University of Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleckannounced changes and additions to his staff today.

Fleck promoted Joe Rossi from quality control assistant to defensive line coach and also announced the hiring of Clay Patterson, who will serve in a to-be-determined on-field coaching role. Fleck also announced that Bryce Paup, who coached the defensive line in 2017, is now the team’s pass rush specialist coach and that special teams coordinator Rob Wenger will also coach outside linebackers.

In addition, Fleck promoted David Parker from graduate assistant to quality control assistant to fill the void created by the Rossi promotion. Donald Celiscar and Michael Priefer Jr., also joined the staff as graduate assistants. Celiscar, who played for Fleck at Western Michigan, will work with the defense while Priefer, who is the son of Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Priefer, will work with special teams.

Rossi joined the Minnesota staff in January 2017 as a quality control assistant and brought with him a wealth of defensive knowledge. Rossi spent 2012-15 at Rutgers, which included two years as the defensive coordinator. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2014 after serving in an interim role in 2013 and held the position until after the 2015 season. He was the special teams coordinator at Rutgers from 2012-13.

In addition to Minnesota, Rossi previously worked with Gopher defensive coordinator Robb Smith at Rutgers (2012) and at Maine (2007-08).