Alex Gerke will serve a dual role on Greg McMackin's coaching staff as the running backs coach and assisting with the offensive line.
"I'm extremely excited to be a part of this program, to work for coach Mack and be a part of the family and great community here on the islands," Gerke said. "It's a great place to live with great people, and great players that I have a lot of respect for. This is a dream come true. It doesn't get any better than this."
Gerke spent the past two seasons at Weber State, coaching the offensive line under head coach Ron McBride. There he coached right tackle Dave Hale, a Football Championship Subdivision (former Division I-AA) All-American and Dimitri Tsoumpas, the second overall pick in the 2008 Canadian Football League Draft. The Wildcat offensive line allowed only 12 sacks and their offense featured the Big Sky's leading rusher.
Gerke has also coached a number of players who've gone on to play professionally and have earned All-America recognition. Some of his more prominent players include Jordan Gross (Utah), a 2003 first round draft choice of the Carolina Panthers and Outland Trophy runner-up. Former Kahuku High School standout Chris Kemoeatu (Utah) was a sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Another former Hawai`i high school standout, `Iolani's Ed Taamu (Utah) was a 2002 fourth round pick by Minnesota. Glen Parker (Golden West JC), an All-American at Arizona, later played for the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs. Alfred Pupunu (South High) was a member of the San Diego Chargers Super Bowl team and also played for the Chiefs and Giants.
During his playing days, Gerke, a native of Westminster, Calif., was a two-year starter on the offensive line at Golden West Junior College in 1980-81. In 1982 he signed with the University of Utah where he was coached by McBride on the offensive line.
Gerke began his long coaching career at South High School in Salt Lake City, where he coached both the offensive and defensive line in 1985. The following year, he returned to Golden West JC to serve as the assistant offensive line coach and weight training coach.
In 1994, Gerke returned to the state of Utah where he coached the offensive and defensive line at East High School in Salt Lake City. The next year, he was a guest coach with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders before returning to coach the offensive and defensive lines at Hunter High School in Salt Lake City for three years.
In 1998, he served as a graduate assistant for Utah, under McBride, coaching the offensive tackles and tight ends for two seasons. In 2000, he joined the Cal Poly staff as offensive line coach, mentoring All-American Dustin Kroeker. The Mustangs ranked 15th in Division I-AA in passing offense and quarterback Seth Burford ranked sixth in passing efficiency.
Gerke's stint with Cal Poly was a short one as the following year he returned to McBride's staff at Utah to serve as offensive line coach for two years. Gerke returned to Golden West in 2004 and later rejoined McBride at Weber State in 2006.
