ALBANY- Albany State University head football coach Gabe Giadina has announced two additions to the football staff for the fall 2018 season.
Joining the ASU coaching staff will be Denares Waites and Travian Robertson. Waites will serve as the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties coach while Robertson will take on the assignment of guiding the Rams’ defensive line.
Waites come to ASU after eight seasons as an assistant coach at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, TN. At CNU, he guided the wide receivers for one year before moving to the defensive side to coach the Eagles’ secondary for the next seven seasons. He also spent time coaching special teams during his tenure in Jefferson City.
“(Dino) Waites brings a wealth of Division II experience and as a native of Bacon County, his recruiting connections in south Georgia are deep,” says Coach Giardina. “As a player and a coach under the legendary Ken Sparks, he was a part of several playoff teams during his tenure in Carson Newman. He and coach (Nick) Reveiz will do a great job as Co-Defensive Coordinators going forward.”
Waites was named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts as the Eagles’ defensive backs and special teams coach in 2013.
Robertson joins the Golden Rams’ staff after spending one season at Georgia State University as a graduate assistant. A 2011 graduate of the University of South Carolina, he appeared in 43 career games for the Gamecocks before being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round (249 overall pick) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
“Travian Robertson is an exciting new addition to our staff as the Defensive Line Coach and NFL Liaison. He is a great technician and teacher brings a wealth of NFL playing experience to our staff”, states Giardina. “At South Carolina he played at a high level and as a former NFL player, has seen first-hand what it takes to compete professionally.”
Robertson played two seasons for the Falcons was signed in 2014 by the Seattle Seahawks and was later claimed off waivers by the Washington Redskins.