Davis hires first assistant for Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - New North Carolina football coach Butch Davis hired his first assistant Friday, naming longtime aide Steve Hagen his offensive assistant coach.<br> <br> Hagen spent four seasons with Davis and the Cleveland Browns as tight ends coach from 2001 to 2003, and quarterbacks coach in 2004. He comes to the Tar Heels after one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Fresno State.<br> <br> ``Steve is respected throughout the country by his peers and his former players,&#39;&#39; Davis said in a statement. ``He&#39;s an outstanding offensive coach who I had the pleasure of working with in Cleveland. His work ethic, knowledge of the game and ability to develop players are a few of his exceptional qualities.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The native of Thousand Oaks, Calif., has been an assistant at California, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada and Kent State, and was a graduate assistant receivers coach under Lou Holtz at Notre Dame in 1990.<br> <br> He was the head coach at Wartburg in 1996, guiding the team to a 7-3 record and a No. 8 ranking in Division III in total offense.<br> <br> Hagen&#39;s hiring is the first announced by Davis since he released three of former coach John Bunting&#39;s assistants.<br> <br> Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, assistant head coach and tight ends coach John Gutekunst and offensive line coach Mark Weber were told last week that they would not be retained.