Wulff makes change to WSU football staff

Washington State football coach Paul Wulff has made a change on his staff, the first of this offseason. Wulff announced Friday that Travis Niekamp, who was linebackers coach, was being reassigned within the athletic department. Niekamp, who came over with Wulff from Eastern Washington, is filling a newly created position of coordinator of football development. His duties will include overseeing football camps and clinics, on-campus recruiting activities and other unspecified tasks. There is no on-field coaching associated with the new position. “Travis will continue to play a large role in the growth of our player development and overall football program,” Wulff said in a news release. “He is extremely well organized, a tireless worker and understands the necessity of this position, all factors that make us better.” Wulff said he has begun a search for a replacement. Before joining Wulff at EWU, Niekamp, 36, coached at his alma mater, Illinois State, and at Army. Last year WSU finished 118th out of 120 FBS schools in defense, and 115th in rushing defense. The Cougars (2-10) were last in the Pac-10 in five major defensive statistics. After the 2009 season, offensive line coach Harold Etheridge’s contract was not renewed and running backs coach and special teams coordinator Steve Broussard left to join Dennis Erickson’s staff at Arizona State. They were replaced by veteran coaches Steve Morton and Dave Ungerer, respectively. Earlier this week the football coaching website Footballscoop.com reported Niekamp and defensive line coach Malik Roberson would be replaced. A WSU spokesman, responding to the report, said no changes had been made at that time.