2012 Coaching Staff Ellis Johnson Head Coach

llis Johnson, long including No. 2 in pass defense (131.69), No. 3 in Ehailed as one of the total defense (267.7 yards per game) and No. 11 in country’s top defensive scoring defense (18.4). strategists, takes over Although he did not coach in the Orlando Citrus the Southern Miss foot- Bowl, his defense held Nebraska to 13 points in a ball program as its head 30-13 victory. The defense was led by All-American coach for the 2012 cam- defensive lineman Melvin Ingram, who was taken paign. in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the San Johnson becomes Diego Chargers. the Golden Eagles’ 19th Ingram was one of four Gamecock defensive head coach after spend- players in the 2012 NFL Draft including cornerback ing the previous four sea- Stephon Gilmore (1st round, Buffalo Bills), Travian sons at the University of South Carolina where he Robertson (7th round, Atlanta Falcons) and Antonio served as the Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator. He Allen (7th round, New York Jets). also held the title of assistant head coach. The 2010 USC squad was third in the SEC and Johnson helped mold a South Carolina defense 12th in the country in rushing defense, into one of the best in the country. The 2011 giving up 112.4 yards per game on Gamecock squad finished in the Top 15 in the ground and holding oppo- the nation in three defensive categories nents under 100 yards nine

30 2012 Southern Miss Football Ellis Johnson Head Coach

Coach Ellis Johnson with four of his former Southern Miss letterwinners, Bryant Medders, Maurice Oliver, Kerry Williams and Pat Jackson. times, while recording a league-high 41 sacks. His What others are saying about Johnson unit also scored six TDs (five , one fum- ble return), the most in a single-season at Carolina. Led by All-American linebacker Eric Norwood, Former Golden Eagle the 2009 Gamecocks ranked third in the SEC and quarterback 15th in the country in total defense. Carolina was “Ellis is a great coach with a winning also in the upper half in the SEC in scoring defense, resumé who knows Golden Eagle football and rushing defense and passing defense. its fan base. I’m confident Coach Johnson will In 2008, the Gamecocks ranked 13th nationally do a great job.” in total defense and second in pass defense. Carolina surrendered 292 yards per game, including only 159 yards through the air. As a result, Eric Norwood was South Carolina football named first-team All-SEC, while Emanuel Cook and coach Steve Spurrier Jasper Brinkley earned second-team honors. “We’re excited for Ellis. Anytime you lose a Johnson was one of five finalists for the 2008 coach you’re not happy for yourself, but you’re Defensive Coordinator of the Year award as selected happy for the coach. We’re happy for Ellis and by FootballScoop.com. Caroline. This is a great opportunity. Southern Johnson spent four seasons (2004-07) as the Miss is a place with wonderful tradition. Ellis is defensive coordinator at Mississippi State under not only a great coach; he was also one of our . He coached the Bulldog safeties in 2004 and best recruiters. He took the lead on the No. 1 2005 and the inside linebackers in 2006 and 2007. prospect in the country, Jadevon Clowney, last In Johnson’s final game, the MSU defense yielded year. He was the lead man and we got it done.” just 231 yards of total offense to UCF in the Liberty Bowl, holding the nation’s leading rusher, Kevin Former Mississippi State Smith, to nearly 70 yards below his season average. coach Sylvester Croom Johnson’s 30 years as a collegiate coach includes “Ellis Johnson is one of the best defensive head coaching stops at The Citadel (2001-03) and Gardner Webb (1983). He has logged stints as the minds I have encountered in my career. He is defensive coordinator at Appalachian State (1984), a leader who is passionate about the game and Southern Miss (1988-89), Clemson (1995-96), his players. Southern Miss is fortunate to have Alabama (1997-2000) and Mississippi State (2004-07). him as their head football coach.” He has coached in four SEC Championship

31 2012 Southern Miss Football Ellis Johnson Head Coach games, has been part of one national title and has coach from 1990-93, helping ’ teams had approximately 35 players make NFL rosters. go a combined 41-9, including an undefeated Now he returns to Hattiesburg for the first time national championship year in 1992. Alabama’s since the late 1980s to take over the Golden Eagle defense ranked No. 1 that season against the run program. and in total defense. The Tide ran off a 31-game “Southern Miss is special,” said Johnson during winning streak and a 34-game unbeaten streak a packed news conference to announce his hiring from 1991-93. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. “From the time I worked The 1991 squad went 11-1. All four of those here it has held a special place in my heart. It’s a teams played in bowl games. place where I am convinced you can always be He was an assistant coach at East Carolina successful.” from 1985-1987 as well as an assistant coach at Johnson served as defensive coordinator on Appalachian State in 1984. Curley Hallman’s staff for two seasons during the A 1975 graduate of The Citadel, Johnson played 1988-89, which including a 10-win season in 1988, defensive end for the Bulldogs. He began his coach- which tied for the most wins in school history until ing career as the defensive ends coach at his alma last season. mater under Bobby Ross in 1975 before working In addition, Johnson logged two stints at Alabama. as an assistant coach at Gaffney (S.C.) High School He was the defensive coordinator and outside from 1976-78 and as both linebackers coach from 1997-2000, helping the an assistant and head coach at Spartanburg (S.C.) Tide go 10-3 in 1999 with an SEC title and a spot High School from 1979-81. in the Orange Bowl. His 1999 defense was No. 2 He is married to the former Caroline Courie, a in the nation against the rush and No. 9 in total Columbia, S.C. native. They have two sons, Eli and defense. He served as the outside linebackers Charlie, and a daughter, Sandra Elliott.

Left to Right: Ellis Johnson, Sandra Elliott, Eli, Charlie, Sandi, Caroline.

