Candeto Rounds Out Full Time Staff

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Full Football Staff Bios

Capital University football coach Craig Candeto has hired four full-time assistant coaches to join him for his first year at the helm of the program.

John Perin has been named defensive coordinator and secondary coach, while Jon Spring '08 has retained his position on the staff as defensive line and head strength coach. On the offensive side, Matt Kelleher has been selected offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, and Thadd Sharrett is the new slot backs coach.

Perin joins the Crusaders' staff after serving for three years as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Centre (Ky.) College, his alma mater. He coached the Southern Athletic Association's top-ranked defense in 2010 and helped the Colonels reach the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 2011. Perin brings extensive experience recruiting in Ohio, northern Kentucky and Atlanta, and worked as a graduate assistant at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Muskingum for one season.

Spring was a part of Capital's most successful run in program history from 2005-07, when the Crusaders reached the NCAA Playoffs three times, including a pair of appearances in the national quarterfinals. Spring was an All-American defensive lineman in 2007 and, after serving as an intern for one season, went on to play professionally for one year. He rejoined the Capital staff in 2009.

Kelleher, a former student athlete at Elon (N.C.) University, joins the Crusader staff following a six-year stint at Brevard (N.C.) College, an NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference. He was an assistant coach for four seasons before being promoted to assistant head coach for his last two. Kelleher served in a number of different roles at Brevard, most recently as offensive line coach from 2009-12. The Tornados ranked in the top 15 in the nation in rushing from 2010-12.

Sharrett is a graduate of Marietta, where he was a second-team All-OAC selection at defensive back during his senior season. Most recently, Sharrett served as defensive line coach at Pickerington Central High School after working for three seasons each at South Dakota State University and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He has experience recruiting in Ohio and in other areas of the Midwest, and has also worked with running backs and defensive backs during his career.

The Capital staff is currently working to hire part-time positional coaches.

The Crusaders begin their first season under Candeto on Sept. 7 against Thomas More (Ky.) at Bernlohr Stadium.