Steve Addazio was named interim head coach at the University of Florida when Urban Meyer decided he needed to take a leave of absence if not walk away altogether. Scott Pioli, one the architects of the New England Patriots success, is running the Kansas City Chiefs. Al Bagnoli continues to set Ivy League coaching records at Penn. Mike Sherman, the former head coach of the Green Bay Packers is busy rebuilding Texas A&M’s fortunes. Dave Campo is back with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was once the head coach. John Skladany recently signed on for a second tour of duty with the University of Central Florida. Mike Cerullo is part of the New Orleans Saints brain trust.

And now you can add the name of yet another former CCSU Blue Devil to the ranks of the nation’s most influential football coaches and administrators. Late last week Clifford Snow, a Bristol native and former Central defensive back, was introduced as the new director of football operations at the University of Kentucky.

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His job description is a full plate and a real challenge, but that shouldn’t be a problem for Snow, who was as much a scholar as he was an athlete during his days in New Britain.

According to the Kentucky press release about the important hire, Snow will assist head coach Joker Phillips “In all football administration duties, as well as serving as the liaison to compliance, academics and other university areas.”

“But wait,” as they say in the late night TV infomercials, “there’s more.” Snow is also going to be handling team travel, coordinating clinics, preseason training camp, budgeting and supervising the football support staff as well.

Phillips, charged with returning the Kentucky program to prominence, obviously feels he has just the right multi-tasker for the job.

“I worked with Clifford when we were together at South Carolina (during the 2002 season) and he was director of football operations for Coach (Lou) Holtz,” Phillips said. “I really like his organizational skills. No job was too big for him and no job was too small. I’m glad he’s a part of ‘Operation Win.”

It was that kind of attention to detail that also served him well at CCSU. As an undergraduate he earned a bachelor’s in biology according to the release on his appointment, then added a graduate degree and put in several years as a biological research technician, studying Lyme disease. But that didn’t stop him from beginning his coaching career at the same time. Snow spent four seasons as an assistant coach Gilbert High School in Winsted. He left there for Windsor High where he was an assistant for four more years and then head coach for three.

The newest Wildcat leaped into the college coaching ranks when Skip Holtz called on him to coach UConn’s defensive line from 1995-98. He added the title of recruiting coordinator during his last year with the Huskies, which just happened to be the team’s best season under Holtz, one that produced a 10-3 record and a spot in the Div. I-AA playoffs.

The ex-Blue Devil moved to administration in 1999 when he went to South Carolina to serve as director of football operations and special assistant to the head coach, then moved on to East Carolina with the younger Holtz before accepting the Kentucky job last week. He’s been with the Pirates for the past five seasons. At Kentucky, he’ll replace Steve Hellyer, who retired.

“It is an honor to join Coach Phillips’ staff and the UK family,” Snow said. “Joker is an exceptional person and football coach. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

While Snow is obviously the most recent former CCSU player to get a high-profile football position, you can’t help but surmise he will not be the last.

Another Blue Devil gets big football job
By BART FISHER, The New Britain Herald
http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2010/02/28/sports/doc4b8b3c02e596e972390164.txt