DURHAM - University of New Hampshire football coach Sean McDonnell announced the hiring of Alex Miller and Chris Van Horn as assistant coaches Monday.

Assistant coach Brian Barbato, the tight ends coach since 2008, adds offensive tackles to his coaching responsibilities this year. Barbato played for UNH and at Exeter High School

Miller comes aboard as the centers/guards coach for the Wildcats after a three-year tenure at the University of Oregon, where he began as an intern in 2008 before working as a graduate assistant coach for offense the next two seasons. Miller worked closely with the Ducks' running game and tutored the offensive line.

Miller played center at the University of Massachusetts, where he started all 50 games of his collegiate career from 2003-06. Miller, a Fairfax, Va., native was feted as an All-America in his senior campaign and was a two-time member of the All-Atlantic 10 First Team. Miller received his undergraduate degree from UMass in 2007.

Van Horn joins the UNH coaching staff as the defensive tackles coach following three seasons at the University of North Carolina. In 2010, he was the on-field defensive graduate assistant for the Tar Heels and worked with the defensive line. During his first two seasons in Chapel Hill, Van Horn served in a quality control position, working with linebackers and the secondary. Van Horn, a Fort Wayne, Ind., native was a three-year letterwinner at St. Francis University in his hometown and began his coaching career at his alma mater, where he worked for three seasons. After two years as a graduate assistant, Van Horn was elevated to the role of defensive line coach for the 2007 season.

During his playing career, Van Horn was an NAIA First Team All-America at defensive end and still holds the school's all-time record for most sacks in a season and career. He was a college teammate of UNH linebackers coach James Bettcher. Van Horn earned bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2004.

Barbato enters his fourth year during his second stint on the UNH coaching staff. He has mentored tight ends since 2008, and he coached the offensive line during his previous caoching stint at UNHNew Hampshire coaching term in 2004.

Barbato started 37 games during his playing career while seeing time at all five offensive line positions. He was named All-Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2003 and All-Atlantic 10 Third Team in 2002. Barbato also coached outside linebackers and safeties at St. Lawrence University for two seasons (2006-07) and worked as an assistant coach at Exeter High School in 2005.

Here is a look at the 2011 UNH coaching staff:

Head Coach: Sean McDonnell (13th season)
Offensive Coordinator/QBs: Tim Cramsey (ninth season)
Defensive Coordinator/DBs: John Lyons (first season)
Defensive Ends: Jon Shelton (sixth season)
Wide Receivers: Ryan Carty (fifth season)
Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends: Brian Barbato (fourth season)
Running Backs: Michael Ferzoco (fourth season)
Strong safeties/OLBs: Terrence Klein (second season)
Linebackers: James Bettcher (first season)
Defensive Tackles: Chris Van Horn (first season)
Centers/Guards: Alex Miller (first season)
Director of Football Operations: Scott Lukas (second season)