Cedric Cormier hired as new Ball State football receivers coach

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State football adds another piece.

The team on Friday announced Cedric Cormier as its new wide receivers coach, the second of two coaching hires so far this offseason.

More:Former Muncie Central coach and BSU footballer, Adam Morris, named Cardinals d-line coach

Cormier spent the past three seasons at Houston Christian University, initially as the program's inside receivers coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator and receivers coach over the last two years. He has coached seven players that signed with NFL teams and was also a four-year letter winner at the University of Colorado (1998-2001), according to BSU Athletics.

He replaces Marcus Knight, who coached the program's wideouts for the past two seasons. Cormier will lead a relatively inexperienced receiving group comprised of just one upperclassman, according to the team's spring roster.

"We are excited to welcome Cedric to the Ball State football family," head coach Mike Neu said in a press release. "He has a tremendous work ethic and is dedicated to helping players develop into champions on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. His knowledge and experience will be great assets for our talented receiving corps."

More:Jeff Mitchell announced as new Ball State athletic director

Prior to joining HCU's staff, Cormier spent 10 seasons as the receivers coach at UNLV, where he recruited and coached one of the top receivers in program history, Devante Davis. He also mentored the 2014 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American, Devonte Boyd, and in total coached eight players with at least 1,000 career receiving yards and five players with 100-plus career receptions.

Cormier's products earned all-conference honors nine times and and were part of UNLV's 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl team, the program's most recent bowl appearance, the release said. Previously, Cormier was the receivers coach at Miami (Ohio) in 2009, helping produce three NFL receivers. He entered the collegiate coaching ranks at the University of Montana, where he helped develop four All-Big Sky First Team receivers and tutored Second-Team All-American and future NFL wideout Marc Mariani.

Cormier got his start in coaching in 2004 at Channelview High School in Texas, where he coached future Chicago Bears receiver Johnny Knox. He then transitioned to an assistant role at Texas' Baytown Lee High School for two seasons.

The Houston, Texas, native was a standout at North Shore High School before attending Colorado, where he earned his bachelor's degree in communications in 2002. A member of the 2001 Big XII championship team, he caught 52 career passes for 529 yards and one touchdown for the Buffaloes, according to the release. Cormier has a daughter, Danielle, and a son, Deon, who was a wide receiver at McNeese State.

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.