USD Football 2007

E C

S SEASON GILA 1990

OnJanuary9,2007the UniversityofSan Diego introduced Ron Caragher as its new head football coach. Ca rag her becomes the Toreros' 12th head football coach at USD and replaces Jim Harbaugh who is now at Stanford. "As I talked to people around the country, I kept hearing the same things about Ron Caragher," said Ky Snyder, Executive Director of Athletics. "He is a student of the game, elite class of coach, very knowledgeable, great recruiter, develops players, motivated, competitor, great family man, high character and integrity. These are the qualities you seek in a head coach and we have found them in Ron Ca rag her. He has had access to some of the best minds in coaching inTerry Donohue,BobToledo and Rich Brooks. He has been a winner his whole life and we expect that will continue at USD." Caragher, (pronounced "CARE-ah-ger"), spent the past four seasons (2003-2006) at the University of Kentucky as an assistant coach under Rich Brooks. He was the run– ning backs coach all fouryears,and since 2005 served as Kentucky's Head Recruiting Coordinator.This past season Kentucky finished 8-5 overall, and 4-4 in the Southeast Conference Eastern Division,good for atieforthird place and the program's best league mark since 1993. The 8 wins is also the program's best win total since their 9-3 campaign back in 1984.TheWildcatsfinished offthe 2006 season in fine fashion as they upset Clemson, 28-20, in the MusicCity Bowl on December 29th.It was Kentucky's first bowl appearance since 1999,and the program's first bowl win in 22 years. "It is a privilege and honor to be here as the new head football coach at the University of San Diego," said Ron Ca rag her."First and foremost, I would like to thank some people, starting with the President of this university, Dr. Mary E. Lyons; our Director of Athletics, Ky Snyder; and members of the selection committee. I want to thank

them for this opportunity to work with these young men and coach and guide them. I am just truly thankful for that. Our family is very excited about returning to our native state of California.We are very excited to be a part of the San Diego community, and in particular the family here at USD. Everyone here has been terrific and I am impressed by the support that this university extends to its student athletes. Not just in the academics, but on the playing field as well.I am also looking forward to building upon the success that coach Jim Harbaugh set. His devoted assistants and aspiring student athletes who have reached such a high level here. I am looking at taking that foundation and building upon that and continuing that upward movement towards the high– est level that we possibly can.One of my first objectives as a head coach was to meet with the student athletes because they are the core of the program. To get to know these young men, and to get to know their goals, their dreams and what their desires are. As a coach, it is