HAMILTON, N.Y. Colgate head football coach Dick Biddle has announced that Ross Thoreson will take over as defensive line coach with the Raiders.  Thoreson, who has worked with the Colgate team for the past three seasons, is replacing James Cregg, who earlier took a position at Idaho.

Thoreson, 27, was working with Colgates outside linebackers.

He joined the Colgate staff in May of 2001 from Iowa State University where he served as a defensive student assistant for one season after serving as a student assistant strength and conditioning coach for two seasons. In 2000, he helped the Cyclones finish with a school record 9-3 record and a berth in the Insight.com Bowl, where they defeated the University of Pittsburgh.

He was a two-year starter and letterwinner playing linebacker at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.  After his sophomore season he transferred to Iowa State University.

Thoreson graduated from Iowa State University in 2000 with a degree in Liberal Studies and is a candidate for a Secondary Physical Education Secondary Health degree.  He and his wife, Christie, make their home in Hamilton.