STEPHENVILLE ? Tarleton head football coach Sam McElroy has announced the completion of his staff for the 2006 season.

Scott Carey, Henry Cofer and Clay Patterson have been hired as additions to the staff for the Texans who have been picked to finish first in the Lone Star Conference South Division.

Carey, a four-year letterman for the Texans who played from 1994-97 before graduating with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and sport studies, has coached the offensive line for his alma mater.

“I am excited to be able to come back to my alma mater,” Carey said. “There has been a great reputation built for the football program, and I am pleased to be a part of this great program again.

After graduating from Tarleton, Carey served as a graduate assistant at Northeastern State from 2000-02 while obtaining his master's degree. He then became the offensive line coach at Colorado School of Mines from 2002-05 where he helped the team win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2004. While there, he also coached a two-year all-american. Carey was the offensive line coach for the line that blocked for the 2004 Harlon Hill Trophy Winner, the award for the best NCAA Division II football player. He coached the RMAC Offensive Lineman of the Year while also mentoring several all-conference honorees.

“Scott is not new to Tarleton, “ McElroy said. “(Former Tarleton head coach Todd) Whitten thought the world of him, and the more I researched him, the more I knew he would be a great fit here at Tarleton. He was here in the spring, and the offensive line got better, and they showed a lot of respect for him. He was a great player here, and I know he is going to be an even better coach who will work hard and recruit well for us.”

Cofer will coach the linebackers for the Texans after coming to Tarleton with several years of high school experience.

“I really wanted to gain experience at the collegiate coaching level, and I had a prior relationship with Coach McElroy from Sam Houston State,” Cofer said. “I have a passion for the game of football, and I jumped at the chance to work at a family-oriented institution. This is a great opportunity for me.”

After attending the University of Arizona for one year, Cofer transferred to Sam Houston State where he lettered three seasons for the Bearkats and graduated in 1997 with a degree in kinesiology. He received all-conference honors while at SHSU. He is currently working on his master's degree at Tarleton.

Cofer served as the defensive coordinator at Austin Johnston High School for four years (1997-2000) before coaching at Pflugerville High School for the last five seasons. While at Pflugerville, he helped coached the 2004 and 2005 Bi-District Champions and area runner-ups. In his five years there, Pflugerville claimed three district championships and he worked with our Division I signees at the running back position. They made the playoffs all five seasons.

“Henry played linebacker for us at Sam Houston State, and I had personal knowledge of the kind of man he is,” McElroy said. “He had thought a lot about getting into the college coaching ranks, and I believe he will do a great job. He will bring a lot of new ideas, and he is a tireless worker. He will also do a great job recruiting with all of his contacts within the Texas high schools.”

Patterson moved to Tarleton after helping the Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm claim the 2005 LSC North Division title.

“The tradition of the program is what drew me to Tarleton,” Patterson said. “Coach McElroy is an awesome guy and the football program here has a great reputation. I figured, too, that since we never beat them, I should come be a part of the winning tradition.”

Patterson played at SOSU as a junior and senior after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He has coached at SOSU for the past three seasons where the Savage Storm won back-to-back LSC North Division titles. He served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator while in Durant, Okla. He coached All-American Romar Crenshaw.

“Clay did an excellent job while at Southeastern Oklahoma, and I know he is going to work hard for us here at Tarleton,” McElroy said. “He is a hard worker and has LSC experience. Clay has coached some good receivers the last few years, and I am excited for him to be a part of this program where he will help with our receiving corps and academics as well.”

The Texans are scheduled to report to campus for Fall Camp 2006 on Aug. 10. The first contest of the season will be at Texas State in San Marcos at 6 p.m. on Sept. 2.