UNC hires former Nebraska assistant

GREELEY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado hired Nebraska assistant Scott Downing as its head coach Tuesday.

Downing, 49, had coached tight ends and kickers at Nebraska since 2002 after arriving from Purdue, following his second six-year stint with coach Joe Tiller. He also worked with Tiller at Wyoming.

Coach O. Kay Dalton was fired Dec. 2 after six seasons at Northern Colorado, where he compiled a 38-31 record, including 4-7 this season. Northern Colorado was 0-5 in the Great West Conference.

Northern Colorado joins the Big Sky Conference next summer and will play Big Sky schools next season.

Downing was an assistant coach at Sterling College in Kansas in 1980 and 1981 and head coach in 1982 and 1983.

-- AP