32 2012 Southern Miss Football Ellis Johnson Head Coach

Ellis Johnson’s Year-by-Year Coaching Chronology

1975 The Citadel 1976 Gaffney (S.C.) HS Coach 1977 Gaffney (S.C.) HS Coach 1978 Gaffney (S.C.) HS Coach 1979 Spartanburg (S.C.) HS Coach 1980 Spartanburg (S.C.) HS Coach 1981 Spartanburg (S.C.) HS Coach 1983 Gardner-Webb Head Coach 1984 Appalachian State Assistant Coach 1985 East Carolina Assistant Coach 1986 East Carolina Assistant Coach 1987 East Carolina Assistant Coach 1988 Southern Miss Assistant Coach 1989 Southern Miss Assistant Coach 1990 Alabama Assistant Coach 1991 Alabama Assistant Coach 1992 Alabama Assistant Coach 1993 Alabama Assistant Coach 1994 Clemson Assistant Coach 1995 Clemson Assistant Coach 1996 Clemson Assistant Coach 1997 Alabama Assistant Coach 1998 Alabama Assistant Coach 1999 Alabama Assistant Coach 2000 Alabama Assistant Coach 2001 The Citadel Head Coach 2002 The Citadel Head Coach 2003 The Citadel Head Coach 2004 Mississippi State Assistant Coach 2005 Mississippi State Assistant Coach 2006 Mississippi State Assistant Coach 2007 Mississippi State Assistant Coach 2008 South Carolina Assistant Coach 2009 South Carolina Assistant Coach 2010 South Carolina Assistant Coach 2011 South Carolina Assistant Coach

Results as Head Coach Johnson during his first stint with the Golden 1983 Eagles during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Gardner-Webb (5-6) 2001 9/10 8 West Georgia 23 The Citadel 9/17 20 Newberry 13 (3-7, 2-6 Southern Conference) 9/24 6 Mars Hill 3 9/1 7 Georgia Tech 35 10/1 11 Georgia Southern 25 9/22 6 Appalachian State 8 10/8 39 Lenoir-Rhyne 7 9/29 31 South Carolina State 8 10/15 17 Appalachian State 21 10/4 21 East Tennessee State 23 10/22 20 Carson-Newman 24 10/13 7 Furman 31 10/29 17 Elon 15 10/20 6 Georgia Southern 14 11/5 2 Presbyterian 8 10/27 0 Wofford 13 11/12 7 Western Carolina 43 11/3 20 Chattanooga 17 (2 OT) 11/19 28 Wofford 7 11/10 49 VMI 7 11/17 25 Western Carolina 28

33 2012 Southern Miss Football Ellis Johnson Head Coach

Ellis Johnson All-Time Against Opponents

School Record Pct. First Meeting Last Meeting Appalachian State 1-3 .250 1983 2003 Carson-Newman 0-1 .000 1983 1983 Charleston Southern 2-0 1.000 2002 2003 Chattanooga 1-2 .333 2001 2003 Delaware 1-1 .500 2002 2003 East Tennessee State 1-2 .333 2001 2003 Elon 2-0 1.000 1983 2003 Furman 1-2 .333 2001 2003 Georgia Southern 1-3 .250 1983 2003 Georgia Tech 0-1 .000 2001 2001 Lenoir-Rhyne 1-0 1.000 1983 1983 LSU 0-1 .000 2002 2002 Mars Hill 1-0 1.000 1983 1983 Maryland 0-1 .000 2003 2003 Newberry 1-0 1.000 1983 1983 Presbyterian 0-1 .000 1983 1983 South Carolina State 1-0 1.000 2001 2001 VMI 2-1 .667 2001 2003 West Georgia 0-1 .000 1983 1983 Western Carolina 0-4 .000 1983 2003 Wofford 1-3 .250 1983 2003 Wyoming 0-1 .000 2002 2002

2002 The Citadel (3-9, 1-7 Southern Conference) 9/7 10 LSU 35 9/14 24 Delaware 20 9/21 34 Western Carolina 37 9/28 28 Appalachian State 37 10/5 30 Wyoming 34 10/12 26 East Tennessee State 7 10/19 10 Furman 37 10/26 24 Georgia Southern 28 11/2 14 Wofford 27 11/9 31 Chattanooga 34 11/16 21 VMI 23 11/21 53 Charleston Southern 19

2003 The Citadel (6-6, 4-4 Southern Conference) 8/30 64 Charleston Southern 10 9/6 7 Delaware 41 9/13 0 Maryland 61 9/20 21 Western Carolina 28 9/27 24 Appalachian State 21 10/4 31 Elon 7 10/18 10 Furman 9 10/25 28 Georgia Southern 24 11/1 16 Wofford 42 11/8 20 Chattanooga 29 11/15 27 VMI 23 11/22 13 East Tennessee State 16

34 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Steve Buckley Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Coach

teve Buckley, a Natchez, SMiss., native, comes to Southern Miss after work- ing the last five years as the head football coach at Petal High School, where he led his team to the Mississippi Class 6A State Championship game last month. During the last three seasons at Petal, Buckley’s team averaged 232.5 rushing yards per contest. During his tenure at Petal, the Panthers reached the playoffs four times and were region champions twice. The 1985 Southern Miss graduate began his coaching career as an assistant at Petal High School, before becoming a graduate assistant at his alma mater for the 1987 and 1988 campaigns, before being elevated to full-time status for the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Buckley then went on to work four seasons at LSU (1991-94), before taking over at George County High School in Lucedale, Miss. During his time there, Buckley was named the District Coach of the Year and was a South State finalist. He then returned to Southern Miss for another stint as an assistant coach from 1997-99. Buckley, 48, is married to the former Kristi Fairley and the couple has two children, son Steven Slade and daughter Katherine Annaleigh.

