Port Angeles-raised Michalczik bolts Huskies to join Oakland Raiders staff

OAKLAND, Calif. — Former Port Angeles High School football standout Jim Michalczik is no longer a Washington Husky.

Michalczik joined the Oakland Raiders as the offensive line coach Monday, according to the Raiders’ Web site, raiders.com.

The former Roughrider was one of the first hires of new Washington football head coach Steve Sarkisian about two months ago.

Sarkisian hired Michalczik as his offensive coordinator. Michalczik’s main job was to coach the running backs because Sarkisian would be calling the offensive plays on game days.

Michalczik also was expected to play a key role in recruiting in Washington, wrote Molly Yanity, who broke the story Monday afternoon for Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The former high school tight end has become an offensive expert, playing on the offensive line at Washington State and a short professional stint, and he has helped coach offense in 18 seasons of college coaching experience, including the past seven years at the California Golden Bears.

In 2008 he was assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at California, helping leading the Bears to a 9-4 overall record and a win over Miami in the Emerald Bowl.

Under Michalczik’s guidance, Bears center Alex Mack won two consecutive Morris trophies, given to the top offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-10.

While at Cal, he coached seven first-team all-conference offensive line selections. In addition, the school produced seven 1,000-yard rushers, including one 2,000-yard rusher, in his seven seasons.

Most recently, Michalczik mentored Jahvid Best, who led the Pac-10 in 2008 with 1,580 rushing yards.

In previous jobs, he coached the offensive line, tight ends and special teams at Oregon State for three years, offensive line at Montana State for seven seasons, and was the defensive line coach at Miami for head coach Dennis Erickson.

Michalczik earned three letters as an offensive guard for Washington State, earning honorable mention All Pac-10 and honorable mention All-America from The Sporting News as a senior.

He signed a free-agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals after completing his college career.

Sarkisian made Michalczik the highest-paid Huskies assistant with a three-year deal for $350,000 per year, Yanity wrote. That was surpassed when Sarkisian hired Nick Holt for $700,000 per season as defensive coordinator.

Michalczik had not signed a contract but did sign a memorandum of understanding. That memo did not contain provisions for a buyout, Yanity wrote.

Michalczik was not available for comment.

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