Kraig Paulson

Position: Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers Experience: 4th Year

Kraig Paulson took over as assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach in 2012 after two years as defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach for the Rebels.

Before moving to Las Vegas, Paulson spent six seasons as defensive coordinator at Montana while also coaching the ends. He also served as UM's assistant head coach for five years.

Paulson's 2009 defense led the FCS in turnovers gained with 37, including bringing in a stunning 26 interceptions in 2009. He mentored star defensive end Kroy Biermann, who earned the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the FCS defensive player of the year. Biermann was a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Paulson boasts two-plus decades of college coaching experience, including serving as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Utah State from 2000-02.

The former Montana fullback actually had two stints coaching at his alma mater. He worked with the linebackers, defensive line and secondary from 1987-99, moving from graduate assistant to defensive coordinator during his first stop in Missoula.

Paulson earned his bachelor's degree in education from Montana in 1987. He and his wife, Jody, have three sons: Keogh, Elias and Rokken.

PAULSON's COACHING EXPERIENCE
2012-SA		UNLV - assistant head coach/outside linebackers
2010-11		UNLV - defensive ends/defensive coord.
2004-09		Montana - defensive coord./defensive ends
2000-02		Utah State - defensive coord./secondary
1998-99		Montana - defensive coordinator
1988-97		Montana - linebackers/def. line/secondary
1987		Montana - graduate assistant