ELON, N.C. – Elon University head football coach Pete Lembo has announced the promotion of offensive line coach Rich Skrosky from run game coordinator to offensive coordinator as well as the addition of assistant coaches Scott Sallach and Keith Gaither. Sallach will assume the duties of pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach while Gaither will become the Phoenix’s wide receivers coach.
They will inherit nine returning offensive starters from last season’s 17th-ranked Elon squad (8-4 overall, 6-2 Southern Conference) that finished second in the SoCon and 23rd in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in passing offense with 244.5 aerial yards per game. The Phoenix also placed third in the league and 29th in the nation in total offense with 388.9 net yards per contest in 2008.
A member of the Elon staff since Lembo’s arrival for the 2006 campaign, Skrosky will enter his fourth season as the Phoenix offensive line coach in 2009. In 2008, he coached junior offensive linemen David Harrison and Chris Werden to All-Southern Conference status and also served Elon as its run game coordinator. Skrosky will enter his 26th year as a football coach – 22nd at the college level – in 2009. The 1987 Ramapo College graduate earned a bachelor of science degree in political science.
Previously, Skrosky served Columbia University as its offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for five seasons (2001-05), Monmouth University as its offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for eight seasons (1993-2000), Ramapo as its head coach for one season (1992) and its offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach for two seasons (1990-91), Rutgers University as its tight ends coach for two seasons (1988-89), Lodi High School (Lodi, N.J.) as its assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for three seasons (1985-87) and St. Peter’s Prep High School (Jersey City, N.J.) as its defensive backs coach for one season (1984).
“Rich is an outstanding football coach that is well-respected by everyone associated with our football program,” Lembo said. “He knows our offensive system, our personnel and he is extremely organized and hard working. Rich has certainly earned this promotion and we all have a great deal of confidence in him.”
Sallach brings 15 years of experience as an assistant football coach at the college level – Princeton University for six seasons (2003-08), Dartmouth College for five seasons (1998-2002), Monmouth for three seasons (1995-97) and Hamilton College for one season (1994). At Princeton, Sallach coached the Tigers’ wide receivers and quarterbacks. He was promoted to pass game coordinator in 2008.
Sallach worked with Skrosky throughout his time at Monmouth. Sallach also followed Lembo at Dartmouth, coaching under the same offensive coordinator – current Princeton head coach Roger Hughes. Sallach graduated from Ursinus College in 1994 with a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sport science.
“Scott is a very bright and knowledgeable coach who will be a great fit on our coaching staff,” Lembo said. “I have known Scott for many years, but was very impressed with his organizational and communication skills when we interviewed him. He has extensive experience in offensive systems similar to ours and I expect him to make contributions to our offense – particularly in the passing game. Scott is also a detailed teacher who will prepare our quarterbacks to perform with confidence.”
A former Phoenix free safety, Gaither returns to Elon with seven years of experience as an assistant football coach at the college level – Winston-Salem State University for four seasons (2005-08), Tusculum College for two seasons (1998-99) and Greensboro College for one season (1997). At Winston-Salem State, Gaither served the Rams as their defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He also worked with the WSSU special teams.
Gaither was a four-year starter and two-time NCAA Division II All-South Region defensive back for Elon during the late 1990s. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in sociology. In 2000, Gaither began a five-year career as a teacher and an assistant high school varsity football coach at Thomasville City Schools (Thomasville, N.C.) before joining the Winston-Salem State staff in the summer of 2005.
“Keith has positively interacted with members of our coaching staff from time to time over the last three years during recruiting travels and at summer camps,” Lembo said. “He has also made the effort to visit our spring practices in previous years. Keith has experience recruiting in North Carolina and a passion for his alma mater. He has the ability to develop strong relationships with all of our program’s constituents, but especially our current players and recruits.”
