Brock keeps busy, reveals recruiting class, coordinators

Head coach Dave Brock may finally have time to take a breath. After being hired on Jan. 18, Brock traveled to nine different states in just over two weeks in an effort to retain the incoming 2013 recruiting class built by former head football coach K.C. Keeler.

Brock said although his main focus over the last several weeks was on securing his recruits, he was also juggling the process of finding a suitable coaching staff.

“I had spoken to people, but the recruits I was handling deserved my primary attention,” Brock said.

Just two days after announcing the addition of 13 incoming recruits, two transfers and a greyshirt, Brock named his coaching staff for the 2013 season on Friday.

Brock declared former Boston College tight ends coach Sean Devine will serve as the Hens’ offensive coordinator, former Bethany College head coach Tim Weaver will take the reigns as the defensive coordinator and former Merrimack University head coach John Perry will be the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Prior to his seven seasons as head coach at Bethany, Weaver spent time as an assistant coach at Columbia University, Harvard University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Hofstra and Western Connecticut State University. He was a four-year starter at linebacker for Davidson University and graduated in 1990.

Brock worked with Weaver in the 1995 and 1996 seasons and during that time period, Brock said Weaver made a distinct impression on him.

“I think what I have with coach Weaver is someone I’ve worked with before at Hofstra,” Brock said. “I’ve had a long professional relationship with him. I think he’s going to do a great job of running the style of defense I want to run.”

With the additions of Devine and Perry comes along the possibility that Delaware will install an up-tempo offense in the future. Prior to his tenure at Boston College, Devine worked five seasons under current Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly at New Hampshire. Additionally, Perry led Merrimack to the top scoring offense in the Northeast-10 for the last five seasons.

Despite the backgrounds that both his new offensive coaches hail from, Brock said it would be premature to assume that the Hens are going to run any specific style of offense next fall.

“In terms of scheme, that’s really what the spring’s going to be all about,” Brock said. “We’re going to find out what we can do and we’re going to find out how we can do it. And we’re going to put it together. But to classify things as a system of an offense, that would be inaccurate.”

In an effort to improve upon their 5-6 record in 2012, the Hens will welcome 16 newcomers to the program next fall. Although Delaware lost two commitments due to the firing of Keeler, Brock was able to bring in the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the state of Pennsylvania in Kyle Yocum.

Yocum is the all-time leading passer at Exeter High School in Reading, Pa. with 3,815 career passing yards and 38 touchdowns. Yocum’s passing stats do not lie, but he also demonstrated an ability to rush the football for 1,955 yards and 27 touchdowns and has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Brock said Yocum, along with all the other players on the roster, will have an opportunity to see playing time in 2013.

“Everybody who comes in is going to have an opportunity to compete,” Brock said. “Everybody that comes in is going to have an opportunity to show us exactly what they can do. But again, we are building this program and team around the players that are here.”