RENO, Nev. - Nevada Football head coach Jeff Choate announced three more additions to his 2024 Wolf Pack staff, Friday.

Friday's announcements filled out the offensive side of the staff—Mike Lynch, who served with Choate at Utah State and Eastern Illinois, will coach the Nevada running backs and serve as interim offensive coordinator. Brian Armstrong, a member of Choate's staff during his tenure at Montana State, will be the Pack's run game coordinator and oversee The Union, and James Price, a former Wyoming wide receiver and most recently on the Montana State staff, joins the staff on a full-time basis and will initially oversee the Nevada wide receivers on an interim basis.

"One of the hallmarks of this Nevada staff is that, with rare exception, these are people that I know personally, have worked with as a coach, or have coached them during my career. I pick my coaches on character first. This was very important as I put this first group together. They know me, I know them, and we know how we communicate in order to get this thing off the ground. This will accelerate the timeline of what we want to accomplish at Nevada," Choate said about his Nevada staff.
"This staff is a really good mix of experience both as players and as coaches. It is a good mix of veteran coaches and young up-and-comers. This will create good energy on staff, and our players will really connect with these men."

Nevada Football will continue to announce its staff additions over the coming weeks.

Mike Lynch - Interim Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
Mike Lynch reunites with Jeff Choate two decades after the pair served together on the staffs at Utah State (2002-04) and Eastern Illinois (2005). A native of Roseville, Calif., Lynch returns West and will coach Nevada's running backs after spending the previous eight seasons (2016-23) at Syracuse, where he oversaw the same unit since 2018.

Lynch, who has taught every position on offense over his coaching career, was Syracuse's offensive coordinator from 2018-2019. He served as the Orange's co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2016 and 2017.

Choate on Lynch: "Mike and I worked together a long time ago at Utah State, then again at Eastern Illinois. Mike is a tremendous person, and very loyal guy. He is a 'Ball Coach' through and through—he has coached every position on offense at different times over his career, and he's called plays as a coordinator. Mike brings a depth of experience to the staff. He's a Northern California native, and we're excited to get him out West. I told myself that if I could get Mike on my staff that I would do it, and the timing has worked out where I could hire him, because I think that much of him as a coach. Mike will also serve as our interim offensive coordinator as we get that position situated—he can tie the run and pass pieces of the offense together well."

With the Orange, Lynch oversaw an offense which rushed for the fifth-highest yardage total in program history in 2021, finishing with 2,562 yards. This attack was spearheaded by running back Sean Tucker, who ran for a program-record 1,496 yards and ranked fourth in the country with 124.7 rushing yards per game. Tucker, a two-time All-ACC selection, would finish his career third all-time at Syracuse with 3,182 rushing yards.

"I'm extremely excited to be joining Coach Choate's staff at Nevada. I have known him for a long time and I have the utmost respect for him as a coach, and more importantly as a great man," Lynch said. "He is an incredibly strong leader and builds a culture that anyone in football would want to be a part of. Being raised in the Sacramento area, I'm looking forward to coming back to the West Coast and being close to my family and friends. Nevada is a special place and I can't wait to be a part of this journey with Coach Choate and the staff he has assembled."

Lynch came to Syracuse after helping run one of the most explosive offenses in college football at Bowling Green. As the co-offensive coordinator, as well as the offensive line and running backs coach for the Falcons in 2015, Bowling Green ranked in the top 10 nationally in first downs (1st - 389), total offense (4th - 546.8 ypg), passing offense (5th - 366.8 ypg), third-down conversion percentage (5th - .502) and scoring offense (6th - 42.2 ppg). The unit powered the Falcons to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title and an appearance in the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl. 

Lynch's tutelage helped produce seven 2015 All-MAC selections on offense, including linemen Alex Huettel (second team), Jacob Bennett (second team) and running back Travis Greene (first team). Huettel earned All-America honors from Phil Steele and was selected to participate in the 2016 East-West Shrine Bowl.

Before adding co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach to his duties, Lynch served as Bowling Green's running backs coach in 2014. That season, he mentored the trio of Greene, Fred Coppet and Andre Givens. The threesome combined for 2,192 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground to help the Falcons capture the MAC East Division crown and win the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Prior to his stint at Bowling Green, Lynch was an assistant coach from 2005-13 at Eastern Illinois. He spent his final two years at EIU as the running backs coach under Babers and coached two 1,000-yard rushers. All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree Jake Walker ran for 1,133 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. The following season, Shepard Little was named to the All-OVC First Team after rushing for 1,551 yards and 15 scores.

Most of Lynch's first six years at EIU were spent coaching the wide receivers. While in that position, he guided the career of 2006 All-American Micah Rucker and led several productive units, including a 2011 Panther receiving corps that accounted for 20 of the team's 34 touchdowns.

Lynch got his first taste of coaching in 1999 as a restricted earnings coach at Montana. After a year with the Grizzlies, Lynch spent five seasons at Utah State. While with the Aggies, he coached three tight ends who signed with NFL teams. Chris Cooley, a two-time Pro Bowler, was the third-round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2003 NFL Draft, while J.R. Suguturaga (Miami Dolphins) and Casey Poppinga (Pittsburgh Steelers) both signed free-agent contracts.

