Duffie to replace Russ

Deacons Illustrated has confirmed with a source close to the Wake Forest football program that Colorado State secondary coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Duffie has left Fort Collins to coach the Demon Deacons defensive backs.

He is scheduled to arrive in Winston-Salem tomorrow in time for the start of spring practice.

"He really worked his tail off here and did a heck of a job for Colorado State and the program," Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain said in an interview with the Loveland Reporter-Herald. "We wish him the best, him and his family, as we move forward making this a top program in the West."

Duffie will replace Steve Russ who returned to his alma mater Air Force last month. That completes Wake's staff changes this offseason.

Jonathan Himebauch and Derrick Jackson joined Jim Grobe's coaching staff last month after Tim Billings and Keith Henry were not retained following the Demon Deacons 6-7 campaign last season that culminated with a 23-17 loss to Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl.

He began his career at Texas El-Paso in 2000 as a graduate assistant coach, where he spent two seasons working with the linebackers and safeties. Duffie then left for a one-year minority coaching fellowship with the Detroit Lions before returning to UTEP to coach the linebackers and safeties from 2002-07. He left UTEP after the 2007 season for Colorado State, which is where he spent the last four seasons coaching the Rams secondary.

Duffie was a four-year letterman as a linebacker at Texas Tech from 1996-99.

Deacons Illustrated will be following this story as it develops.