LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI head football coach Jim Reid has announced his football coaching staff for the 2006 season.

The staff includes six new faces and three retainees from last year's coaching staff under Cal McCombs.

The new additions are Ken Conatser (Chief of Staff and Special Teams Coordinator, Brent Davis (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks), Richard McNutt (Secondary), Brock Pittman (Wide Receivers), Vince Sinagra (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line), and Paul Soltis (Outside Linebackers).

The assistant coaches retained from last year's staff are Chris Malone (Offensive Line), Reed Heim (Inside Linebackers), Greg Shockley (Running Backs).

"These are great men of great character that all carry proudly the principles VMI represents; honor, integrity, work ethic," said Reid. "They will not rest until the mission is accomplished. I know our players will have great respect for them, as they should, because of their strong backgrounds, and experience and a genuine desire to be around highly motivated young men as we have at the Institute."

New Assistant Coach Profiles:

Ken Conaster (Special Teams Coordinator/Chief of Staff)

Ken Conatser comes to VMI from Ohio State where he was worked for head coach Jim Tressel last season in an administrative role. Conaster's relationship with Tressel spanned nearly two decades including 15 years as an assistant coach under Tressel at I-AA power Youngstown State.

Conatser and Coach Jim Reid also coached together as assistants at Massachusetts.

While coaching on Tressel's staff at Youngstown State, Conaster served in five different capacities, including offensive coordinator, offensive line, defensive coordinator, linebackers, and assistant head coach. The Penguins during that span reached the I-AA playoffs 10 times in 15 seasons, playing in six national title games and capturing four NCAA championships.

Conatser also coached the 2001 season at Ohio State under Tressel and handled special teams and defensive ends for the squad that reached the Outback Bowl.

Conatser served as an assistant coach under coach Dick MacPherson at Massachusetts (1971-72; 1977-79) and also coached the offensive line under MacPherson at Syracuse (1981-83). Other assistant coaching stops included San Diego St. (1984-85), Kansas (2002), and Youngstown State (2003).

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Conatser played four years (1958-62) at the University of Cincinnati and earned a B.S. in Education in 1962 and an M.S. in Education in 1965.

Conatser also was head coach at Milford (Ohio) High School from 1972 to 1977 and guided the program to four straight winning seasons after the team had not had a winning season in 18 years.

Brent Davis (Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks)

Davis will serve as the Keydets' offensive coordinator after coaching nine years at Georgia Southern as an offensive coach in the powerful run-oriented option style offense under head coaches Paul Johnson and Mike Sewak.

Davis coached the offensive line for the Eagles from 2002-2005 and his unit helped GSU to three consecutive I-AA rushing titles (386.2 ypg in 2002, 335.6 ypg in 2003, and 370 ypg in 2004). One of his players, center Charles Clarke, was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2002 and three Eagles reached All-America status under Davis' tutelage.

Prior to taking over offensive line responsibilities, Davis coached Georgia Southern's running backs and worked with Walter Payton Award winner and Chicago Bears back Adrian Peterson in 1998 and 1999.

Davis, an Athens, Ga. native, played two seasons at The Citadel under Charlie Taafe in 1992 and 1993. As a tight end in 1992, he helped the Bulldogs to the Southern Conference Championship and a NCAA I-AA playoff appearance.

Davis transferred to Georgia his junior year where he lettered and also earned a spot on the Academic All-SEC Honor Roll in his senior year.

Davis graduated from Georgia in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in business management.

Richard McNutt (Secondary)

McNutt will coach the Keydet defensive backs in his first season. He comes to VMI after two seasons at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. where he was the secondary coach.

During his two-year stint at Washington & Jefferson, the football team went 21-3 and advanced to the 3rd round of Division III playoffs in 2004 and another playoff berth in 2005. Under his tutelage, Washington & Jefferson ranked second in interceptions in Division III with 26 in 2004.

A 2004 graduate of Ohio State University, McNutt played three years at cornerback for the Buckeyes. He played in all 24 games during his first two years and made two starts as a sophomore.

McNutt played the first six games of Ohio State's 2002 national championship season, but was forced to end his playing career due to a chronic ankle condition. He served as a student coach during each of his last two seasons.

A native of Park Forest, Ill., McNutt ranked as one of the top five high school prospects at cornerback by numerous publications. He had 14 interceptions as a high school junior.

McNutt earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Ohio State in 2004.

Brock Pittman (Wide Receivers/ Assistant Director of Football Operations)

Brock Pittman moves to his second state school in as many years as he joins the staff of Jim Reid at VMI after serving at the University of Richmond last year.

Pittman joined the football office at UR in July, 2005, and was the assistant director of football operations for the Spiders and assisted with the defensive unit, as well as scouting, film analysis, and summer camps.

Pittman is no stranger to VMI football and competed in 2002 against the Keydets as an offensive guard for East Tennessee State. He transferred to ETSU from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Junior College where he earned first team all-conference and all-region accolades.

Pittman graduated from East Tennessee State in 2004 with a B.S. in Sports Management.

A native of Mechanicsville, Va., Pittman was an all-state, all-metro, and all-region lineman at Lee-Davis High School and played one year at defensive end at Fork Union Military Academy.

Vince Sinagra (Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Line)

Vince Sinagra will assume defensive coordinator responsibilities after serving in the same capacity at Stoney Brook University the past two years.

Sinagra brings a wealth of experience to VMI including a total of 14 years at I-AA programs Stoney Brook, Holy Cross, Hofstra, and Fordham.

