http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Huskies-lose-top-assistant-Chris-Strausser-to-NFL-10966898.php
Huskies lose top assistant Chris Strausser to NFL
Published 4:26 pm, Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser stands on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser stands on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser watches NCAA college football practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser watches NCAA college football practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser, left, blows his whistle as players take part in practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
lessWashington offensive line coach Chris Strausser, left, blows his whistle as players take part in practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted
... moreWashington offensive line coach Chris Strausser, left, works with players as they take part in practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
lessWashington offensive line coach Chris Strausser, left, works with players as they take part in practice drills, Monday, March 30, 2015, on the first day of spring football practice in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S.
... moreWashington associate head coach and offensive line coach Chris Strausser jogs on the field during the first session of NCAA college football practice before the upcoming fall season, Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
lessWashington associate head coach and offensive line coach Chris Strausser jogs on the field during the first session of NCAA college football practice before the upcoming fall season, Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, in
... moreWashington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith, center, stands with some of his players Saturday, April 19, 2014, during Washington's spring NCAA college football preview in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith, center, stands with some of his players Saturday, April 19, 2014, during Washington's spring NCAA college football preview in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington head coach Chris Petersen lost another top assistant to the NFL when offensive line/assistant head coach Chris Strausser was hired as the assistant offensive line coach of the Denver Broncos.
The move, rumored for days, was officially acknowledged by the Huskies on Tuesday.
"Chris Strausser has been an integral part of our staff for a long time, and I'm grateful for all of his hard work and dedication he's put in over the years," Petersen said in a statement from the school. "He's an excellent coach and person, and I have no doubt that he's going to be an outstanding coach in the NFL. We wish him and his family nothing but the best."
RELATED: Huskies add former Oregon coordinator Matt Lubick to staff
Strausser followed Petersen to UW from Boise State in 2014 after serving there as an assistant since 2001, with a one-year break in 2006 when he coached at the University of Colorado under former Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins.
Strausser is credited with developing a young Huskies line into one of the team's strengths over the past two seasons, including a 2015 line that featured four freshman starters at different points throughout the year, but allowed running back Myles Gaskin to rack up a freshman-record 1,302 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
His departure comes almost a week after Petersen hired former Oregon offensive coordinator Matt Lubick to replace Bush Hamdan as the team's receivers coach after Hamdan was hired away by the Atlanta Falcons.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Washington Huskies news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
