WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (April 10, 2012) - William and Mary football head coach Jimmye Laycock announced the hiring of Chris Barclay as an offensive assistant this afternoon.

Barclay's primary responsibilities will be to work with the running backs.  He takes over the position immediately and has started to work with the team during spring drills.

Honored as the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, Barclay spent the past three seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Wake Forest. Barclay served as the program's recruiting assistant in 2010 before working as a graduate assistant with the defensive unit last season.

"Chris is an outstanding young coach," Laycock said.  "He played and worked under [Wake Forest Head] coach (Jim) Grobe, whom I respect a great deal.  I think he'll be a great fit for our staff and program."

En route to earning ACC player of the year distinction in 2005, Barclay rushed for 1,127 yards with 10 touchdowns and ranked 15th nationally in rushing yards per game. The Louisville, Ky., native became the first player in ACC history to lead the league in rushing three consecutive seasons and finished his career as Wake Forest's all-time leading rusher with 4,032 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Following his collegiate career, the two-time first-team All-ACC standout played three seasons in the NFL from 2006-08. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2006 and spent the season on the practice squad. After a stint with the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europa, Barclay spent the first 11 weeks of the 2007 season on the Browns practice squad before being signed to the Tennessee Titans' active roster. He played in four games with the Titans before being claimed by the New Orleans Saints later that year. After playing in one game with the Saints, he spent a portion of the 2008 season on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.

Barclay earned a degree in health and exercise science from Wake Forest in 2009.