Sanford puts three on staff

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

The first three assistants on new UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford's staff were officially named on Wednesday.

Utah defensive assistant Kurt Barber, Northern Arizona offensive line coach Gary Bernardi and Kris Cinkovich, who coached wide receivers for the Rebels this past season all were named to Sanford's staff.

Barber, 35, coached linebackers this past season for the Utes but coached the defensive line the previous year. Sanford has not decided which defensive position he will occupy on his staff yet.

"I have been impressed with Kurt Barber from the time he was a player and I was coaching at USC," Sanford said of the 1992 USC graduate who went on to become a second-round pick of the New York Jets. "He is bright, enthusiastic, energetic and a proven recruiter of the Southern California area, so we are excited he has joined us."

Bernardi, a 1976 graduate of Cal State Northridge who has coached more than 20 years in the Pac-10 Conference at USC, UCLA and Arizona, will be the new recruiting coordinator for the Rebels and also coach tight ends and offensive tackles.

Cinkovich, 44, came to UNLV a year ago after turning Las Vegas High School into one of the state's premier prep programs. He coached wide receivers last season but it has not been determined yet what spot he will coach for the Rebels.

"I hear nothing but good things about his relationships with coaches in the Las Vegas area, which is a key to UNLV being successful," Sanford said.

Meanwhile, Sanford's son, backup Boise State quarterback Mike Sanford Jr., told the Idaho Statesman newspaper that he will be an offensive graduate assistant.