Indiana names Fabris defensive ends coach - ESPN (blog)

Indiana has hired veteran assistant Jon Fabris as its new defensive ends coach. Fabris replaces Brett Dierson, who resigned earlier this month.

Fabris comes to Bloomington from Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he surfaced after being fired at Georgia. He spent nine years coaching for the Bulldogs and also has worked at Georgia Tech, Washington State, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Kansas State, South Carolina and the Cleveland Browns. Fabris will also handle punt return and punt block team duties.

“We are pleased to have Jon and his family on board,” Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of experience and unparalleled passion and enthusiasm to our staff. He has made a career in the collegiate ranks as a relentless recruiter, a great teacher and coach of the defensive end position and an exceptional special teams coach. He is a great fit for our program.”

Fabris coached Georgia’s defensive ends from 2001-09 and was recognized as the SEC's top position coach in 2009. However, he and two other Bulldogs assistants were fired following that 2009 season in a staff shakeup by Mark Richt. Fabris coached one of the top Georgia defensive players of all time in current ESPN commentator David Pollack.

“I wanted to be on a high level of competition, and certainly Indiana being in the Big Ten is about as high as you can get,” Fabris said in a school release. “Coach Wilson is a very competitive guy. He’s had success at Miami (Ohio), Northwestern and a whole lot of national success at Oklahoma. That was attractive to me.”

Indiana could use an upgrade in its pass rush. The Hoosiers had just 18 sacks last season, ranking 91st in the nation and 11th in the Big Ten.