2018 COACHES AND STAFF HEAD COACH CHAD LUNSFORD LUNSFORD BEGINS REIGN AS LEADER OF THE EAGLES LONG-TIME EAGLE ASSISTANT THE 10TH FULL-TIME HEAD COACH IN MODERN ERA The 2018 campaign marks the 10th season overall, and “It was hard to ignore the progress the in rushing touchdowns in 2015. In 2016, Lunsford was named sixth in his current stint at Georgia Southern for Chad Lunsford, a Broyles Award nominee, given to the nation’s top assistant who has worn many hats in his time in Statesboro. Lunsford team has made under Coach Lunsford coach, as the Eagles blocked seven kicks and featured a Lou was promoted from assistant head coach to interim head coach both on and off the field. I’ve also had the Groza Award finalist in Younghoe Koo, who went on to sign a on Oct. 22, 2017. He was named the 10th full-time head coach opportunity to watch Chad go through free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. in the modern era on Nov. 27, 2017. He enters his first full On the recruiting side, Lunsford helped engineer signing season as the head coach of the Eagles with a 2-4 record after three other transitions in my time here classes which featured 22 players and ranked in the top half of winning two of the final three games of the 2017 season. and have seen him develop professionally the Sun Belt in 2015, also ranked near the top of the Sun Belt in After working with the wide receivers in 2013, Lunsford during that span. We’re thrilled to 2014 and in 2016. He was named the Sun Belt’s Best Recruiter worked two seasons with the tight ends and served as in 2016 by Scout. recruiting coordinator in 2014 and 2015. In 2017, Lunsford announce Chad Lunsford as our full-time Georgia Southern’s wide receivers in 2013 led NCAA coached the Eagle slot receivers and H-backs and served in head coach and look forward to seeing Division I with most yards per completion, averaging 19.3 the role of special teams coordinator, a title he added in 2016, where he will take his program.” yards per catch. Fourteen catches ranked among Georgia until his promotion to interim head coach. He was named the Southern’s big plays as the Eagle receiving corps contributed to program’s assistant head coach in 2017. one of the nation’s top offenses. Over the previous four seasons, his tight ends contributed — TOM KLEINLEIN — Lunsford returned to Statesboro as wide receivers coach to the option ground game which led the FBS in rushing Georgia Southern University and recruiting coordinator in June 2013 after four years in an yards per game in both 2014 and 2015 and also led the FBS Athletics Director administrative position with the Auburn football program. He 14 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL @CHADLUNSFORD served in consecutive roles as the Tigers’ Director of Scouting and Two years back at Georgia Military College followed his time at Director of Player Personnel, assisting with the day-to-day operations Griffin with Lunsford taking a familiar place as linebackers coach and of Auburn football, with an emphasis on recruiting, organizing and adding responsibilities as special teams coordinator. prospect evaluation. Lunsford played at Elbert County High School for legendary coach Credited with making advancements in technology and T. McFerrin. During his high school career, Elbert County made four- introducing new concepts to help the Tigers win recruiting wars, straight appearances in the state playoffs and posted a 20-3 record Lunsford assisted with and organized numerous other aspects of in his junior and senior years. Auburn’s recruiting process. The Tigers boasted three of the nation’s He graduated from Georgia College in May 2000 with a degree top recruiting classes in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and that success in biology and minor in mathematics, and earned a master’s of sport translated to the field where Auburn claimed the 2010 BCS national science degree from the United States Sports Academy in 2002. championship, 2010 Southeastern Conference Championship and While at Georgia College as an undergraduate, he served as made appearances in two other bowl games. a student assistant with Georgia Military College, beginning his Lunsford coached the slotbacks in his previous three seasons career coaching the tight ends. In February 1997, he was hired (2003-05) on the Georgia Southern staff, including the Eagles’ as the running backs coach and handled several of the program’s eventual all-time receptions leader Raja Andrews, who finished administrative areas. The Bulldogs would play in three straight his career with 127 catches and as the record holder for receiving Golden Isles bowl games, capture the 1998 National Junior College yards in a single season with 873. Armed with the ability to run Athletics Association (NJCAA) rushing title with an average of more and deliver blocks as well as