Holliday, Archer '05 Round Out Cornell Football Coaching Staff

Big Red opens 2007 season on Sept. 15 vs. Bucknell

July 17, 2007

ITHACA, N.Y. -- ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell head football coach Jim Knowles announced that he has completed his coaching staff for the upcoming 2007 season as Guy Holliday (wide receivers) and David Archer (linebackers) have officially joined the Big Red staff. Holliday comes to Ithaca after spending four seasons as wide receivers coach at Mississippi State, while former Cornell gridiron captain will be spending his first season as an assistant under his former head coach.

Under his watch, Holliday's receivers played a key part in the Bulldogs' 2003 campaign, hauling in 2,424 yards in the air, the fourth-best single-season receiving total in school history. He helped senior receiver Justin Jenkins caught 62 passes, tied with NFL All-Pro receiver Eric Moulds for fourth on the single-season list.

Prior to his time at Mississippi State, Holliday spent three years at Western Michigan as tight ends and receivers coach. Pass-catching tight end Mo Afariogun was a three-time all Mid-American Conference pick and caught 39 passes and five touchdowns as a senior for Holliday. He also helped lead the special teams, with his kickoff and punt return units ranked among the conference's best. He was part of the 2000 team that went 9-3 and claimed the MAC Western Division title. That team won at Iowa and dropped a narrow 19-14 contest to Marshall in the MAC championship tilt.

Holliday served as offensive coordinator at Alabama State from 1995-99. He helped the Hornets become the No. 1 passing team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during his time there. Prior to arriving at Alabama State, Holliday was the offensive coordinator at Tuskegee from 1992-94. Under Holliday's direction, Tuskegee was the second highest scoring team in Division II in `92, averaging 38 points per game. The Pioneers ranked in the nation's top 10 in passing offense during all four years. Holliday began his coaching career at Clark-Atlanta.

A 1987 graduate of Cheyney with a bachelor of arts degree, Holliday has had seven former players sign professional football contracts.

Archer was a captain for the Big Red in 2004, the first season under head coach Jim Knowles. A three-year starter on the offensive line, Archer moved from tackle to guard to center during his senior year. He was rewarded for his leadership and selflessness by earning the team's Enzo Montemurro Award for spirit and leadership, as well as the inaugural Jaime McManamon Award, given to a senior for hard work and diligence in the strength and conditioning program.

For the past two years, Archer taught eighth and fourth grades, respectively, at the Dr. William H. Horton School in Newark, N.J., as part of the Teach For America program. In addition, last year he was an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson, working with the linebackers under head coach Rich Mosca.

Cornell opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. against Bucknell at Schoellkopf Field.