Valparaiso football head coach Dale Carlson announced today the addition of three assistants to the Crusader coaching staff for the 2013 campaign. John Snyder, who most recently was head coach at Chesterton H.S. and returns for his second stint as a member of the Valpo staff, will coach the running backs, while Kenton Evans will coach the quarterbacks and Eric Deutsch will assist in coaching the defensive line.

Snyder spent the last 18 years at Chesterton H.S., serving six years as an assistant coach before taking the reins as the program's head coach for the last 12 seasons. During his tenure as head coach, the Trojans won 74 games, including three Duneland Athletic Conference titles.

Prior to his tenure at Chesterton H.S., Snyder spent one year as head coach at Paoli H.S. and three years as an assistant coach at Valparaiso H.S. Snyder was a member of the Valparaiso University coaching staff prior to that from 1989 through 1991, serving as offensive coordinator and working with the wide receivers and punters. He also spent time on the coaching staff at Iowa Wesleyan College and Winfield-Mt. Union (Iowa) H.S.

"John brings a great perspective along with excellent experience to our program," said Carlson. "He is so well-known throughout Northwest Indiana that I believe it will help in our recruiting the area as well."

Evans comes to Valpo from Martin Luther King Jr. H.S. in Lithonia, Ga., where he spent the last three seasons as the program's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Evans helped the Lions to 31 victories and three consecutive regional championships in his three seasons. Under his tutelage, the Lions averaged 390 yards of offense and 34 points per game in his three years. The program produced the second-leading passer in Georgia high school football history, as well as six receivers who earned Division I football scholarships.

Before his time at Martin Luther King Jr. H.S., Evans served in the same role for the 2009 campaign at Towers H.S. in Decatur, Ga. He coached the county's leading passer, who went on to earn a scholarship to Virginia, and helped the program earn its first state playoff berth in a decade.

Evans brings eight years of professional playing experience in the Arena Football League and the af2 to the position, suiting up for a number of different teams from 2001 until 2008 and totaling 54 career touchdown passes.

"Kenton has tremendous experience playing quarterback, both collegiately and in the pros," said Carlson. "He is very knowledgeable about the spread offense, having coordinated an explosive offense as a high school coach."

Deutsch comes to Valpo after spending the 2012 season at Washington and Lee University as its defensive line coach. In his one season at Washington and Lee, the program won seven games and captured the ODAC championship, advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Deutsch coached a Second Team All-Conference honoree on the line as well.

Previously, Deutsch served as defensive line coach in 2011 at the College of Mount St. Joseph. He helped the Lions to six wins and a second-place HCAC finish, coaching a trio of All-Conference recipients.

Deutsch played collegiately at Wofford College, where he was a three-time All-American for the Terriers.

"Eric has played and coached at very competitive academic institutions," said Carlson. "His experience as a student-athlete at Wofford College will be very beneficial to our team. Eric knows what's it like to be a player in a demanding academic environment while playing top-25 D-I FCS football."