Bill Kirelawich Hometown: Frackville, Pa. Last College: Salem University '69 Position: Defensive Line Coach At Arizona: First Year; 43rd in Coaching

Veteran defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich was appointed to the position at Arizona in January 2010 by head coach and former colleague Rich Rodriguez. He joined the Wildcat staff after three decades of coaching at West Virginia University, with all his focus on defense. His grasp of Rodriguez's overall program and Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 defense is second to none.

Kirelawich (pronounced Kerr-LAV-itch) started coaching at West Virginia in 1979 when he spent a year as a part-time assistant. He coached the defensive line from 1980-87, outside linebackers from 1988-90, the line again from 1991 to 2000, was an administrative assistant in 2001-02 and has coached the line for the past nine years.

His tenure in Morgantown was marked by bowl appearances, high statistical rankings, coaching All-Americans and all-conference players, and the collegiate training of numerous players who went on to the professional ranks.

He began his coaching career with a nine-year stint as head coach at Cardinal Brennan, Pa., High School from 1970-78 after graduating from Salem University in 1969. Kirelawich graduated from Salem University in West Virginia in 1969. He was 2010 FootballScoop defensive line coach of the Year.

A team captain and linebacker at Salem University, Kirelawich still owns the school record with an 89-yard interception return.

Kirelawich's son, Billy, works with the UA program as an operations coordinator. The elder Kirelawich and wife Maggie have two other children, Miki and Jake.

BILL KIRELAWICH FILE

High School    Cardinal Brennan, Ashland, Pa.
College        Salem University, 1969
Playing Career Salem 1965-68, linebacker
Family         Wife, Maggie, children Miki, Billy and Jake
Recruits       Central California, Houston, southwestern Florida, Philadelphia,
               Arizona

Kirelawich's Coaching History
2003-11  West Virginia, defensive line
2001-02  West Virginia, administrative assistant
1991-00  West Virginia, defensive line
1988-90  West Virginia, outside linebackers
1980-87  West Virginia, defensive line
1979     West Virginia, part-time assistant
1970-78  Cardinal Brennan, Pa., High School, head coach

Kirelawich in the Bowls
listed by season, not date played
2011 - Orange Bowl, WVU assistant
2010 - Champs Sports, WVU assistant
2008 - Car Care, WVU assistant
2007 - Fiesta, WVU assistant
2006 - Gator, WVU assistant
2005 - Sugar, WVU assistant
2004 - Gator, WVU assistant
2003 - Gator, WVU assistant
2002 - Continental Tire, WVU assistant
1998 - Insight, WVU assistant
1997 - Carquest, WVU assistant
1996 - Gator, WVU assistant
1994 - Carquest, WVU assistant
1993 - Sugar, WVU assistant
1989 - Gator, WVU assistant
1988 - Fiesta, WVU assistant
1987 - Sun, WVU assistant
1984 - Bluebonnet, WVU assistant
1983 - Hall of Fame, WVU assistant
1982 - Gator, WVU assistant
1981 - Peach, WVU assistant