The Buckley File Coaching History 2006-11 Petal High, head coach 1997-99 Southern Miss, running backs 1995-96 George County High, head coach 1991-94 LSU, running backs 1989-90 Southern Miss, running backs 1987-88 Southern Miss, graduate assistant

Buckley in Bowl Games 1999 Liberty Bowl, Southern Miss coach 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, Southern Miss coach 1997 Liberty Bowl, Southern Miss coach 1990 All-American Bowl, Southern Miss coach

35 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Rickey Bustle UL was bowl eligible four times (2005, 2006, 2008, Running Backs 2009) during his tenure. Under Bustle, the Cajuns won six games in four ickey Bustle joins the of his final six seasons, a stretch not equaled at UL RGolden Eagle staff fol- since 1986-89. lowing a year as quarterbacks He is credited with 51 All-Sun Belt selections and coach for Tulane in 2011. 19 Ragin’ Cajuns were either drafted or signed free Bustle, 58, has been a agent contracts. In addition, 11 players were invited part of nine bowl teams dur- to play in postseason all-star bowl games, with a ing his collegiate coaching handful of those players earning multiple invitations. career and brings 32 years of Division I experience Prior to UL, Bustle served as offensive coordi- to Hattiesburg. Bustle went to Tulane from the nator and quarterbacks coach at Virginia Tech for University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he spent seven seasons. With the Hokies, Bustle developed nine seasons as the head coach from 2002-10. some of the finest quarterbacks the During his tenure with the Ragin’ Cajuns, he led the world has seen in recent years, including former team to its first Sun Belt Conference title in 2005 and 49er Jim Druckenmiller and the former No. 1 overall

36 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff pick in 2001, Michael Vick. In fact, Bustle coached sive coordinator and QB’s coach in 1993. the top three quarterbacks on Tech’s career list for His coaching stops include a three-year stint at touchdown passes and guided players who have Louisiana-Monroe from 1984-86, where he coached accounted for eight of the Hokies’ Top 10 all-time the running backs for two seasons before becoming single season offensive totals and seven of Tech’s Top the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as 10 all-time single season passing totals. well as with East Carolina as a wide receivers and The 1999 Hokies averaged a national-best 41.4 secondary coach (1980-82) and with the United points per game, as Tech played in the national States Football League’s Arizona Wranglers as a championship game. In Bustle’s first seven seasons running backs coach (1983). He broke into the full as offensive coordinator, the Hokies fielded seven time coaching ranks as the defensive coordinator at of the eight highest-scoring teams in school history. Gardner-Webb in 1979. The team posted a 67-17 record and won three The Summerville, S.C., native, is a 1976 gradu- Big East Conference championships. VT went to ate of Clemson, where he received a bachelor’s a bowl game every year he served as offensive degree in parks and recreation administration. He coordinator, winning the 1993 , was a four-year letterwinner as a wide receiver for 1995 Sugar Bowl, 1998 Music City Bowl and 2001 the Tigers. Gator Bowl. Bustle spent all but one season at VT Bustle’s wife, Lynn, of Charleston, S.C., received from 1987-2001, leaving the Hokies in 1994 for her PhD. in curriculum and instruction from Virginia a one-year stint as the offensive coordinator and Tech in Dec. 1997. They have a son, Brad, who was quarterbacks coach at South Carolina. While at USC, a two-time All-Sun Belt offensive lineman at UL and Bustle helped the Gamecocks post a 7-5 record and signed professionally with Hartford of the United a Carquest Bowl championship. Football League, was a member of the Virginia Tech From 1987-92, he was the quarterbacks and football staff as a graduate assistant coach for the receivers coach at Va. Tech before moving to offen- defense in 2011.

The Bustle File Coaching History 2011 Tulane, quarterbacks 2002-10 Louisiana-Lafayette, head coach 1995-2001 Virginia Tech, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1994 South Carolina, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1993 Virginia Tech, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1987-92 Virginia Tech, wide receivers/quarterbacks 1984-86 Louisiana-Monroe, running backs 1983 Arizona Wranglers (USFL), running backs 1980-82 East Carolina, wide receivers/secondary 1979 Gardner Webb, defensive coordinator

Bustle in Bowl Games 2001 Gator Bowl, Virginia Tech coach 2000 Gator Bowl, Virginia Tech coach 1999 Sugar Bowl, Virginia Tech coach 1998 Music City Bowl, Virginia Tech coach 1997 Gator Bowl, Virginia Tech Coach 1996 Orange Bowl, Virginia Tech coach 1995 Sugar Bowl, Viriginia Tech coach

37 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Garret Chachere alma mater, Tulane, where he coached the Green Tight Ends/Special Teams Wave linebackers and special teams. He was also involved in recruiting Louisiana, Texas, Florida and arret Chachere comes the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In 2002, the Green Wave Gto Hattiesburg after received an invitation to the Hawai’i Bowl and a three-year stint at the defeated host Hawai’i for the title. University of Arizona where During his stint at Tulane, Chachere helped he coached the inside develop linebacker Anthony Cannon, who was draft- receivers, including David ed by the . Cannon earned first-team Douglas, who was second All-C-USA honors in 2005 and logged four-straight on the Wildcats’ roster with 666 yards in 2011, and 100- seasons en route to ranking third all-time David Roberts, whose 413 yards were fifth-best on in C-USA in tackles. the squad. A running back for the Green Wave, Chachere Prior to his arrival in Tucson, Chachere spent played two seasons for then head coach Mack two years as an assistant at Memphis where he was Brown and Greg Davis and was a member of the special teams coordinator under current Southern 1987 Independence Bowl Team. He helped recruit Miss defensive coordinator Tommy West, duties that running back , who went on to the NFL, he additionally handled at Tulane from 1999 to 2006 as well as 2009 draftee Troy Kropog, an offensive where he was linebackers coach. lineman for the Green Wave. In 2008, Chachere helped the Tigers rank 22nd A New Orleans native, Chachere began his nationally in punt return defense at 5.68 yards per coaching career as a student assistant for Tulane play, and also posted top 45 marks in net punting in 1991 while completing his bachelor’s degree in (38th) and kickoff return defense (42nd). His place communications. kicker, Matt Reagan, was 8-for-11 on field goals and After graduation he moved to Pennsylvania for led the team in scoring the past two years. He earned three years and coached defensive backs at Cheney two C-USA Player of the Week honors. Punter Brent State (1992), Bloomsburg (1993) and Bucknell Sutherland dropped 26 punts inside opponents’ 20 (1994) before returning to Louisiana and serving as yard-line in the past two years. linebackers coach at Nicholls State from 1995-97. Memphis return man Michael Grandberry set During his tenure in Thibodaux, La., the Colonels nearly every UM kickoff return record in 2007, advanced to the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA national including single-game yardage (168 vs. USM), playoffs, and at the time, were part of the biggest single-season returns (59), single-season yardage season turnarounds in NCAA Division I history. (1,286) and career 100-yard games (8). He also Chachere left the Colonels and moved north holds the Tigers’ all-time records for returns with 112 to Monroe, La., in 1998 to coach tight ends at and for yardage with 2,401 yards. Northeast Louisiana (now UL-Monroe) before head- Chachere spent eight years (1999-2006) at his ing back to New Orleans.

