Craig Stutzmann has heard of football's cultural hold in the south.

Now he'll get to experience it.

Stutzmann, a former Hawaii receiver and graduate assistant, left for Memphis last night and will join the Tigers' coaching staff.

“;Some of the details are still to be worked out. It's going to be a good deal, and I'm very excited about it,”; Stutzmann said yesterday.

Stutzmann, a Saint Louis graduate, joins a staff headed by first-year coach Larry Porter. His official duties will be ironed out upon his arrival in Memphis, Tenn., but he will assist offensive coordinator and receivers coach Eric Price, son of UTEP head coach Mike Price. Eric Price coached former Saint Louis quarterback Jason Gesser, Stutzmann's high school teammate, while at Washington State.

Stutzmann played for UH from 1998 to 2001 and served as a GA in 2008. He left before fall camp last season to take a job as wide receivers coach at Portland State under Jerry Glanville. The Vikings' staff was released when Glanville resigned after the season.

The whirlwind has given Stutzmann an up-close look at the often transient nature of college coaching.

Stutzmann had been in Hawaii for a little more than a week and his family plans to join him in Memphis after spring practice, which begins on March 17. He still has to pack up his belongings in Portland as well.

“;The only way I can do something like this is I have an awesome wife (Briana),”; Stutzmann said.

Stutzmann's hiring takes him out of consideration for a post at Saint Louis. The school confirmed that athletic director Ulima Afoa will be replaced. Head football coach John Hao's position also appears in jeopardy, though the former Crusaders quarterback remains in place.

“;There was mutual interest, but at this time there's no opening for a football coach at Saint Louis,”; Stutzmann said. “;There's a part of me that will always be at Saint Louis, but right now I am just wishing the best for the school and whomever ends up as the coach. And I'll be back to recruit the players (to Memphis).”;

Moving to Memphis also brings Stutzmann closer to his former UH coaches now working at SMU, including head coach June Jones. The Tigers and Mustangs are members of Conference USA, but are in opposite divisions.