A Roseville, California native, Lynch was an offensive lineman for Sierra Junior College before finishing his collegiate career at Montana in 1997 and 1998. The Grizzlies combined to win 16 games with Lynch on the roster and reached the Divsion I-AA (now FCS) playoffs both seasons.

Lynch holds a bachelor's degree from Montana and a master's degree in secondary education from Utah State. He married the former Emily Schilling in June 2011. The couple has two children – Madison and Will.

Brian Armstrong - Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
Brian Armstrong, who served on Montana State's staff from 2016-22, including all four seasons of Choate's tenure, comes to Reno after a year at Fresno State, where he oversaw the offensive line.

Two members of the Bulldog offensive line earned All-Mountain West honors in 2023. Mose Vavao was named to the second team, while Jacob Spomer earned honorable mention. The Bulldog offensive line was dominant in Fresno State's 37-10 New Mexico Bowl victory over New Mexico State Dec. 18, not giving up a sack as the offense churned out exactly 500 yards of offense.

Choate on Armstrong: "I've known Brian since he was an 18-year-old freshman at Western Montana—we go that far back. And I've watched him grow into one of the best offensive run game coaches in the country. He is a home run for us in what he brings to the table, and what we'll be able to do on the offensive line. He has a great reputation for being creative, innovative, and sound in the run game. Brian is highly technical, which you have to be as offensive line coach—I felt this was the most important hire for us, and we hit a home run."

Prior to joining the Fresno State staff, Armstrong spent four seasons as Montana State's offensive line coach and run game coordinator, after serving as tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for the Bobcats. In his final season in Bozeman, Montana State went 12-2, captured the Big Sky title, and made its third-straight FCS semifinal appearance. The Bobcat offense ranked second in the FCS and led the Big Sky in rushing offense, churning out 311.9 rushing yards per game. The Bobcats ranked third in the FCS in scoring offense (42.9 points per game) and fourth in total offense (495.1 yards per game).

"My family and I are excited to be a part of the Nevada Football family. The opportunity to work alongside Coach Choate and this great staff is something I am very excited about. He demands the very best from himself and everyone around him. I can't wait to get to work with The Union!" Armstrong said.

Individually, Armstrong coached an FCS All-America offensive lineman in each of his four seasons overseeing the Bobcat offensive line. Lewis Kidd earned first-team All-America honors in 2021, then signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints, appearing in 13 games during the 2022 campaign.

In 2021, Montana State reached the FCS Championship Game. The Bobcats finished seventh in the FCS with 220.9 rushing yards per game. Montana State was 21st in the FCS in sacks allowed (1.33 per game) under Armstrong's leadership.

Armstrong's success as an offensive line coach showed in each of his years with Montana State, taking the 2019 team to the FCS semifinals and finishing seventh in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed, 8th in rushing offense, 27th in scoring offense. In 2016, he coached offensive line for team that finished 17th in the FCS in rushing offense, and 14th in red zone offense.

With Rocky Mountain, he was named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2013. He is second on Rocky Mountain's all-time win-loss record as head coach. His 2013 team appeared in the NAIA Playoffs.

He has coached 10 total All-Americans: offensive linemen Rush Reimer (2022, Third Team), Lewis Kidd (2021, First Team), Mitch Brott (2019, Second Team), JP Flynn (2016, Third Team), Sonny Ah Kui (2010), and Dima Vasilevskiy, wide receiver Andre McCulloch (2013-15), and quarterback Kasey Peters (2010).

James Price – Interim Wide Receivers
James Price joins the Nevada staff as the interim wide receivers coach, after serving the 2023 season as Director of Player Personnel at Montana State.

Prior to his season in Bozeman, Price, a standout wide receiver for Wyoming from 2015-18, worked with wide receivers at IMG Academy from 2019-21, then served as an offensive graduate assistant at Kansas in 2022.

Choate on Price: "James has a winning pedigree having played at Wyoming, being a part of that program, and being part of the building process at Kansas. Last year he was in an off-the-field role at Montana State. James is a young, hard-working and intelligent winner—qualities we were looking for. For now he will serve coach our wide receivers as we bridge the time before we announce our offensive coordinator, then he'll operate in a right-hand role to that individual once onboard. James will gain valuable experience recruiting for us, running a position room, and learning from some of the best minds in college football at our level. On our staff, James is one guy I didn't have direct knowledge of, but people I know kept bringing his name up as a mature, well-organized, detailed individual. I have been super impressed with him going through this process, and am thrilled to have him on board."

With Montana State, Price assisted in all areas of recruiting and operations, as well as serving as an offensive analyst, assisting with the Bobcats' gameplanning.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wolf Pack coaching staff. Nevada is a university with plenty of rich tradition and history. Coach Choate is determined to invest in his players and staff to launch this program to new heights," Price said.

During his season at Kansas, Price helped the Jayhawks improve from two wins in 2021 to a six-win campaign. Kansas would reach its first bowl game since 2008, earning a trip to the Liberty Bowl where the Jayhawks faced Arkansas.

From 2019-21, Price oversaw receivers and tight ends for the IMG Academy's varsity team. There, players under Price's tutelage set the program's career records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns, as well as single-season records for catches and touchdown receptions.

During his career at Wyoming, Price caught 66 passes for 905 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 13.7 yards per reception. He caught a combined 46 passes over his sophomore and junior seasons (2016-17), as the Cowboys reached a bowl game in each campaign, highlighted by a victory over Central Michigan in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.