Williamsburg, Va. (Nov. 30, 2018) – William & Mary Head Football Coach Mike London announced the hiring of four coaches to his staff: EJ Barthel (Offensive Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator), Mike London Jr. (Offensive Assistant Coach), Gordon Sammis (Offensive Line Coach) and Josh Zidenberg (Defensive Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator).
 
Barthel comes to Williamsburg after serving as the running backs and player development coach at Howard last season. Under his direction, the Bison led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 192.8 yards per game. Additionally, he helped standout freshman Dedrick Parson garner MEAC Rookie of the Year and All-MEAC Second Team accolades. Parson led the league in yards per carry (5.65), while he ranked second in rushing touchdowns (nine) and third in rushing yards per game (70.6).
 
Prior to his season at HU, Barthel gained tremendous experience in various roles at a number of successful programs: Albany (running backs, 2018), Penn State (recruiting coordinator of personnel, 2017), Temple (director of on-campus recruiting and player personnel, 2016) and Rutgers (director of recruiting, 2015 / player development volunteer, 2014). At PSU, he helped the Nittany Lions secure the nation's No. 5 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports.
 
He played three seasons at Rutgers University (2003-05) as a fullback before concluding his collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts (2006-07) where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology.
 
A former standout running back for Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, N.J., he coached in the high school ranks at two prominent programs – DePaul Catholic High School (2012) and Bergen Catholic (2013).
 
London Jr. joins the Tribe's staff after a tremendously successful 2018 season as Howard University's wide receivers coach where he helped the Bison rank fourth nationally in yards per catch (17.27) and 18th in passing offense (278.0).
 
In addition to producing a pair of first-team All-MEAC wideouts, Jequez Ezzard ranked eighth nationally in receiving yards per game (106.4) and 11th in receiving touchdowns (12).
 
Prior to leading HU's receiving corps, London Jr. coached at the prep level at Paramus Catholic High School (Paramus, N.J.) as the wide receivers coach and at Amherst-Pelham Regional (Amherst, Mass.) as the offensive coordinator.
 
During his successful tenure at the high school level, he coached 21 student-athletes who went on to compete collegiately at the Division I level.
 
Sammis recently completed a successful two-year stint as the offensive line coach at Lafayette College. Under his direction, the Leopards ranked first in the Patriot League in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for a loss allowed. Additionally, he mentored a pair of all-conference selections, including first-team honoree Jake Marotti.

Prior to his tenure at Lafayette, Sammis spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the offensive line coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he was responsible for the running game and pass protection plans for a tempo run-pass option offense. From year one to year two at VMI, the offensive line improved its number of sacks allowed by seven.

Sammis spent time as the tight ends coach and offensive line coach at Columbia University from 2012-14. He served as the program's recruiting coordinator all three seasons, navigating the recruiting waters at an Ivy League school with the conference's highly selective academic index.

A 2007 University of Virginia graduate, Sammis earned a degree in Government after a playing career as an offensive guard that spanned from 2003-07.

Sammis returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach from 2010-12, earning a master's degree in education in 2012. He worked as an offensive line assistant during his first season and with the tight ends the following year.

A native of Flemington, N.J., Sammis was a standout at Immaculata High School.

Zidenberg comes to W&M after serving as the defense backs coach and special teams coordinator at Western Illinois University last season. His defensive unit helped the Leathernecks rank 23rd nationally in total defense (327.9), 28th in passing yards allowed (192.6), 28th in pass efficiency defense (116.79) and 30th in interceptions (12). The impressive numbers came against the nation's second toughest schedule according to the Massey Ratings Index.
 
Among the players who benefited from his tutelage were standout defensive back Justin Fitzpatrick and return specialist Steve McShane, who both garnered All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) honors last season.
 
Prior to his stint at WIU, Zidenberg coached running backs at Lafayette College in 2017 and was the safeties coach and co-special teams coordinator at VMI from 2015-16.
 
Zidenberg served as a graduate assistant at the University of Virginia (2009-10) and at the University of Connecticut (2014). He worked with the defense and special teams at UVA, while he helped coach the linebackers at UConn.
 
Zidenberg broke into the coaching ranks as a scouting/player personal assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2008.
 
A three-year letterwinner at the University of Virginia (2004-07), he earned the George Welsh Award for Special Teams Player of the Year (2006) and John Polzer Award for Ability, Character and Sportsmanship (2007).
 
He graduated from UVA with a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Anthropology and earned a master's degree in Education in Administration and Supervision.
 
A standout prep player at Poquoson High School (Poquoson, Va.), Zidenberg was a two-time first-team all-state selection as a running back and safety. He became the fastest player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (eight games) in the Hampton Roads area and finished his senior year with 2,811 rushing yards, which ranked among the Virginia High School League's (VHSL) top-10 single-season totals.
 
Zidenberg and his wife, Lindsey, are the proud parents of a newborn son, Dexter.