Friday, April 2, 2010

Fred Kraiss: Back home at Hampton University

Baltimore, Maryland native Fred Kraiss is Hampton University Pirates new offensive coordinator. Coach Kraiss previously served as OC at Tennessee State University (2006-2009; 1997-1999, special teams and WR coach); Hampton University (OC, 2001-2006); 1993 special teams coach, Southern University; and Morgan State University (1992), OC, quarterback and receivers coach.

Fred Kaiss didn't want to leave Hampton University to begin with, but getting him back didn't prove to be a hard sell. Kaiss, the Pirates' former offensive coordinator who left the school in 2006 after clashing with then-coach Joe Taylor, is back on the HU sidelines for longtime assistant Donovan Rose's second season as head coach. "I’ve known him, and I’ve always been cordial with him," Rose said. "When he left, that was between him and Coach. I don’t have anything to do with that. I had no problem. His wife and my wife are friends. It was a real good relationship. I called him, and he said, 'Hey coach, I’d love to work with you.'"

It wasn't the first call Kaiss received from Hampton. "(Former HU coach) Jerry Holmes had called me numerous times, and I love (Holmes), but the timing wasn’t right," said Kaiss, who was in his second stint at Tennessee State when Rose called. "It just wasn’t right. It was imperative that I bring certain assistants with me and I get certain things promised." Those assistants - offensive line coach Charles Huff and quarterbacks coach Shannon Harris - are now at HU with Kaiss, and the new OC is expecting big things for a program that has fallen from the heights of three straight MEAC championships from 2004 to 2006.

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