MARSHALL, MINN.: Southwest Minnesota State University head football coach Eric Eidsness has announced the hiring of Cory Sauter as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at SMSU. Sauter began his duties on July 1.
Eidsness also announced that offensive line coach Andy Carr will serve as the program¹s running game coordinator.

³It is exciting to add Cory Sauter and his family to the Mustang football family,² Eidsness said. ³Coach Sauter brings football experience from the highest level. During the interview process it was very clear that he is committed to his student-athletes and their experience.²

Sauter, a native of Huchinson, Minn., has spent the past two years coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels. In 2006 he served as quarterbacks/receivers coach for the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europe and was also a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota. In 2007 he was quarterbacks coach for the Berlin Thunder.

A 1997 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Sauter had a record-setting career at quarterback for the Golden Gophers and spent six seasons in the NFL from 1998-2004. He played four seasons for Minnesota (1994-97), including starting the final 34 games of his collegiate career and playing in the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic following his senior season. He still holds the all-time career school records for pass completions, pass attempts and passing yards.

Following his collegiate career Sauter spent six seasons in the NFL from 1998-2004. He signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 before spending time with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He appeared in one regular season game in his career completing 6 of
9 passes for 59 yards in a 2002 game with the Chicago Bears.

³I am excited about the opportunity to become a part of the Southwest Minnesota State University coaching staff,² Sauter said. ³I look forward to using my background and experience to help the football program in any way that I can. It is a great time to become a Mustang, especially with the newly constructed football stadium for the 2008 season.²

Southwest Minnesota State will begin fall practice on Thursday, Aug. 7 in preparation of the season and conference opener on Saturday, Aug. 30 versus Minnesota, Crookston in Marshall. The opener will also be the first game play at the new Regional Events Center on the SMSU campus.