UNLV freshman Ryan Keeler dies Wisconsin’s Fickell promotes Letton to tight ends coach Jim Harbaugh: Michigan good place to be despite challenges

LAS VEGAS – Linebacker UNLV Ryan Keeler died at age 20, the university announced.

The cause of death was not specified.

“We are devastated to have lost a member of our rebel family,” UNLV Trainer. Barry Odom says in the statement. “While I had the honor of knowing Ryan for only a couple of months, he already stood out to our coaching staff as an incredible person, student and teammate. Our condolences and prayers go out to Ryan’s family as we grieve with them for this huge loss.”

Keeler from Chicago moved to UNLV from Rutgers last year. Last season, he played in seven games as a redshirt freshman, with eight tackles and a sack.

Keeler, who was on the All-Mountain West academy team, had a GPA of 3.80.

“Words are hard to find tonight as we mourn the sudden and tragic death of UNLV student-athlete Ryan Keeler,” UNLV President Keith Whitfield said in a statement. “My sincere condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, loved ones and teammates at this very difficult time.”

MADISON, Wisconsin. Wisconsin promoted Nate Letton from Quality Control Coach to Tight Ends Coach, allowing him to fill the same role as before. Luke FickellCincinnati staff last season.

Fickell, now Wisconsin’s head coach, originally chose the former Cincinnati offensive coordinator. Gino Guidugli like his tight ends coach. Guidugli has since left Wisconsin and is expected to take over as coach of the Notre Dame quarterbacks.

Letton was a graduate assistant at Cincinnati from 2020-21 before coaching tight finishes last season. His hard ends in Cincinnati included Josh WyleAll-American Sports Conference first team selection.

“Nate is an amazing young coach and we are very lucky to be able to add him to our on-field staff,” Fickell said in a statement from the university. “Having worked with him for the last three years, I have seen firsthand his tireless work ethic and his ability to unite and mentor our student athletes.”

Letton was also an assistant coach at the Central College of the Division III program from 2015 to 2019. The former center midfielder has worked with wide receivers, tight ends and attacking linemen while coaching at his alma mater.

ANNE ARBOR, Michigan. – Jim Harbaugh He’s had an eventful offseason, from interviews with the Denver Broncos to negotiations with the NCAA about potential violations in Michigan’s football program and the firing of an assistant coach under police investigation.

“Compare us to excellence and we’ll lose in major areas,” Harbaugh said Thursday in his first post-season address to reporters. “Compare us to any other program, I think you’ll see that it doesn’t get any better.”

A year after he said the door was closed to a return to the NFL, the former San Francisco 49ers coach spoke to the Broncos about their vacant coaching position, later filled by Sean Payton.

Harbaugh said several coaches on his staff were talking to NFL teams and decided to stay at the school.

“I am one of them,” he said. “People do what they think is best for them professionally and personally.”

However, there was one coaching change. According to documents released by the school, joint offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired in January after failing to attend a meeting to discuss whether he had accessed computer accounts belonging to other people.

“I don’t really know anything, and if I did, I don’t think I could comment on it,” Harbaugh said.

Shortly after the Wolverines lost 51–45 to TCU in the college football playoff semi-finals, Michigan announced that it had received notice that the NCAA was looking into potential rule violations in the football program.

The investigation involves inappropriate text messages and calls, including from Harbaugh, to high school applicants during the pandemic-related dead period to contact potential recruits. The NCAA is also investigating whether a member of Michigan’s off-field football staff violated rules by conducting on-field practices during practice.

Harbaugh told NCAA investigators in several meetings last month that he would not accept the charge of unethical behavior, according to a person familiar with the situation. The man spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details of the investigation were not made public.

Harbaugh told reporters he could not comment on the NCAA case.

Hours later, Harbaugh’s spring training press conference, Ann Arbor Police tweeted a video showing a coach helping an officer clear a fallen tree from the street during last night’s ice storm.

“You’re a good man,” Officer Howard Cooper said to Harbaugh.

“Feel free to spread the word about it,” Harbaugh said. “Don’t think you have to keep it to yourself.”