Football has hired Ross Watson as an assistant coach working with the defense, according to a news release.

Watson has served as a secondary coach in the past, but his position at NIU has yet to be determined. He may be taking over coaching duties for Kevin Kane at the linebacker position, although that is not official.

Kane was the lone coach from the 2014 staff to have left. In December he left NIU for the same position at Kansas, his alma mater.

Watson, 31, most recently was on the coaching staff at Youngstown State. He spent 2014 as the Penguins’ director of football operations before being promoted to assistant coach by new head coach Bo Pelini, who took over the Youngstown State job in December.

Wherever Watson has been there has been good defense: As a cornerbacks coach at Florida Atlantic in 2012, the Owls ranked 27th in the country in passing defense. In 2013 they ranked second in pass yards allowed (161.5), third in passing efficiency defense (97.41) and 11th in total defense.

While serving as a graduate assistant (2008-11) on Pelini’s defense at Nebraska, the Huskers were tops in the nation in scoring defense and seventh in total defense in 2009.

Prior to his time at Nebraska he served as the defensive back coach for two season at Mount Union College, his alma mater.