The Chachere File Coaching History 2009-11 Arizona, inside receivers 2007-08 Memphis, special teams 1999-2006 Tulane, linebackers/special teams 1998 Louisiana-Monroe, tight ends 1995-97 Nicholls State, linebackers coach 1994 Bucknell, defensive backs 1993 Bloomsburg, defensive backs 1992 Cheney State, defensive backs

Chachere in Bowl Games 2010 Alamo Bowl, Arizona coach 2009 Holiday Bowl, Arizona coach 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl, Memphis coach 2007 New Orleans Bowl, Memphis coach 2002 Hawai’i Bowl, Tulane coach

38 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Lorenzo who earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors Costantini eight times during their careers. Defensive Line Topping the list was Brian Young, the 1999 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All- orenzo Costantini WAC choice. He was a fourth-round NFL selection Lbegins his first season as of the St. Louis Rams. the defensive line coach at Costantini attended high school in Houston Southern Miss after spend- before moving on to college at UTEP. He was a mem- ing the previous five years ber of the Miners’ team that won a school-record 10 at Conference USA member games and earned a trip to the Independence Bowl UAB. Constantini has experience coaching at three in 1988. other C-USA members. Costantini and his wife, Merritt, have a 8-year old Prior to his stint at UAB, he coached the defen- son, Rocco, and a 7-year old daughter, Sofia. sive line of the Tulane Green wave for three years. While at UAB, Costantini helped develop defensive tackle Elliott Henigan into an all-conference per- former. Costantini also has spent time at two other C-USA schools before they became league members. He served on the staff at UCF from 2000-03 and at his alma mater, UTEP, from 1995-99. While at UCF, his 2002 defensive line ranked third in the Mid-American Conference with 31 sacks. The 2000 and 2001 editions of the Golden Knight defense ranked in the top 30 in the nation. At UCF, he coached a pair of play- ers who went on to the NFL in Elton Patterson, an All-MAC selection who was a seventh-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003, and Josh McKibben, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Costantini was a four-year letterwin- ner as a defensive tackle for the Miners from 1986-90 and graduated from the El Paso university in 1990. He began his collegiate coaching career at UTEP in 1995 as the team’s strength and conditioning coach and was promoted to defensive line coach a year later. At UTEP, Costantini coached four players

The Costantini File Coaching History 2007-11 UAB, defensive line 2004-06 Tulane, defensive line 2000-03 UCF, defensive line 1995-99 UTEP, defensive line

Costantini in Bowl Games 1988 Independence Bowl, UTEP player

39 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Maurice Drayton 17th in both punt and kickoff returns, while Oliver Cornerbacks Brown was 12th individually in kick returns. In his first season at South Carolina State, Aaron Haire aurice Drayton begins ranked 14th in punting and two of his players ranked Mhis first year with the among the top 10 in the league in interceptions. Golden Eagles and will Prior to his stint at South Carolina State, he was take on the responsibility of the assistant principal and assistant coach Goose coaching the Southern Miss Creek High School (2007) after spending the 2006 second. season as the defensive coordinator for the Seinajoki Drayton previously Crocodiles of the European Football League in spent two seasons at Coastal Carolina University Seinajoki, Finland. He also served a stint with the where he served as the assistant head coach, special Charleston Swamp Foxes of the Arena 2 Football teams coordinator and wide receivers coach. League in 2000-02 and has done internships with In his first season at Coastal Carolina, he molded the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers of the the special teams into, at season’s end, a feared weap- . on with Niccolo Mastromatteo earning second team A native of Moncks Corner, Drayton spent a total All-Big South. Mastromatteo set a Big South record of 12 seasons at The Citadel as a player, assistant with 32 punt returns while averaging an impressive coach and recruiting coordinator. He earned both 24.1 yards per punt return. a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (1998) Drayton was just as successful with his receiv- and Master of Education (2007) at The Citadel. ing corps. Brandon Whitley was named second team All-Big South, catching six touchdown passes to rank second-best in the Big South, while Marquel Willis averaged 15.4 yards on his 29 recep- tions and Matt Hazel hauled in five TDs, including three in an upset win over Liberty. Prior to Coastal Carolina, Drayton spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons at South Carolina State, where he helped the Bulldogs to two straight NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision appearances and Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference titles as the defensive backs and special teams coach. In 2009, South Carolina State ranked seventh nationally in pass defense, improving from 21st the previous year, while ranking fifth in overall defense. In the special team, the Bulldogs ranked

The Drayton File Coaching History 2010-11 Coastal Carolina, special teams/receivers 2008-09 South Carolina State, special teams/defensive backs 2007 Goose Creek High, assistant coach 2006 Seinajoki Crocodiles (Europe), defensive coordinator 2000-02 Charleston Swamp Foxes (Arena 2), assistant coach 2003-05 Citadel, secondary/special teams 2002 Citadel, outside linebackers 2001 Citadel, wide receivers 2000 Citadel, tight ends/offensive tackles 1999 Citadel, graduate assistant/secondary

