Charlie Skalaski has been promoted to special teams coordinator for Charlotte 49ers football. He takes the coaching slot vacated by defensive line coach Aaron Curry, who resigned Friday. Lambert will assume defensive line coaching duties.
“We’re really excited about the experience Charlie will be bring to the program,” Lambert said. “He’s a high-quality person and an excellent coach who has coached at both the NFL and college level. He has experience on both sides of the ball, and we’re looking forward to what he brings to our special teams.”
Skalaski, who has more than 15 years of experience in the coaching ranks, served as the 49ers’ football analyst working with special teams in 2016. In 2015, he was associate head coach at Eastern Kentucky, where he also oversaw duties as recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach.
He coached for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 in between stints at Liberty University. With the Jaguars, he was an assistant to the head coach, worked with the offensive coordinator and served as an assistant wide receivers Coach. From 2003-12, Skalaski coached at Liberty and returned to the program in 2014 as director of player personnel and recruiting. During his first, 10-year run at Liberty, he worked as recruiting coordinator, wide receivers coach and tight ends coach.
A defensive back during his college days at Florida, Skalaski was a member of three bowl teams: 1974 Sugar Bowl; 1975 Gator Bowl and 1976 Sun Bowl. A 1978 Florida graduate with a degree in criminal justice, he was a graduate assistant for the Gators from 1978-80 while learning from the likes of Mike Shanahan and Steve Spurrier, who were assistant coaches during that time.
After earning a Master of Public Administration in 1980, Skalaski worked for Xerox and Steelcase Incorporated. A desire to influence lives brought him back to coaching, starting with volunteer positions with the Ridgewood (N.J.) Football Association from 1999-2002 and leading to an assistant coaching position at Ridgewood High in 2002.
“The biggest reason I’m here is because of Brad Lambert,” Skalaski said. “We have the same vision for whole-person development. I will push our players to be the best they can be athletically, academically and socially, and I know coach Lambert feels the same way. You never know how successful (you’ve been as a coach) until 15 years later, when you see the type of husbands and fathers and citizens they have become.”
The opening for Skalaski’s promotion came Friday when defensive line coach Aaron Curry resigned citing personal reasons.
“I want to thank Coach Curry for helping us build our program, and I respect his decision to step away from football for personal reasons,” Lambert said.
The Charlotte 49ers open the 2017 season at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 1.