RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator Dean Hood has accepted a position as defensive secondary coach at Ohio University of the Mid-American Conference.

Hood, 35, has been on coach Roy Kidd's football staff for the past five years, the last two seasons serving as defensive coordinator for the Colonels.

"Dean has done a really good job here at Eastern and we're certainly going to miss him," Kidd said. "He is very dedicated and puts in very long hard hours, as all our coaches do. He is a very enthusiastic coach on the field and will do a good job at Ohio U. We hope to begin our search for his replacement immediately."

Hood is a 1986 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where he played his last three years of collegiate football. His freshman season, 1982, was spent at Ohio University as a member of the Bobcat football squad.

"This was a very tough decision to leave," said Hood, a native of Ashtabula, OH. "Honestly, in my five years here, I have not met a person at EKU or in Richmond that I didn't like. This is an incredible place to live and work.

"But, I am excited about the opportunity to go to Ohio U. They've turned their program around and I like their approach and philosophy toward getting things done. I will hopefully get to use some of the knowledge up there that I've gained from working here under one of the winningest coaches of all-time in Roy Kidd."

Hood begins his appointment at Ohio University, Monday, Feb. 15.

KP/kp