40 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Broderick Fobbs in yards per carry of 7.1 one season. He earned his Wide Receivers bachelor’s degree from the university in 1997. Fobbs played on SWAC championship teams roderick Fobbs, who at Grambling and coached them in the Southland Bmost recently spent five Conference at Northwestern State, where he men- seasons at McNeese State tored and recruited two of the most productive as the Cowboys’ co-offen- receivers in Northwestern State history, Derrick sive coordinator and wide Doyle and Toby Zeigler, who rank No. 1 and No. 2 receivers coach, comes to at the school in receptions, respectively. He spent Southern Miss to lead the the 2002-2006 seasons in Natchitoches. wide receivers. While at McNeese, he mentored During his stay at NSU, Fobbs served an NFL players Quinten Lawrence, who was drafted and Minority Internship with the Buffalo Bills in 2005 played for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Steven and also has coached the Arena League II Lafayette, Whitehead, to all-star status during his stay in Lake La., franchise. He also worked as an offensive Charles. graduate assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette during the The former Grambling State standout, under 2000-01 seasons. legendary coach Eddie Robinson, served as a two- He is married to the former Kimbia Jones, and time team captain and honor roll student for the the couple has two children, Kyndal Elise and Rylee Tigers. He led the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hollis.

The Fobbs File Coaching History 2007-2011 McNeese State, co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers 2002-06 Northwestern State, wide receivers 2000-01 Louisiana-Lafayette, offensive graduate assistant

41 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Jeep Hunter The safety position is not unfamiliar territory Safeties for Hunter, as much of his early career was spent on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. In eep Hunter comes to a prior stop at Eastern Kentucky the versatile coach JSouthern Miss after mentored a highly-ranked Division I-AA secondary. working under coach Ellis Hunter oversaw Patrick DiMarco’s transition from Johnson for three seasons at fullback to tight end in 2010, where the team captain South Carolina as the safe- was a key blocker for a much-improved Gamecock ties coach. rushing attack. DiMarco also had a career-high three In his three years in touchdowns among his 15 catches for 147 yards. Columbia, Hunter coached on both sides of the ball In 2009, his first season in Columbia, Hunter’s including the 2011 campaign as the safeties coach. top tight end, junior Weslye Saunders, was among He spent his first two seasons in Columbia coaching the Gamecock leaders with 32 receptions for 353 the tight ends and serving as an assistant special and and three touchdowns. teams coordinator. Prior to his arrival in the Palmetto State, Hunter

42 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff spent two seasons (2006-07) as the tight ends Hunter first worked with Tommy West at Clemson, coach at Georgia Tech, where he mentored Michael where he served as a graduate assistant for two sea- Matthews, who was a member of the 2007 Super sons (1996-97) and then spent one year as Assistant Bowl champion . Athletics Director for Football Management. Hunter went to Georgia Tech after working the Hunter played his collegiate football at Catawba previous three seasons on Tommy West’s staff at College, an NAIA Division II school in Salisbury, Memphis. While at Memphis, he helped coach N.C., for three years before suffering a career- All-America running back DeAngelo Williams, the ending knee injury. He remained at Catawba as nation’s leading rusher in 2005 at 178.6 yards per a student assistant coach from 1987-1990 before game. Williams rushed for more than 6,000 yards moving on to Bandys High School in Catawba, and 55 touchdowns in his career and finished as the N.C., as the assistant head coach, defensive coor- NCAA’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards. Hunter dinator and special teams coordinator for three helped the Tigers reach a bowl game each of his seasons (1991-93). three seasons in Memphis. From 1994-96, Hunter was an assistant football A native of Denver, N.C., Hunter went to coach at North Carolina A&T State University, where Memphis in 2003 after two seasons at Eastern he worked with wide receivers, outside linebackers Kentucky, where he coached the secondary. In 2001, and defensive backs. the Colonels ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Division Hunter received his bachelor’s degree in business I-AA in all defensive categories. At Eastern Kentucky, administration/physical education from Catawba he coached safety Yeremiah Bell, who has gone on College in 1991. to a Pro Bowl career with the Miami Dolphins. He is married to the former Susan Potokar of Hunter served an NFL Minority Internship with Cleveland, Ohio. The couple has three children, a the St. Louis Rams in the summer of 2001. Prior to daughter, Sophia Marie, and two sons, Joshua and that, he spent one season (2000) coaching defensive Jude. backs at UT-Chattanooga.

The Hunter File Coaching History 2011 South Carolina, safeties 2009-10 South Carolina, tight ends/special teams 2006-07 Georgia Tech, tight ends 2003-05 Memphis, running backs 2001-03 Eastern Kentucky, secondary 2000 UT-Chattanooga, defensive backs 1994-96 North Carolina A&T, wide receivers/linebackers/defensive backs 1991-93 Bandys High, defensive/special teams coordinator

Hunter in Bowl Games 2011 Capital One Bowl, South Carolina coach 2010 Peach Bowl, South Carolina coach 2009 Papajohns.com Bowl, South Carolina coach 2007 Humanitarian Bowl, Georgia Tech coach 2006 Gator Bowl, Georgia Tech coach 2005 Motor City Bowl, Memphis coach 2004 GMAC Bowl, Memphis coach 2003 New Orleans Bowl, Memphis coach

43 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Tucker Peavey Peavey began his full-time coaching career at Offensive Line Petal High School under both Rush McKay and Pat Davis before going to LSU in 1988-90 as a graduate ucker Peavey, a assistant coach under Mike Archer where he worked T Brookhaven, Miss., exclusively with the offensive line. native, returns to Southern He later became offensive coordinator at Miss to lead the offensive line Itawamba Community College for one year. Following after enjoying a successful run a brief stint as offensive coordinator at Episcopal as a high school coach at High School in Baton Rouge, La., he joined the staff his alma mater, Brookhaven at Louisiana-Monroe. High. In nine seasons under Peavey, Brookhaven tallied Peavey spent three seasons (1999-2001) at a 74-32 record mark, making him the winningest coach Louisiana-Monroe before taking the head job at in that school’s history. He captured one Class 4A state Pearl River Community College in January of 2002. title in 2004 and was the Class 5A runner-up in 2010. His stint there was brief, as he got the opportunity to He retired from his coaching post after the 2010 return to his high school alma mater as both coach campaign and kept his role as athletics director the and athletic director. last year. He is married to the former Leah Ann Peavey got his coaching start at Southern Holtslander of Natchez. They have four chil- Miss, where he was a student coach during the dren and one grandson. The children are Lauren 1983 and 1984 seasons and graduated from the Landry, Ashley Holtslander, Nick Peavey and Emily University in 1986. Freeman.

