Portland State Football Coach Bruce Barnum has named Korey Rush as the Vikings' new Defensive Line Coach and Pass Rush Specialist for 2024.

The aptly named Rush will assist co-Defensive Coordinator Mark Rhea at the front of the Vikings' defense. Rhea has served as Defensive Line coach for the past three years and also took on co-DC responsibilities in 2023. Rhea will move to handling the linebackers position group.

"I was able to make this move because of the knowledge that Mark Rhea brings to our defense," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. "His ability to help lead the defense as well as move over to linebackers opened up the possibilities of new assistant coaches I could look at. As a result, I was able to find the best one for the defensive line in Korey Rush.

"Korey has been a master of his craft in just a few short years. His success is due to his knowledge being through the roof in coaching the defensive line. He has proven to be a great teacher and has maintained humility with the success he has had."

Said Rush: "Coming to Portland State was an opportunity for more responsibility and a unique challenge. I look forward to mentoring and developing defensive linemen, improving their football IQ and ability to play the position. We need to find unique ways to affect the opposing quarterback."

A former All-Mountain West Conference defensive lineman at Nevada (2014-18), Rush spent the 2023 season as a defensive line coach at Idaho State. Rush was a graduate assistant at Nevada in 2019, then at Virginia Tech from 2020-22.
 
Originally from Salt Lake City, Rush is a 2019 graduate of Nevada with a degree in Communications. He was named All-Mountain West at Nevada in 2017 and 2018. During his Wolfpack career, he totaled 108 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
 

HAUCK NAMED SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR

Barnum also announced that assistant coach Robby Hauck will take over as Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach. Hauck had been Special Teams Assistant and Nickelbacks coach in 2023.

"We all know what a great background Robby has in coaching," said Barnum. "He has shown he is knowledgeable and ready to be a special teams coordinator. That speaks to who he is and his work ethic."
 

2024 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Bruce Barnum
Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs: AC Patterson
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line: Matt Leunen
co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs: Colin Fry
co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Mark Rhea
Quarterbacks: Kieran McDonagh
Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator: Bryant Thomas
Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends: Robby Hauck
Defensive Line/Pass Rush Specialist: Korey Rush
Offensive Analyst: Marcus Gray
Director of Player Personnel/Travel: John Ely