Yesterday we shared the news of Tim Albin's defensive coordinator hire in Nate Faanes, who had been with him at Ohio as co-defensive coordinator / special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
Sources have since shared that Albin is working to add an impressive presence to his defensive staff to pair with the Faanes hire.
Bryan Nardo, the former defensive coordinator for Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, is being targeted for a role on the Niners staff as well, sources tell FootballScoop.
Nardo's first year in Stillwater led to immediate improvements in scoring defense, rush defense, red zone defense, defensive touchdowns as well as turnovers and sacks.
This past fall the Cowboys suffered injuries to key players early in the season, derailing Nardo's second year with the program.
Before making the jump to the FBS level, Nardo led immediate and impressive defensive turnarounds as the defensive coordinator at Emporia State (D-II - KS) and Gannon (D-II - PA).
At each of those stops there was marked improvement in scoring defense, yards per play, total defense, 3rd down efficiency and sacks in his first season, as well as in a number of other key metrics. That on-field success led to Gundy pursuing Nardo to take over the defense in Stillwater despite no prior relationship.
If details can be finalized, the hire at Charlotte would pair Faanes (coordinating an FBS defense for the first time) with a mentor of sorts in Nardo, who has two years of play calling experience in the pressure-packed Big 12.
In Stillwater, Nardo made $650k his first season and $700k this past fall as part of a three-year deal.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.