The Peavey File Coaching History 2002-10 Brookhaven High, head coach 1999-2001 Louisiana-Monroe, offensive line 1998 Episcopal High, offensive coordinator 1997 Itawamba Community College, offensive coordinator

44 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff

Tommy West had been extended a bowl invitation was during the Defensive Coordinator/ 1971 season when Memphis defeated San Jose State Linebackers in the Pasadena Bowl. The bowl victory in 2003 propelled Memphis ommy West, who into the spotlight and was the first year of three-sea- Thas 31 years of colle- son stretch when the Tigers registered 24 victories. giate coaching experience, Also in 2003, West became just the fourth coach including stints as a head in school history to claim nine wins in a single coach at three different season. He was named the Coach of the Year by the schools, joins the Golden Tennessee Sports Writers Association. Eagles after spending the 2011 campaign at UAB as West and his Tigers opened the 2004 campaign the school’s defensive coordinator and linebackers with a 5-1 record, marking the best start for a coach. Prior to his assignment at UAB, he served as Memphis squad since 1967. During that time, West the head coach at the University of Memphis (2001- led the Tigers into the national spotlight as Memphis 09), where he guided the Tigers to five bowl appear- defeated Ole Miss for the second-straight season ances and a 49-61 record in nine seasons. and was listed No. 25 in the Associated Press Top While leading the Memphis program, West 25 poll. It was the first time ever that the Tigers were guided the Tigers to some of their best seasons in ranked by the national entity. program history. He helped snap a 32-year U of M Prior to becoming the Tigers’ head coach, West bowl drought in 2003 when he led his squad to a spent the 2000 season as Memphis’ defensive coor- 9-4 record, including a victory over North Texas in dinator. The Tigers finished the season ranked No. 1 the New Orleans Bowl. The last time that the Tigers in the nation in rushing defense (72.7 yards allowed

45 2012 Southern Miss Football Coaching Staff per game) and were fifth in total defense (275.3 Top 20 rankings between 1982-89. During that time, yards yielded per contest). Clemson played in five bowl games, winning four, West also spent five seasons (1993-98) as the and claimed four ACC Championships. head coach at Clemson. He coached the Tigers to West left Clemson for his alma mater Tennessee a win in the Peach Bowl a month after being hired in 1990 and spent one season as the Volunteers’ and was a part of four bowl teams during his time running backs coach. West then traveled to the at Clemson. University of South Carolina, where he was the West’s first head coaching job came at defensive coordinator in 1991 and 1992. He left UT-Chattanooga. He guided the Mocs’ program the Gamecocks’ staff to become the head coach at for one season before accepting the head coaching UT-Chattanooga. position at Clemson. A former multi-sport standout at Gainesville (Ga.) West began his coaching career in 1979 when he High School, West earned his bachelor’s degree from served as an assistant on the staff at Ole Miss. Tennessee in 1976. He was a three-year letterman on From 1982-89, West served as an assistant coach the Volunteer football team and twice lettered on the at Clemson and was responsible for the outside line- baseball squad. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay backers. He was part of a coaching staff that led the Buccaneers in 1976. Tigers to a 69-20-4 record and six Associated Press West, 57, has one son, Turner.

The West File Coaching History 2011 UAB, defensive coordinator 2001-09 Memphis, head coach 2000 Memphis, defensive coordinator 1993-98 Clemson, head coach 1992 UT-Chattanooga, head coach 1991-92 South Carolina, defensive coordinator 1990 Tennessee, running backs 1982-89 Clemson, outside linebackers

West in Bowl Games 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl, Memphis coach 2007 New Orleans Bowl, Memphis coach 2005 Motor City Bowl, Memphis coach 2004 GMAC Bowl, Memphis coach 2003 New Orleans Bowl, Memphis coach 1997 Peach Bowl, Clemson coach 1996 Peach Bowl, Clemson coach 1995 Gator Bowl, Clemson coach 1993 Peach Bowl, Clemson coach 1990 Sugar Bowl ,Tennessee coach 1989 Gator Bowl, Clemson coach 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl, Clemson coach 1987 Florida Citrus Bowl, Clemson coach 1986 Gator Bowl, Clemson coach 1985 Independence Bowl, Clemson coach 1974 Liberty Bowl, Tennessee player 1973 Gator Bowl, Tennessee player 1972 Bluebonnet Bowl, Tennessee player

