New University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Rusty Wright admitted Friday that he didn't need much time or research to select his tight ends coach.
Of the hiring of former UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman - whose father, Russ, once hired Wright as a Mocs assistant - the coach said, "(Jacob) put the weight of this program on his shoulders for four years. A large part of our success is because of him. He's earned this."
Huesman also earned this opportunity by the way he handled his graduate assistant duties last season at Georgia State, where Wright was the inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator the past two years.
"Just watching his growth and development as a G.A.," Wright said of Huesman, who last played for the Mocs in 2015. "Jacob is going to be a phenomenal young football coach."
Not all of that development was tied strictly to football. Just as Wright recalled "cutting the grass for coaches, picking up dry cleaning, picking up (other coaches') kids," during his time as a UTC student assistant, Huesman referenced "getting lunch, picking up dry cleaning and putting gas in cars" as part of his routine at Georgia State.
But he also said, "It was awesome to be around football," which always impressed Wright during Huesman's time as a player.
"Whether it was doing what was asked or doing things that weren't asked," Wright said. "His work ethic. Holding people accountable. Whether it was out of fear of his dad or whatever, Jacob always did what he was supposed to do."
All four of Wright's new hires - Huesman, defensive line coach Kenny Baker and offensive coordinator Joe Pizzo (who both came over from fellow Southern Conference program Mercer in Macon, Georgia) and defensive coach Mike Yeager - sound like guys dedicated to doing what they're supposed to do.
Wright believes Baker will do "a really good job in recruiting."
Of Pizzo he said, "I've seen him do more with less than anybody I've ever seen."
Regarding Yeager, he said, "Smart, smart football coach. Great role model for these kids."
But Huesman is clearly unique, so much so that Wright said of his tight ends coach's immense popularity in the Scenic City, "We might have to instigate the Nick Saban rule where assistants don't talk to the media."
But regardless of what happens going forward, Huesman is more than a little happy to return to the town where he became a star quarterback at Baylor School and UTC.
"I got goosebumps when I was getting off the Fourth Street exit (to go to campus)," he said. "I thought, 'Man, I love this place. I love this city, I love this school.'"
If Friday's news conference is any indication, his new boss and his old city love him back.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.