COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On Tuesday, January 18th, Capital University head football coach Brian Foos announced two important personnel moves among his staff. 

Current wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Ben Burns has been elevated to the team's passing game coordinator. He will retain duties overseeing the receiving corps and coordinating recruiting operations. Additionally, Foos has welcomed the addition of Brian Staats as the team's quarterbacks coach. 

"This change and addition to our staff will allow us to take the next step to bringing Capital football back to a high level, not only from a recruiting standpoint, but an on-the-field coaching standpoint as well," said Foos. "Our players are going to receive outstanding mentorship in the classroom as well as coaching that will help them excel on the field from both of these changes." 

Brian Staats comes to Capital with a well-respected resume that includes nearly 40 years of coaching at both the high school and collegiate level. Most recently, Staats served as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and QB coach at Alderson Broaddus University. He had been in that role since January 2020. 

Prior to his tenure at Alderson Broaddus, Staats built his name coaching high school ball throughout the state of Ohio. Dating back to his first job out of college, Staats immediately became involved with middle school and high school coaching within the LaBrae, Matthews, Eastmoor, Grove City, and Newton Falls school districts. From there, Staats spent the 1991 season working as a graduate assistant within the University of Cincinnati football program where he assisted in coaching the defensive secondary and special teams units. 

Upon leaving Cincinnati, Staats returned to high school football where he continued to develop programs around the state. He spent time working with Johnstown-Monroe, Northmor, Marion-Franklin, Mifflin, Delaware Hayes, Bedford, Barberton, Medina Highland, Wadsworth, and Northland high schools. Among those many high school stops, Staats spent two seasons working as the Co-Special Teams Coordinator for the College of Wooster. 

Throughout his tenure, Staats has won three Columbus City League Championships as a head coach with both Mifflin and Northland. Additionally, he has helped his high school teams to several state playoff appearances. Notably, Staats served as the high school coach for Rodger Saffold III at Bedford. Saffold III currently plays on the offensive line for the Tennessee Titans. 

"Brian's knowledge of Ohio football is a huge asset to our program," continued Foos. "Not only will he help us bring in qualified student-athletes to the university, but he also has a proven track record of coaching success on the field. His knowledge of quarterback play and managing a QB room was one thing that helped him stand out as the ideal fit for our program." 

"I would like to thank Coach Foos for this opportunity to join the Capital football program," said Staats. "I am particularly excited to be back in Central Ohio and looking forward to this chance to coach at Capital and in the OAC conference." 

Ben Burns, who joined Capital in January of 2021, has been an integral part of the program's development over the past year under the new leadership contingent. Burns had built his coaching knowledge in the Columbus area as he graduated from Ohio State University in 2015. During his undergraduate time, Burns served as an offensive quality control coordinator for Ohio Dominican University. 

Upon graduating from Ohio State and concluding his time with Ohio Dominican, Burns moved to McKendree University for the 2016 season where he coached the tight ends. Following his McKendree stint, Burns moved to Urbana University and spent three seasons serving in a multitude of roles for the program. Burns then moved to Capital along with the hiring of Brian Foos prior to the 2021 spring season.

During his tenure as receivers coach with Capital, Burns oversaw a unit that amassed 143 catches for 1,889 yards in 2021. Furthermore, Burns helped mentor the development of 2021 Academic All-American Kameron Lee, who has been a two-time All-Conference selection under Burns' guidance as well. 

"Ben is an accomplished coach that deserves this additional responsibility," said Foos. "Ben's commitment to Capital football has been apparent since the day he set foot on campus, and I am excited to continue working with him and building our offense."  
"I am excited and ready to get to work in this new role," said Burns. "I'd like to, again say thank you to Coach Foos for trusting me with this added responsibility. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with this receiving group and developing an improved passing game."

Burns and Staats will both begin their new roles within the Capital football program immediately.