SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University Head Football Coach George Mihalik announced Monday former SRU graduate assistant Jason Makrinos has been hired as The Rock's defensive backs coach.

Makrinos, who served the past two seasons as defensive backs coach, assistant recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coach at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, replaces Rob Keys on The Rock coaching staff.

Keys was recently hired as an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire.

In Makrinos' first season at Carnegie Mellon, four of his defensive backs received All-University Athletic Association accolades while another was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team. Carnegie Mellon's defense recorded 16 interceptions in 2008, ranking nationally.

Makrinos joined the CMU staff following a stint as a graduate assistant at Division I Kent State University, where he worked with the defense. While coaching for the Golden Flashes he helped mentor two cornerbacks who appeared on NFL rosters including Jack Williams, the fourth-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2008.

Prior to joining the Kent State staff, Makrinos coached was GA and worked with the linebackers and defensive backs at SRU. He started his coaching career at Westminster, his alma mater, in 2004, as a student assistant and worked with the defensive line as well as helped in the recruiting process.

While a student-athlete at Westminster, Makrinos played on the defensive line for the Titans and was named to the Presidents' Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll and Collegiate All-American Scholar Award honors.

Makrinos graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 2005 and completed a master's degree in sports management from SRU in 2007.