Prior to his tenure at Stoney Brook, Sinagra spent five seasons at Holy Cross (1999-2004) where he was linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. While at Holy Cross, Sinagra was responsible for game and practice planning and recruited the areas of Southern California, Southern and Central Florida, New York City, and Long Island.

Sinagra also spent two stints at Hofstra University serving as the Pride defensive coordinator and linebackers coach during the 1998 season. Sinagra had earlier coached the Hofstra wide receivers during the 1993 season.

From 1994 to 1998, Sinagra coached as an assistant at Fordham where he was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He also supervised the Rams' assistant coaches and graduate assistants, recruiting and travel planning, as well as assisting with day-to-day operations.

Sinagra also served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for Bloomsburg (Pa.) University from 1986-1992 and also worked as an academic advisor and headed the summer football camp.

Sinagra graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1975, receiving a bachelor's degree in physical education and health before completing work on a master's degree in physical education, health and recreation from the Rhode Island in 1983. Sinagra started three years at defensive tackle for URI and played professionally with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Sinagra began his coaching career at Rhode Island coaching the defensive line in 1976-77 before moving to Milford Academy in Connecticut for nine seasons, serving as defensive coordinator for three years and head coach and athletic director for six years.

Paul Soltis (Outside Linebackers/ Director of Football Operations)

Soltis comes to VMI where he will serve as Director of Football Operations as well as outside linebackers coach.

Soltis played at Ohio State University, earning a letter as a freshman. He then transferred to Youngstown State University where he was a two-time All-American linebacker. In 1987 and 89 he played on playoff teams, captaining the 1989 squad. In 1999, Soltis was inducted into Youngstown State's Sports Hall of Fame.

Following college, Soltis was signed by the Miami Dolphins. He then played for former Saints head coach and now defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, Jim Haslett in the World Football League.

Soltis' coaching experience includes coaching at his alma mater, Austintown Fitch High School (Ohio), where he served as a tight end and linebackers coach. He was in Law Enforcement at both the state and federal level for nine years before arriving in Lexington.

Soltis is married to the former Stacey Smallwood. They have three children, Abbey, Daniel and Alayna.

Coaches Retained From Last Year's Staff:

Reed Heim - (Inside Linebackers)

Heim coached linebackers last season and will work with the inside linebackers this year.

Heim, 29, came to VMI in May 2003 and coached linebackers his first two years at VMI before switching to linebackers in 2005. He previously coached at Louisiana College in Pineville, La. where he coached linebackers in a multiple 4-3 scheme. Heim also coached collegiately at his alma mater of Austin College in Sheman, Texas in 2001 and handled inside linebackers and coached the punt team.

Heim's football experience includes stints as a player and coach in Europe. He played and coached on two club teams in Europe and played middle linebacker and fullback for the Vienna Rangers in Vienna, Austria in the summer of 2001. Heim also played for the SHA Unicorns in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany and coordinated the defense while coaching special teams

A four-year letterwinner at Austin College, Heim graduated in May 2000 with a degree in Business Administration and captained the 2000 Austin College team. He was a three-time All-Conference ASC player at Austin College.

Chris Malone- (Offensive Line)

Malone enters his third season at the Institute and will handle the offensive line, the position group he has supervised the past two years.

Malone came to VMI in March, 2004 after serving as offensive line coach at the University of Massachusetts the previous three years. At UMass, Malone coached tight ends in 2001, his first year on the Amherst campus, then handled offensive line responsibilities for the next two seasons, coaching an All-American and All-Atlantic 10 selection .

Malone previously worked as an assistant line coach with Virginia Tech when the Hokies went 22-2, with the team winning the Big East Championship and advancing to the national title game in 1999, and winning the Gator Bowl in 2000.
Malone also spent one year at Fork Union under head coach John Shuman (VMI' 80), coaching offensive and defensive lines and directing the strength and conditioning program.

Malone earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Virginia Tech in 1996, then earned a masters's degree in consumer economics in 1998. He was a four-year starter at Virginia Tech at left guard and earned All-Big East honors as a senior in 1995 and played on the 1995 Big East title team, the 1995 Sugar Bowl champion squad, and the 1993 Independence Bowl title team. The Hokies posted a 29-17-1 record during Malone's four years as a player.

Chris and his wife Susie have a daughter, Claire, born last October. The Malones reside in Lexington.

Greg Shockley (Running Backs)

Shockley came to the Institute in March, 2005 and handled the Keydet wide receivers last year. He will work again on the offensive side of the ball this fall as running backs coach.

Shockley came to VMI from William & Mary where he coached tights ends during the Tribe's successful 2004 campaign. William & Mary posted an 11-3 mark and reached the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs before falling to eventual champion James Madison. The Tribe also won the Atlantic 10 Conference championship in 2004.

Shockley began his coaching career under Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech where he was also a player before assuming graduate assistant duties on the Hokie staff. At Tech, Shockley was an offensive assistant and worked primarily with the offensive lines and tight ends. The Hokies went to bowls each of the three seasons Shockley served on the staff.

A Blacksburg, Va. native and 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Shockley was a quarterback and wide receiver for the Hokie squads that won three Big East championships during his playing days, including the 1999 Sugar Bowl squad that played for the national championship. In 1999, he was awarded the John William Schneider Award, given to the Tech player who excels in athletics, scholarship, and leadership.

Shockley is married to the former Cheryl Denny, an assistant softball coach at James Madison University and the couple resides in Staunton.