Veteran assistant Bob Leahy in line to join Grambling staff

Bob Leahy, a longtime college assistant with ties to the NFL, is expected to join the staff at Grambling — where head coach Rod Broadway has let go receivers coach Sammy White and seen two others become finalists for head jobs elsewhere.

Leahy has served under Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill and Jimmy Johnson, while coaching teams that included Tony Dorsett, Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bobby Hebert and Anthony Carter among others. A former Little All-America quarterback at Emporia State, Leahy played two seasons as Terry Bradshaw’s backup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Known as a savvy, family-oriented recruiter, Leahy has spent time on the collegiate staffs at Oklahoma State, the University of Pittsburgh, California, Washington State, and East Carolina, among others. As a pro coach, he’s worked with the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings.

Just where Leahy fits in at Grambling is as yet unknown. There could be other openings, beyond White’s spot, on this staff soon: Grambling offensive coordinator James Spady has applied for head-coaching jobs at Nicholls State of the FCS Southland Conference and Division II Grand Valley State. Sam Washington, the program’s secondary coach is also in Itta Bena, Miss., this week, where he is a finalist in the search for a head coach at FCS Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Mississippi Valley State.

UPDATED, 5:09 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7: I’m hearing now that Leahy will be hired as wide receivers coach, and will also serve as recruiting coordinator. White had been Grambling’s receivers coach since 1998.

Leahy was offensive coordinator for four years at Oklahoma State under Johnson, with whom he had also worked at Pittsburgh — where Leahy was offensive coordinator and Johnson was defensive coordinator. While at Pitt, Leahy called plays for an attack that included Dorsett, later an NFL star with the Dallas Cowboys.

“The first great quarterback that I ever coached was the first one, Jack Thompson,” Leahy has said.

Thompson, known as “The Throwin’ Samoan,” played at Washington State, where he set numerous school, Pac-10 and NCAA records before becoming a No. 1 draft choice by the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I named my son Jack Thomas after him, and he still is real dear to me,” Leahy said.

Leahy also had a successful, and he said very satisfying, stint with the short-lived USFL’s Michigan Panthers — where, as quarterbacks coach, he oversaw the early career of the future New Orleans Saints standout Hebert. Michigan would win the first USFL championship, as Hebert passed for 3,568 yards and 27 touchdowns while Carter (later a star with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings) had 60 catches for 1,181 yards.

“My first job in pro football was with Bobby Hebert, and I got very close to Bobby,” Leahy has said. “I think those two probably panned out the most. I’ve been really fortunate to be around a lot of great coaches and great players. … When I look at my pro coaching experience, my two seasons with the Bills and a season with the Vikings, I really had a chance to grow more as a USFL coach.”

Known for a personal touch through the recruiting process, Leahy hand writes notes to keep in touch with prospects. One who eventually signed a national letter of intent said Leahy had gotten in touch 40 to 50 times as the player wrestled with where to go.