Skipper is entering his second season with the Hornets after serving as the team’s secondary coach last season. Under his guidance, Sacramento State defensive backs accounted for four of the top five tackle totals on the team and grabbed 10 interceptions.

“I interviewed four candidates, some with Division I-A experience, and Tim was the obvious choice,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “He possesses all the necessary qualities that you want for the coordinator position. Tim is diligent, hard working with a professional approach to the game and breeds success in everything he does.”

Skipper came to Sacramento State after spending two seasons at Western New Mexico. While there, he served as the team’s defensive coordinator. Last season, he served as the defensive coordinator in the Hornets’ season finale at Weber State.

As a player, Skipper earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors in each of his four seasons at Fresno State. After redshirting in 1996, he recorded 117 tackles while starting 11 of the Bulldogs’ 12 games. Following that season, he earned honorable mention all-WAC honors. As a sophomore, he was second team all-league after tallying 108 tackles – the second-best mark in the WAC. As a junior, he was a second team choice despite missing parts of five games with a knee injury. During that season, he recorded 11 tackles against TCU and played a major role in helping Fresno State keep LaDanian Tomlinson to 49 yards. As a senior, he was named the WAC’s Most Underrated Player by The Sporting News and was a second team all-league selection following the season.

He ranks second in school history with 418 tackles during his four years at Fresno State. Following his senior season, he was the University’s nominee for the Stan Bates Award which is given to the WAC’s top senior student-athlete.

Skipper’s father, Jim, currently serves as running backs coach with the Carolina Panthers. His older brother, Kelly, is in his first season as running backs coach at Washington State after coaching at UCLA and Fresno State.

Foersch and Skipper are no strangers to one another. The pair played together at Fresno State and coached on the same staff at Western New Mexico.

Foersch spent three seasons at WNMU, including the 2003 campaign as the Mustangs’ assistant head coach. In his first two years, Foersch oversaw the offensive line and was the strength and conditioning coach.

“When I had the opportunity to hire Ken it was a no-brainer,” Mooshagian said. “He has been on a lot of coaches shot lists this past season. So when the chance came, we grabbed it.

“Ken adds a new dimension to our staff. He and Angus McClure will spearhead the development of our offensive line.

A three-year starter on the offensive line at Fresno State, Foersch was an all-Western Athletic Conference selection. He was also a three-time all-WAC academic selection and was a finalist for the Stan Bates Award which is given to the top male student-athlete in the WAC. Following his playing career, Foersch coached at Fresno State for two seasons.

Other changes to the 2004 staff include Lou Baiz returning to coach linebackers, Shawn Kraft working solely as the special team’s coordinator and Moosahgian and offensive coordinator Phil Davis working with the receivers. Running backs coach Craig Young has added the responsibilities of academic coordinator and Jon Osterhout will oversee the team’s summer camps as well as the defensive line. Jeff Shuman also returns as the quality control coach and special teams assistant.

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