It wasn’t an easy fall, but Dennis Wagner figures to enter the new year feeling quite all right, the owner of a new job title.

Most recently Nebraska’s offensive line coach, Wagner will be introduced as Western Carolina’s new head coach at a Friday afternoon press conference.

Western Carolina, a Division I (Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA) school located in Cullowhee, N.C., is coming off a 1-10 season. Still, it’s a rebuilding project that excites Wagner.

“Now is a great time to take over the Catamount program with the commitment that has been made by the administration,” Wagner said in a press release. “I am looking forward to working with our current players — they do not just want to hear about the future, but what we are going to do now. So I am looking forward to getting there, rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.”

The 49-year-old spent the past four seasons in charge of NU’s offensive line. He was one of seven assistant coaches from Nebraska’s 2007 staff who ultimately were out of a job when head coach Bill Callahan was fired Nov. 24 after a 5-7 season.

Wagner comes to his new role with head coaching experience. Before he was an assistant at Fresno State and Nebraska, he was in charge of the Wayne State program from 1989-96.

In his last four seasons at Wayne State, the Wildcats finished no lower than third in Division II in total offense, leading the nation with 581.5 yards per game in 1993.

Taylor gets A&M job: Former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor will have a job at Texas A&M under new Aggies’ head coach Mike Sherman, possibly as a graduate assistant. Taylor is engaged to Sherman’s daughter; they are planning an April wedding.

“I don’t know what I’ll be doing, but I'll be doing something down there,” Taylor said.

Taylor served as Nebraska’s quarterback during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year status as a senior.

Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.