Rush hires D-line coach

The Chicago Rush has hired Ernesto Purnsley as its new defensive line coach, the team announced today.

Purnsley, a veteran assistant coach with 10 years of experience in the Arena Football League, comes to Chicago after spending the last five seasons as the defensive coordinator with the Colorado Crush.

"He has a wealth of Arena Football experience, including a championship under his belt (2005), and understands what it takes to be successful," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "He also is a seasoned veteran when it comes to finding and developing personnel."

Before his time in Colorado, Purnsley had two stints as an assistant coach with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds, serving as the special teams coach and fullback linebackers coach from 1997 to 1998, and again from 2000 to 2003.

In 1998, Purnsley and Hohensee worked together on the same coaching staff, when Hohensee spent the season as the Firebirds offensive coordinator.

Purnsley began his coaching career in 1991 as the wide receivers coach at Concord College in Athens, W.Va. He also has held assistant coaching positions at Southern Illinois (1994-96), Charleston Southern University (1997) and Murray State University (1998-99).