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Patrick McGee director and recruiting coordinator for some of college Football Operations - Internal football’s most legendary coaches in his more than 47 year coaching career. atrick McGee begins At his last stop, Wrenn spent 12 seasons at South Phis fourth season with Carolina, from 1993 to 2004 where he served as the Golden Eagle football and recruiting coordinator under coaches Sparky Woods, takes over as the internal Brad Scott and Lou Holtz. While with the Gamecocks, operations director for Wrenn recruited numerous high round NFL draft picks the football program this including Atlanta Falcons stars John Abraham and season. Dunta Robinson and Houston Texan 2012 All-Pro McGee oversees all of Jonathan Joseph. the administrative aspects Wrenn also had two stops at Clemson, from 1986 of the recruiting process, to 1991 and his initial break into the world of college including creating and maintaining databases, football from 1972 to 1978. In his time with the Tigers, coordinating the flow of recruiting correspondence, Wrenn was an assistant coach as well as Director of maintaining recruiting files for NCAA documentation Football Operations and Recruiting. While working for official and unofficial visits, produce recruiting for Clemson, Wrenn worked with coaches Hootie materials used by the coaching staff, keeping a Ingram, Red Parker, Charley Pell, and video library of potential recruits and directing the Ken Hatfield. football camps and clinics. His success as a top flight recruiter was no different He came to Southern Miss after spending the at Clemson as a pair of his players have been inducted previous two years in the private sector. During that into the College Football Hall of Fame, Jeff Davis time, though, he did not leave the game of football as and , while former Clemson quarterback he helped organize and run a home school football Steve Fuller has had his number four retired by the league in Georgia that eventually encompassed the institution. states of Louisiana and Alabama as well. Wrenn entered the coaching profession in 1965 McGee worked at New Mexico State for a season at Southside High School in Florence, S.C. While as the director of football operations/recruiting at Southside, he served as an assistant football coordinator. coach as well as the head baseball and women’s His first full-time coaching job came at basketball coach. During his time there, he led the Jacksonville State, where he served as the special school’s baseball team to three consecutive state teams coach for three years and recruiting championships, from 1967 to 1969. coordinator for a pair of seasons which included a first-ever appearance in the I-AA playoffs for the Gamecocks and first conference title since 1992. Cameron Achord His coaching career began at Auburn after his Offensive Graduate Assistant playing career ended there due to injury. He worked as a student assistant for two years beginning in ameron Achord begins 1995 and then worked a year as an administration Chis first season as the assistant in 1998. graduate assistant for the McGee, and wife Nancy, have a son, Max, and Golden Eagles working on a daughter, Sidney. the offensive side of the ball. Achord has been a member of the coaching staff Clyde Wrenn for the previous two seasons Director of Football Operations as a volunteer quality control assistant where he assisted lyde Wrenn enters with the special teams and the linebacking corps. Chis first season as Prior to Southern Miss, Achord was a four-year the Director of Football letterwinner as a free safety at Belhaven University for Operations for the Golden Coach Joseph Thrasher and Don Lee. In 2009, Achord Eagles after a seven-year was a first-team All-Mid South Conference performer hiatus to work with coach at defensive back and was a team captain in 2008 and Ellis Johnson. 2009. He also earned the Blazer Award, given to the Wrenn is no stranger to most exceptional football student-athlete in 2009. the college football world and For his career at Belhaven, he finished fifth all-time has served as the operations in career tackles with over 250. He was also a two-

47 2012 Southern Miss Football Support Staff time All-Academic student in the NAIA. James Cochran Achord earned a pair of bachelor’s degrees while at Team Chaplain Belhaven, one in Computer Information Sciences and another in Sports Administration in December 2009. ames Cochran is in He is currently working toward his master’s degree Jhis fifth season as the in Sports Coaching after already earning a master’s in Team Chaplain, and his Sports Management from the University in Fall 2011. fourth year working with Achord is the son of Aaron and Bridget Achord of Southern Miss athletes. He Walker, La. also serves, along with wife Jasmine, as the Southern Miss Campus Director for Archie Gibbs the Fellowship of Christian Offensive Graduate Assistant Athletes. Cochran’s role is one that he does not take lightly rchie Gibbs begins as he attends almost every football practice. He also Ahis first season as a is a fixture at most other sporting team’s events as graduate assistant where he well for the Golden Eagles. will work on the offensive Cochran came to Southern Miss after spending a side of the ball. year as the Chaplain Trainee at Auburn. While there, Gibbs has served as a he worked with football, swimming and diving and volunteer quality control track and field. assistant for the team for He began his ministry service in August 2005, the past two years, working serving as an intern youth pastor at Creekside primarily with the offensive Community Church in Springfield, Mo. line. Over the past two seasons, that unit has helped Cochran graduated from Mississippi State, where carry the Golden Eagle offense to Top 20 national he was a two-time letterman on the football team. rankings, increasing from No. 20 and No. 31 the two He also lettered in track and field. season prior to Gibb’s arrival on the staff.. He and his wife have a daughter, Judah Elizabeth. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Gibbs was a walk-on offensive lineman with the Golden Eagles for two seasons, from 2006 to 2008, after he concluded Steve Maples, Ph. D. his high school career at Sumter County High in York, Head Strength and Ala. Following his stint as a Golden Eagle lineman, Conditioning Coach Gibbs went to Sacred Heart in Hattiesburg for one season to volunteer as an assistant basketball coach. teve Maples, Ph. D., Gibbs graduated with two bachelor’s degrees, Sbegins his first season one in Sports Coaching and another in Sports as the Head Strength and Administration, from the University in Spring 2011. Conditioning coach for the He is currently working towards his master’s degree in Golden Eagles under new Sports Coaching in the school of Human Performance head coach Ellis Johnson. and Recreation. Prior to his appointment Gibbs is the son of Archie and Clara Gibbs, of to the position, Maples spent Cuba, Ala. 20 years in the private sector working in the farming and real estate industries in Mississippi, based primarily out of his hometown George County location. Before leaving the business to pursue other professional opportunities, Maples served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for former Auburn head coach during the 1992 season. Maples’ ties to Southern Miss date back to former head coaches Curley Hallman and “Big Nasty,” . He began his tenure with the Golden Eagles during the 1987 season, Carmody’s final year in the Hub City, and remained on the staff when Hallman took over the program that following season. Maples stayed with the staff through Hallman’s tenure as

