Baldwin makes special teams changes at EWU
When it comes to special teams, Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin is taking the divide-and-conquer approach.
After last month’s promotion of special teams coach Jeff Schmedding to defensive coordinator, Baldwin weighed the options. He said this week that individual coaches will be responsible for the four main special teams units.
“I think it gives a lot of different guys a chance to grow and take something over,” Baldwin said.
In the new arrangement, linebackers coach Josh Fetter will coach the kickoff coverage unit; running backs coach Kiel McDonald will supervise kickoff returns; Baldwin will handle punt coverage; and cornerbacks coach Cherokee Valeria will coach the punt return unit.
The placekicking and kick defense units will still be handled by offensive line coach Aaron Best and defensive front coordinator Ryan Sawyer, Baldwin said.
Regarding the changes, Baldwin allowed that “Maybe a year from now I may morph to one guy, but we will all have a role anyway – we’re all involved in special teams.”
In other news, Baldwin said he is finalizing the schedule for spring ball, which will conclude with the Red-White Spring game on April 25; and waiting on the NCAA to rule on defensive end Evan Day’s petition for a sixth year of eligibility. Day didn’t play last season after suffering an ACL injury last spring.
