Carter named new VU recruiting coordinator

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Four Vanderbilt football coaches will have expanded duties next season after Head Coach Bobby Johnson announced final changes to his coaching staff Thursday.

Among the changes announced by Johnson:

• Commodore running backs coach Kenny Carter will become Recruiting Coordinator;

• Warren Belin adds Special Teams Coordinator duties to his current role as linebackers coach;

• Receivers coach Charlie Fisher and quarterbacks coach Jimmy Kiser will share the title of Passing Game Coordinator.

Last week, Johnson filled a lone staff vacancy by naming former Troy co-defensive coordinator Rick Logo to replace David Turner as defensive line coach. Turner, who also served as recruiting coordinator, left to join the University of Alabama staff.

"I'm very pleased to announce these changes to the Vanderbilt football coaching staff," Johnson said. "We are making the Commodore program better with this announcement.

"I think Kenny (Carter) can be an outstanding recruiting coordinator for Vanderbilt. He has worked with some excellent staffs and been a big asset for our staff since joining us two years ago. Kenny brings a lot to the table. He knows and enjoys recruiting and has recruited much of the country, Johnson added.

"I wanted to take advantage of the open recruiting position to recognize and reward guys like Coach Fisher and Coach Kiser that have always been serving extra functions for this staff. Those two guys have a great grasp on what we want to do with our passing game. While other coaches will continue to have special team duties, I believe Coach Belin will be a good job overseeing the process as we work to shore up that important area of the game," Johnson concluded.

Carter, 38, adds the duties of recruiting coordinator as he enters his third season with the Commodores. In 2005, he mentored a young but talented Commodore backfield last year led by sophomore tailbacks Cassen Jackson-Garrison and Jeff Jennings and junior fullback Steven Bright. The trio combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns and 52 pass receptions. Carter has worked on I-A coaching staffs at Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and LSU.

The professional relationship between Kiser and Fisher dates to 1998 when they both worked on the same North Carolina State offensive staff – Kiser as offensive coordinator and Fisher as receivers coach. Their coaching efforts last year helped produce one of the top offenses in Vanderbilt history. The unit produced more first downs (259) and points (299) than any Commodore offense in the last 30 years. Both coaches mentoreJay Cutler and Fisher guiding All-SEC freshman receiver Earl Bennett.