Updated

Former Washington State assistant Jody Sears has joined the Weber State football program as defensive coordinator, first-year Wildcats head coach John L. Smith announced Monday.

Sears, 44, also will coach the safeties at Weber State.

"We are fortunate to get Jody and excited to have a coach of his experience join our staff," Smith said. "I've known Jody for a long time, back to his playing days, and I know he is very knowledgeable. He also has great coaching experience in the Big Sky that will be helpful to us."

Sears was Washington State's co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach the last last three seasons. He is a former wide receiver with the Huskies.

He has extensive coaching experience in the Big Sky Conference as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington for five seasons from 2003-07.

Sears also was the defensive coordinator at St. Ambrose in 1998 and was an assistant at Army from 2000-02 and a graduate assistant at Iowa State from 1994-96.