Central Arkansas has a new defensive assistant coach, and a pair of moves elsewhere within Nathan Brown's football program.
Walker Ashburn, who has past defensive coordinator experience, is coming aboard the UCA program as the interior defensive line coach.
Ashburn spent several seasons at Arkansas-Monticello, climbing from defensive assistant into the role of defensive coordinator. He's also got previous experience at Tulane University as a graduate assistant as well as an defensive analyst.
The Bears also made a couple of switches that impact the offensive side of the ball.
Bayley Novak has been elevated from his offensive graduate assistant role to become a full-time assistant coach as UCA's tight ends coach.
Brooks Hollingsworth is now serving Central Arkansas as the director of high school relations.
UCA has a pair of gargantuan tasks in its first three games of the 2023 season this fall. The Bears open at Oklahoma State, a consistent Big 12 title contender, and then after a home date against Texas College, they visit perennial Football Championship Subdivision power North Dakota State.
The Bears, who posted a 3-2 ledger last season in Atlantic Sun Conference play, resume A-Sun play this fall at home Sept. 23 against Abilene Christian.