Emergency Coaching Change

Jim Schaefer

The Columbia Spectator reports Defensive Line Coach Darin Edwards, who had been attending practice in a golf cart despite a nagging medical issue, has finally decided to step down for this season and has been quickly replaced with longtime Al Bagnoli friend and colleague Jim Schaefer. Edwards will still contribute to the team officially as a consultant this season.

Schaefer comes directly from an assistant coaching spot at the Lawrenceville School in Princeton, but he coached on Bagnoli's Penn staff for 23 years and the two men worked together for an additional 10 years at Union.

Just look at what the Penn teams did under Schaefer as the Quaker D-line coach and you'll realize he's the real deal. Let's hope Coach Edwards gets fully recovered very soon, but having someone like Schaefer at the ready to step in on a moment's notice is an incredible second option.

New Commit

6-3, 283-pound OL Jonathan Rowe from Audrey Kell HS in Charlotte, NC has committed to the Lions.

Rowe had offers from Air Force and Navy among others.

Rowe will be the first Kell HS graduate to come to Columbia football.

Here is our unofficial commit list so far, (FYI: I know we have at least two more commits, including a promising OL from out West, but I cannot yet get confirmation):

1) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

2) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

3) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA

4) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

5) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

6) Jake McCurry WR/DB 6-0 180 lbs. Solon HS Solon, OH

7) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

8) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

9) Jonathan Rowe OL 6-3 283 lbs. Audrey Kell HS Charlotte, NC

10) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA  

11) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

12) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

13) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT