's staff in June of 2011, working especially with the Defensive Line and Outside Linebackers. 

"John's a guy that will bring huge intensity to us on the defensive side of ball," Lambert said.  "He's a coach's son and has been around football all his life.  He's a film room junkie that I always knew would be a coach.  He's been around me for a long time and knows what we are expecting and how we want the guys treated."

At Wake Forest, Russell was a 2009 co-captain who was named an all-ACC Defensive Lineman that year.  Russell was a part of the Demon Deacons 2006 ACC Championship team that played in the Orange Bowl and on the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl and 2008 Eagle Bank Bowl championship teams.

The quartet of coaches join Lambert's current coaching staff that includes Offensive Coordinator Jeff Mullen, Defensive Coordinator Bruce Tall, Secondary Coach James Adams, Offensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Phil Ratliff, Outside Linebackers Coach Napoleon Sykes and Wide Receiver Coach Joe Tereshinski.  Charlotte will enjoy its inaugural season in 2013 as an FCS Independent. In 2015, the 49ers football program will join the FBS as a member of Conference USA.  In 2012, Charlotte will conduct practices and workout sessions in preparation for the historic 2013 season.

DAMIEN GARY FILE

Education

            Bachelor of Science, Georgia, 2005

Coaching Experience

            Mars Hill,       

                        2010-12:          Wide Receivers Coach

                                                Special Teams Responsibility: Kick-Off Return and all returners

                                                Academic Coordinator - organizing study table

Playing Experience

            Georgia          

                        2000-2003       Wide Receiver/Punt Returner

                                                2002 SEC Champions

                                                2002 Sugar Bowl Champions

DREW DAYTON FILE

Education

            Masters of Humanities, Duke, 2008

            Bachelor of Science, Wake Forest, 2003

Coaching Experience

            Duke, 2006-12           

                        2009-Present:              Defensive Quality Control, Duke

                        2008-09:          Defensive Graduate Assistant, Duke

                        2006-08:          Offensive Graduate Assistant, Duke

            Lenoir-Rhyne

                        2003-06:          Ass't Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Lenoir-Rhyne College

Playing Experience

            Wake Forest   

                        1999-2003       Defensive Back

                                                1999 Aloha Bowl Champions

                                                2002 Seattle Bowl Champions

JOHNSON RICHARDSON FILE

Education

            Bachelor of Arts, Wofford, 2010

Coaching Experience

            Wingate, 2010-           12

                        2010-12:          Tight Ends/Offensive Graduate Assistant

                        2011:               Long Snappers Coach; Ass't. Video Coordinator

                        2010:               Ass't Offensive Line; Director of Football Operations                                 

Playing Experience

            Wofford         

                        2006-10           Tight End

                                                2007 Southern Conference Champions

JOHN RUSSELL JR. FILE

Education

            Bachelor of Science, Wake Forest, 2010

Coaching Experience

            Duke

            2011-12:                      Defensive Graduate Assistant

                                                Defensive Line/Outside Linebacker  

Playing Experience

            Wake Forest   

                        2006-09           Defensive Line

                                                2006 ACC Champions

                                                2006 Orange Bowl

                                                2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl Champions

                                                2008 Eagle Bank Bowl Champions