BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State head coach
Scott Satterfield has named App alum and staff member
Nic Cardwell the team's tight ends coach.
Effective at the beginning of 2018, the NCAA Division I Council approved the addition of a 10th on-field assistant. Previously, the Mountaineers had five assistants with defensive responsibilities and four assistants with offensive responsibilities, so the hiring of Cardwell brings balance as he will work alongside
Frank Ponce (co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks),
Shawn Clark (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line),
Justin Watts (recruiting coordinator/wide receivers) and
Stu Holt (running backs/special teams).
"Nic is an extremely valuable member of our staff," Satterfield said. "I recruited him out of high school. He was a walk-on who earned a scholarship and started at tight end for three national champion Appalachian State teams. He is a tireless worker who brings energy and toughness every day. He's been a huge part of our offense as a player and a coach and has certainly earned this opportunity for a full-time assistant coach role."
Cardwell, 33, played tight end on the three national championship teams from 2004-07 and finished his career as a co-captain.
Cardwell coached App State's tight ends in 2008, returned to Boone as an assistant director of strength and conditioning in 2011 and coached tight ends again in 2012. He worked with the Mountaineers' tight ends as a graduate assistant from 2013-14, coached the offensive line at North Greenville from 2015-16 and was a member of the App State staff last season in an offensive quality control capacity.
"Words can't express how grateful and excited I am to continue my coaching career at my alma mater," Cardwell said. "This program gave so much to me as a player. It's an honor to be in a position to give back. I'm thankful that Coach Satterfield would entrust me with this opportunity."
Tight end Ben Jorden made the All-Southern Conference first team under Cardwell's watch in 2008, and the Mountaineers are moving forward from a 2017 season in which their tight ends accounted for seven receiving touchdowns while helping the team average 223.6 rushing yards per game. App State started four games with a set that included two tight ends, and rising junior
Collin Reed ranked second among Sun Belt Conference tight ends with five receiving touchdowns.
As a player, Cardwell arrived at Appalachian State as an unheralded walk-on in 2003 and overcame a career-threatening neck injury to play in all 56 games for the Mountaineers from 2004-07. Four of his nine career receptions went for touchdowns, including FCS playoff scores against Coastal Carolina (2006 first round) and Richmond (two TDs in a 2007 semifinal).
A native of Kernersville, N.C., Cardwell graduated from Appalachian in 2008. He and his wife, Kira, reside in Boone with their son, Kai, and daughter, Blakeley.
