Former Hawaii and SMU quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison and former SMU and Hawaii offensive line coach Dennis McKnight are expected to join Washington State’s shorthanded staff, a source told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. The Cougars are down five full-time coaches following Monday’s dismissal of head coach Nick Rolovich and four assistants for declining to follow the COVID-19 vaccine mandate by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
Washington State (4-3) is riding a three-game winning streak as it prepares to host BYU on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert is serving as interim coach for the Cougars, who also terminated assistants Ricky Logo (defensive tackles), John Richardson (cornerbacks), Craig Stutzmann (co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks) and Mark Weber (offensive line).
Morrison coached under June Jones at SMU from 2008-2014 and previously at Hawaii from 1999-2007, employing the run-and-shoot offense that Rolovich installed in Pullman. Morrison resurfaced in the CFL in 2017, coaching under Jones again with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They both left to join the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2019.
McKnight had stints as a special teams coordinator and offensive line coach under Jones at Hawaii, SMU and in the CFL.
After Rolovich’s request for a religious exemption was declined and he was fired for cause, sources confirmed to The Athletic at the time of the firing, attorney Brian Fahling said the coach is pursuing legal action against the university for wrongful termination.
BYU is a four-point favorite against Washington State.
Washington State (4-3) is riding a three-game winning streak as it prepares to host BYU on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert is serving as interim coach for the Cougars, who also terminated assistants Ricky Logo (defensive tackles), John Richardson (cornerbacks), Craig Stutzmann (co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks) and Mark Weber (offensive line).
Morrison coached under June Jones at SMU from 2008-2014 and previously at Hawaii from 1999-2007, employing the run-and-shoot offense that Rolovich installed in Pullman. Morrison resurfaced in the CFL in 2017, coaching under Jones again with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They both left to join the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2019.
McKnight had stints as a special teams coordinator and offensive line coach under Jones at Hawaii, SMU and in the CFL.
After Rolovich’s request for a religious exemption was declined and he was fired for cause, sources confirmed to The Athletic at the time of the firing, attorney Brian Fahling said the coach is pursuing legal action against the university for wrongful termination.
BYU is a four-point favorite against Washington State.
