Magnolia, AR--Steve Roberts, head football coach at Southern Arkansas University, announced today the hiring of two new full-time staff members. They are Clay Jennings, who came to SAU from Morningside College in Iowa and Tate Behne, who was elevated from a graduate assistant role.

Jennings will serve as the new Mulerider secondary coach. At Morningside, he was the defensive backs coach last season. Before his one year at Morningside, he was the secondary and special teams coordinator at NCAA Division II Morehouse College. Prior to his time at Morehouse, he was a graduate assistant coach in charge of cornerbacks and kickoff return specialists at NCAA Division I-A University of North Texas in 1997 and a student assistant at North Texas during the 1996 campaign.

Jennings coached the leading kickoff returner in the Big West Conference during the 1997 season. He is a graduate from the University of North Texas in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Jennings was a four-year letterman for the Eagles as a defensive lineman. He ranked second in the team with four and a half sacks as a senior. He graduated from LaVega High School in Waco, Texas, in 1992. He earned second-team All-State offensive line honors as a senior. He is single.

Behne served the 'Riders two years as a graduate assistant when SAU posted identical 8-2 records in 1998 and '99.

A graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Behne had an outstanding career with the NSU Redmen. The Guymon, Oklahoma, native was the defensive captain of the 1994 NSU team that won the NAIA Division I national championship and the 1995 team that finished as the national runnerup.

Behne received his B.S.E. in December 1997, and has worked toward a Master's degree in Counseling and Development at SAU. He coaches Mulerider running backs. He is also single.

Roberts had this to say about his newest staff members: "Coach Jennings brings a successful coaching career with defensive backs and special teams. We are looking forward to his contribution to our program. I am looking forward to Coach Behne's continued contribution. He is the best graduate assistant we have ever had."

Jennings will coach defensive backs and Behne the defensive line for the 2000 'Riders.