THREE WONDER BOY FOOTBALL GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACHES MOVE UP TO NCAA DIVISION I LEVEL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins has announced that three graduate assistant coaches on last year’s staff have departed Tech for positions at the NCAA Division I level.

The three departing graduate assistant coaches are Chris Gunter, Kyle Shipp and Marcus Hill. Both Shipp and Gunter are former Wonder Boy players, while Hill played collegiately at Arkansas-Monticello.

“I am extremely proud of these three young men,” Mullins said. “They have all done excellent work at Tech and will do a great job at their new schools.”

Gunter, who is a 2007 graduate of Tech, left the Wonder Boys prior to the start of spring practice for a position on Todd Graham’s staff at the University of Tulsa. In his position with Tulsa, Gunter will coach the wide receivers. Last season, Tulsa won a school record 11 games and posted a 45-13 win over then 22-ranked Ball State in the GMAC Bowl. The Golden Hurricane finished the season with an 11-3 record. In his four year career as a Wonder Boy, Gunter, who is a native of Beebe, Ark., caught 93 passes for 846 yards and scored six touchdowns in 41 games. The 93 pass receptions are 10th on Tech’s career list. As a senior in 2007, Gunter caught 47 passes for 424 yards and scored four touchdowns and was named Tech’s Player of the Year by the Little Rock Touchdown Club.

Shipp, who is a 2006 graduate of Tech, left Tech prior to the beginning of spring practice for a position on Steve Roberts’ staff at Arkansas State University. In his position at ASU, Shipp will coach the receivers, quarterbacks and also help with the kickers. Shipp, a native of Morrilton, Ark., played two seasons with the Wonder Boys (2004-05) as a receiver and then served as a student assistant coach in 2006 before becoming a graduate assistant coach the past two seasons.

Hill, who is a 2000 graduate from UAM, leaves Tech for a position on Rick Comegy’s staff at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. Jackson State is a member of SWAC and plays in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision). In his position at JSU, Hill will work with the tight ends and offensive linemen. Hill played collegiately for two years at UAM (1999-00) and spent last season as a graduate assistant for the Wonder Boys working primarily with the defensive line and assisting Wonder Boy assistant coach Les Boyum with the equipment.   

Mullins has filled two of his three open graduate assistant coaching positions for the 2009 season with Stanley Kimbrell and Danny Schaechter. In addition, former Wonder Boy defensive lineman Travion Scott returns for his second season as a graduate assistant coach in 2009.  

-- Tech Athletics --