48 2012 Southern Miss Football Support Staff coach, which ended in 1990, before taking a year off Patrick Stewart prior to heading to the Plains. Assistant Athletic Director/ Maples also completed his Ph. D., work in Exercise Equipment Operations Physiology at Southern Miss in 1986. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physical atrick Stewart is in Education from Mississippi College. Phis seventh year as Maples has two sons, Tiger, 26, and Sam, 23. the Director of Equipment Operations, 16th year overseeing the equipment Brendan Gregory room and 17th year overall Assistant Strength and as a member of the Southern Conditioning Coach Miss equipment staff. A native of Miamisburg, rendan Gregory comes Ohio, Stewart came to Bto Southern Miss after Southern Miss after serving as a student manager two seasons as the defensive at the University of Cincinnati for five years. line coach and strength and He administers the total equipment operation conditioning coordinator and day-to-day business for the athletic for football at Mississippi department with primary emphasis on football. Valley State University. He also oversees inventory and purchasing for Prior to his stint at MVSU, the entire department. Gregory, a former defensive Other sports that Stewart is responsible for lineman on two Ohio Valley include men’s and women’s golf and tennis. Conference championship teams at Eastern Kentucky, He received his bachelor’s degree in business spent two seasons as defensive line coach and strength administration in 1996 from the University of and conditioning coordinator for Austin Peay’s football Cincinnati and was awarded his master’s in program. sport administration at Southern Miss in 1997. Gregory arrived at Austin Peay in the Spring In addition to his experience on the collegiate 2006 from Taylor County High School in Perry, Fla., level, Stewart has served as an intern with the where he served one year as defensive line coach, Cleveland Browns and with the Baltimore Ravens head strength and conditioning coach and physical of the NFL. education instructor. He is a member of the Athletic Equipment The Barbourville, Ky., native received both his Managers Association and received his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky. certification in June 1996. He is a former He played four seasons, from 1989-93, as a Colonels President of District 4 of the Athletic Equipment defensive lineman. In addition to being part of two Managers Association (A.E.M.A.), after serving six OVC title teams, he also was a member of two EKU years as Vice President and also held a five-year football teams that played in the then I-AA playoffs. term as chairman of Conference USA Equipment He moved to the high school level at Christian Managers. The Athletic Equipment Managers County High School in August 2002 as its strength Association held its annual convention in New and conditioning coach while also coaching running Orleans during the summer of 2002, and Stewart backs. From there, Gregory spent more than a year was one of its featured speakers. The Southern working with Velocity Sports Performance before Miss Equipment Department was honored as the returning to high school at Taylor County. best equipment operation in Conference USA for Gregory also holds certification as a certified 1999-00 and 2001-02, as voted on by the other Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). equipment managers in the conference. Gregory also has one son, Bradyn Deshawn, 7. In 2003 and 2006, Stewart was honored with the Jeff Boss District 4 Equipment Manager of the Year Award, signifying the top equipment manager in the district as selected by his peers. He was also nominated for the Glenn Sharpe Award in 2006, given annually to the top equipment manager in the nation. Stewart is married to the former Ty’Shuna Dyess of Bassfield, Miss. Ty is in her 18th year working with the Athletic Media Relations Department at Southern Miss.

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Zack Gatwood Miami of Ohio as the Director of Video Operations Assistant and more recently Assistant Director of Broadcasting. Equipment Manager He began his career as a student assistant in Miami’s video department in 2004 where he ack Gatwood enters remained until his graduation in 2007. Zhis first season as the assistant equipment Todd McCall, ATC-L manager for the Golden Assistant Director of Athletics/ Eagles. Sports Medicine In this capacity, Gatwood also manages odd McCall is in the equipment needs of This sixth year as women’s soccer, softball the Assistant Director and men’s and women’s of Athletics for Sports tennis and golf. In addition to assisting with football, Medicine and ninth year he also lends his talents to the baseball team. overseeing the Golden With football, Gatwood helps director Patrick Eagle Athletic Training Stewart outfit the Golden Eagles in the most up-to-date Department. He came to shoulder pads, helmets, jerseys, gloves, cleats and Southern Miss in 2003 after more for both games and practices. He also keeps serving as the Director of department inventory and sets up game day operations Sports Medicine and an adjunct faculty member on the sidelines with his staff of student workers. in the athletic training education program at the Gatwood, a native of Petal, Miss., served as University of Wyoming for two years. the graduate assistant in the department for two Prior to working at Wyoming, McCall served as years while completing his master’s degree work the Head Athletic Trainer for Football and Assistant in sport management. During his time in graduate Athletic Trainer at Marshall University for two years. school, Gatwood also garnered the 2011-12 award He took the job at Marshall after working as an for the Most Outstanding Student in the Human assistant athletic trainer at Georgia Southern, where Performance and Recreation department. he handled the medical coverage for the men’s Prior to his appointment as the graduate assistant, basketball and baseball teams from 1998-1999. Gatwood was an undergraduate student worker for A native of Elba, Ala., McCall, 37, earned his four years while working on his bachelor’s degree at bachelor’s degree in athletic training and sports the University, also in sports management. medicine from the in 1996. In 2008, as an undergrad, Gatwood spent two While at Alabama, McCall worked with the football, months working on an internship with the NFL’s basketball and gymnastics programs, as well as Jacksonville Jaguars in the team’s equipment room. other Olympic sports. In 1998, McCall completed Gatwood is the son of Johnny and Carolyn his master’s degree in sport administration at Gatwood, both avid tailgaters and fans of the Southern Miss, while working with the Golden Golden Eagles. Eagle football team. In 2003, McCall was awarded the Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award from the University Dustin Kadri of Alabama for his outstanding professional Assistant Director of Sports Video/ accomplishments in the field of athletic training. A Football Operations certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, McCall also gained experience while ustin Kadri enters his working with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL Dsecond season as the (training camp, 1996), the Shreveport Pirates of the Assistant Director of Sports CFL (training camp, 1995) and the Blue/Gray All-Star Video with specific focus on football game in Montgomery, Ala. football video operations. Kadri came to Southern Miss after completing a pair of internships with the National Football League’s and Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2008, Kadri returned to his alma mater of

50 2012 Southern Miss Football