catch passes in the option offense, his than 300 yards per game, and bring home the 1999 Golden Isles slotbacks provided physical and statistical support to three-straight bowl championship. THE LUNSFORD FILE NCAA Division I rushing titles to go along with a Southern Conference Lunsford moved to the defensive side of the ball for the 2000 championship in 2004. season and his coaching efforts helped GMC rank second nationally RECORD: After departing Georgia Southern in 2006, Lunsford spent a year in total defense that year. 2-4 at Griffin High School as a special education teacher and served as the An opportunity to coach on the offense again prompted him to outside linebackers coach. The Bears posted an overall record of 11-2 accept an assistant coaching position at Appalachian State where he PERSONAL that season for a winning percentage of .917, highest in the program would coach the tight ends for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Hometown: Elberton, Ga. history to that point, and advanced to the second round of the state Married to the former Tiffany “Tippy” Hyde of Macon in 2002, the Born: February 24, 1977 in Anderson, S.C. playoffs. Lunsfords have three children, Sophie, Rhett and Josie. Alma Mater: Georgia College (2000); U.S. Sports Academy (2002) Education: Bachelor’s (biology); Master’s (sport science) Family: wife, Tippy; daughters, Sophie, Josie; son, Rhett EXPERIENCE 2017- Georgia Southern (head coach) 2017 Georgia Southern (5 games) (interim head coach) 2017 Georgia Southern (Asst. HC/H-backs/Slots/ST coordinator) 2016 Georgia Southern (TEs/special teams coordinator) 2014-15 Georgia Southern (TEs/recruiting coord.) 2013 Georgia Southern (wide receivers) 2013 Auburn (director of player personnel) 2009-12 Auburn (director of scouting) 2007-09 Georgia Military (LBs/special teams coord.) 2006-07 Griffin (GA) HS (linebackers) 2003-06 Georgia Southern (slotbacks) 2001-03 Appalachian State (tight ends) 2000 Georgia Military (linebackers) 1997-00 Georgia Military (running backs) 1996 Georgia Military (student assistant) COLLEGE BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE 2015 GoDaddy (GS vs. Bowling Green) 2011 Chick-fil-A (Auburn vs. Virginia) 2010 Fiesta (Auburn vs. Oregon) BCS National Champions 2009 Outback (Auburn vs. Northwestern) 2005 NCAA FCS Round of 16 (GS) 2004 NCAA FCS Round of 16 (GS) 2002 NCAA FCS First Round (ASU) 2001 NCAA FCS Quarterfinals (ASU) 1999 Golden Isles (GMC vs. Middle Georgia) 1998 Golden Isles (GMC) 1997 Golden Isles (GMC) The Lunsford Family: Head coach Chad Lunsford and his wife,Tippy, along with (l-r): Sophie, Josie and Rhett. GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 15 ASSISTANT COACHES BOB DEBESSE @COACHDEBESSE5 OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/WIDE RECEIVERS // FIRST SEASON A veteran of the coaching world with over 30 years of experience, Championship Subdivision in 2011. The Bearkats averaged 36.9 Bob DeBesse joins the GS football staff as the offensive coordinator points per game in 2011 with a 1,000-yard rusher in Tim Flanders and wide receivers coach under head coach Chad Lunsford. DeBesse (1,644 yards) and another one just shy of 1,000 yards in Richard comes to Statesboro after a record-setting six-year run as the Sincere (979 yards), as well as a 2,000-yard passer in quarterback offensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico, where his Brian Bell (2,069 yards). rushing offense posted five consecutive top-10 national rankings in In his first season, DeBesse led the Kats to the top of the rushing yards per game, including the top attack in 2016. Southland Conference in rushing offense and had three players earn Under DeBesse’s watch, the Lobos finished fifth in 2012, fourth all-league honors. in 2013, fifth in 2014, ninth in 2015 and first in 2016. The 2016 Lobos DeBesse served as wide receivers coach at Texas A&M from set a school record for points (477) and scoring average, averaging 2006-07. As wide receivers coach, DeBesse helped direct Texas A&M 36.7 points per game, and also featured two 1,000 yard rushers for squads to the 2006 Holiday Bowl and the 2007 Alamo Bowl. the first time in school history. It also featured Teriyon Gipson, who Purdue employed DeBesse as wide receivers coach from led the nation in yards per attempt, averaging 8.75 yards per carry. 2003-05, where he mentored Taylor Stubblefield. Stubblefield was In 2017, the Lobos’ again finished in the top 20 nationally in rushing a consensus All-America selection and Biletnikoff Award finalist THE DEBESSE FILE offense, avergaging over 230 yards per game on the ground. in 2004, setting a then-NCAA record with 316 receptions. In 2003, In the 2015 season, the Lobos led the nation in total plays of Boilermakers WR John Standeford set Big Ten records for receptions PERSONAL 60 or more yards (11) and 70 or more yards (7).