WMU football names Esposito defensive coordinator, adds 4 more to staff

WMU defensive coordinator Lou Esposito

Western Michigan Broncos interim defensive coordinator Lou Esposito congratulates quarterback Kaleb Eleby (9) after the Broncos defeated Northern Illinois Huskies 28-21 on senior night at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

KALAMAZOO, MI - Western Michigan’s Lou Esposito will drop the “interim” tag that was attached to his defensive coordinator title for the Broncos' final two games of the 2018 season, as head coach Tim Lester announced Monday a promotion for the former defensive line coach.

WMU also introduced four new members to its coaching staff -- two each on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

The Broncos entered the offseason with five coaching vacancies, and while they still have one opening for an assistant coach, Monday's announcement, particularly the selection of a defensive coordinator, adds stability heading into National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

Esposito started the 2018 campaign as WMU's defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, which he shared with Tim Daoust until Daoust's firing a day after the Broncos' loss to Ball State.

From there, he held the interim tag and helped the defense play its best game of the year in a 28-21 win over eventual Mid-American Conference champ Northern Illinois, in which WMU held the Huskies to 262 yards of offense and two touchdowns.

The strong play continued into WMU's postseason game against BYU, as the Broncos held the Cougars to seven points in the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

The second half of the bowl game was a different story, however, as BYU freshman quarterback Zach Wilson completed all 10 of his passes after the break and led the Cougars on six consecutive touchdown drives to pull away with a 49-18 win.

But the WMU players raved about Esposito's energy in his short time calling the defense, and it was those relationships, that level of juice and his defensive schemes that led Lester to promote Esposito.

"I love Lou's relationship with his players and his defensive scheme," Lester said in a release. "He brings a lot of energy and the guys play hard for him, which is something we were missing. Six of the last eight quarters were the best defensive quarters we have played in the last two years, without much time to prepare. He is one of the best recruiters in the Mid-American Conference and I know we are going to have an aggressive defense under his leadership. He's only shown us a glimpse of the changes he plans on making and I know the team is fired up to put the other pieces in place. I am confident in his ability to lead our defense moving forward."

Joining Esposito on the defense are cornerbacks coach James Adams and linebackers coach Trevor Andrews.

Adams comes to Kalamazoo from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte football team, where he spent eight years coaching the 49ers' secondary and helping the program go from nonexistent to the FCS level to the FBS level.

Charlotte led Conference USA and was 14th in the FBS with 16 interceptions during the 2016 season, but the 49ers also ranked last in the league in picks (2) in 2017. In 2018, Charlotte was 10th in C-USA with nine interceptions.

Before his coaching career, Adams was a linebacker at Wake Forest.

"James is an unbelievable person with high character that helped start the Charlotte program from scratch," Lester said. "He has played at the FBS level, coached for seven years at the FBS level, and is an extremely disciplined coach. He will bring a ton of technique and experience to our secondary, and the ability to develop those players, which is an area we know we need to improve on."

Andrews comes to WMU off an 18-year stay at the College of William & Mary, where he served as the program's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2014. Under his tutelage, the Tribe boasted the FCS's No. 1 passing defense in 2016, and five of his former players have gone on to the NFL.

"William & Mary has perennially been a top 10 defense in the nation and Trevor blew us away in the interviews," Lester said. "He has put people in the NFL as a defensive backs coach, a linebacker coach and as a defensive line coach, which is pretty rare. With his coordinator experience and his ability to develop players at different positions, he was highly sought after and we are happy he wanted to be a Bronco. He also has strong Midwest roots, being originally from Northern Indiana, so this will be a coming home for him."

On the offensive side of the ball, WMU welcomes running backs coach Mike Bath and wide receivers coach Keith Gaither.

Bath spent the previous five season at Wyoming, where he coached the Cowboys' running backs, fullbacks and tight ends, in addition to serving as a co-special teams coordinator. In his four seasons mentoring running backs, Bath coached the school's career rushing leader -- Brian Hill -- who went on to be drafted in the fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons. During his four-year span with the running backs, Wyoming rushers fumbled just six times.

Bath's special teams success was also apparent through the Cowboys' 2017 kick return unit that ranked No. 1 in the FBS and their punt return units that ranked No. 2 in 2017 and No. 5 in 2018.

Before Wyoming, Bath was the interim head coach and offensive coordinator at Miami (OH) for the last seven games of the 2013 season. He also played collegiately for the RedHawks.

"Mike brings over 15 years of Division I coaching experience and has won a MAC title as a player and a coach, so he knows what it takes to be successful at the FBS level," Lester said. "His running backs at Wyoming have been fantastic. To add a coach with his experience was a great find for our program."

Gaither brings extensive experience as a receivers coach to Kalamazoo, most recently at East Carolina, where he produced a first team all-conference receiver in each of his two seasons. Prior to the Pirates, Gaither coached receivers for two seasons at Army and four seasons at Ball State.

“Keith is a technician and the experience he will bring to the wide receiver room will further elevate an already talented group of guys. He is going to bring a ton of fundamentals and enthusiasm to the wide receiver position,” Lester said.

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