The 11th season of Barry Sacks[apos]s tenure at Nevada will see the intense, veteran coach take over the entire defensive front after coaching just the tackle in 2011 and just the ends in 2010.
On the front, Sacks has junior Jack Reynoso returning at one of the inside positions and will welcome in open competition for virtually every other spot on the depth chart during camp and into the regular season.
The energetic and enthusiastic coach has coached a number of positions during his time in Reno but he has been a mainstay on the defensive line in recent years. Sacks has developed some of the top pass rushers in Wolf Pack history, most notably Kevin Basped (who spent time with the New York Jets) and Dontay Moch, who was picked in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Basped and Moch each finished their Wolf Pack careers as two of the greatest pass rushers in school history with Moch setting the school and Western Athletic Conference records for career tackles for loss.
Most recently, Sacks guided Brett Roy from a walk-on defensive back into an All-American (Sports Illustrated) in 2011. Roy enters the 2012 season on the roster of the New York Jets
In 2007, Sacks coached the Pack[apos]s outside linebackers, including team tackles leader Ezra Butler, who led the WAC in tackles for loss. He also coached Nick Fuhr, who led the team and was second in the WAC in sacks.
Prior to 2007, Sacks spent three seasons as Nevada[apos]s co-defensive coordinator, helping the Wolf Pack rank 30th in the nation in scoring defense in 2006.
During his first year at Nevada, Sacks coached CoSIDA first-team Academic All-America and All-WAC tight end Erick Streelman in 2002. He moved over to the other side of the ball to work with the defensive line in 2003 and helped tutor two all-WAC selections in Jorge Cordova (the team[apos]s MVP in 2003 and career sacks leader) and Derek Kennard, Jr. (the defensive MVP in 2003).
Sacks is a tireless and effective recruiter who has consistently cultivated his area and to bring talented student-athletes to Reno. Among those Sacks recruited in recent years are quarterback Colin Kaepernick, tight end Virgil Green and Basped.
Sacks has 25 years in the coaching profession, including one season in the Arena Football League (AFL). He had served as a defensive coordinator twice before assuming the co-coordinator role at Nevada, once at the collegiate level at NCAA II Adams State in 1997 as well as in his one-year stint with the AFL[apos]s San Jose Sabercats in 2001.
The Ephrata, Wash., native[apos]s resume also includes three years as the defensive line coach at San Jose State (1998-2000), four seasons as the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at Boise State (1993-96) and seven years as the defensive line coach at Portland State (1986-92).
The File on Barry Sacks
Born: November 24, 1957
Hometown: Ephrata, Wash.
Family: Wife - Teresa, Daughter - Alyx, Son - Philip
Education
Bachelor[apos]s, Physical Education, Montana, 1980
Coaching Experience
2010-: Defensive Tackles, Nevada
2007-09: Defensive Ends, Nevada
2004-06: Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Nevada
2003: Defensive Ends, Nevada
2002: Tight Ends, Nevada
2001: Defensive Coordinator, San Jose Sabercats (AFL)
1998-2000: Assistant Coach, San Jose State
1997: Defensive Coordinator, Adams State
1993-96: Assistant Coach, Boise State
1986-92: Assistant Coach, Portland State
Playing Experience
Montana: Four-year letterman and two-year starter at linebacker (1976-79)
Recruiting Area: Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley
