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After four years as South Alabama’s director of football operations, Brendt Bedsole was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching position in May. He will be in charge of Jaguar outside linebackers when preseason camp opens. Bedsole came to the program after working the previous two years at Hoover (Ala.) High School as a teacher and assistant football coach. In 2007, when Bedsole served on the Buccaneer football staff, HHS reached the quarterfinals of the state 6A playoffs. Prior to his tenure at the high school level, Bedsole spent nine years as an assistant coach at four universities. He was an assistant at Samford during the 2005 and ’06 seasons - the Bulldogs finished .500 in Ohio Valley Conference action his first year on the staff - while working at fellow OVC member Murray State the previous four falls. While at MSU, Bedsole handled a variety of responsibilities, including coaching tight ends, outside linebackers, free safeties, defensive ends, and he was the program’s special teams coordinator. The Racers won 22 games during his tenure, which included advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 2002 after they tied for the league title with a 5-1 mark - MSU tied for second with a 6-2 OVC record in 2004 as well. Dating back to his undergraduate days, Bedsole also served on Auburn’s staff on three different occasions. He was a student assistant during the 1987 and ’88 campaigns, later working as a graduate assistant in 1997 and again from 1999-00. In those five seasons, the Tigers played in the Sugar Bowl twice, the Florida Citrus Bowl and the Peach Bowl while compiling a 43-16-2 (72.1%) overall record and a 25-11-1 (68.9%) mark in the Southeastern Conference. AU won the league championship twice and added a pair of SEC West Division titles in his time with the program. Bedsole also worked as an assistant at Trinity (Ala.) High School - serving as head junior varsity coach as well - in 1998. He received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn in 1989 and his master’s degree from the school in 2000. Bedsole was a walk-on for the Tigers during the 1985 and ’86 seasons, as they were 18-6 during that stretch while playing in both the Cotton and Citrus Bowls. Bedsole - who was a corporate businessman from 1990-97 - and his wife Beth have a seven-year-old daughter, Sarah Catherine and one son, Wilson, who turned one this year.
Fifth-year assistant coach Bill Clark has had no problem translating his success during a nine-year stint as head coach of one of the most successful high schools in Alabama to the collegiate level. Clark - who will work with linebackers in the fall - coordinated a unit last season that was among the leaders in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in several categories as the Jaguars began the two-year transition to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level. USA ranked 10th out of 121 schools in pass defense, allowing 167 yards per contest, and 16th in total defense (309.7 ypg) while holding four of 10 opponents to a single-digit scoring total. Highlights included back-to-back games against Henderson (Ark.) State and Mississippi Valley State in which the Jaguars did not allow a touchdown, as well as holding NCAA FBS foe Kent State to just 281 yards of total offense while forcing more than two turnovers per game. Twenty members of the defense achieved a double-figure tackle total in 2011, with half of that group contributing at least one sack. And, 16 individuals had a hand - either forcing or recovering - 15 takeaways via fumble while seven had a hand in collecting eight interceptions. In his first season as a starter, Jake Johnson paced the unit with a school-record 83 tackles, while Clark was able to get newcomers Charles Harris and B.J. Scott to contribute immediately with 81 and 48 stops, respectively, in the secondary. In their initial year on the field under Clark’s direction, the Jags surrendered just 41 total points and 234 yards per game to finish the year 7-0. That included allowing no points in the opening quarter of any contest and 12 in the first half as USA never trailed during its inaugural season. Clark’s unit would give up 225 total yards or fewer in five straight games in the middle of the year, while in the season finale against Huntingdon (Ala.) College the Jags allowed a total of 236 yards to a unit that entered the contest leading the NCAA Division III level in the category in recording the program’s second shutout of the season. It was a balanced group that contributed to the unit’s success, as nine individuals recorded at least 20 total stops and 17 ended the season with 10 or more tackles. USA sacked the opposing quarterback on 25 occasions in seven games and forced 23 turnovers after intercepting 14 passes and recovering nine fumbles. The Jag defense was nearly as stingy in the program’s second season of competition, ending the 2010 campaign allowing only 255 yards and 13 points per contest in helping USA to another undefeated mark (10-0). The Jaguars gave up just 81.2 yards per game rushing, a total of 28 points in the third quarter of 10 contests and just 20 second-quarter points all season. The group averaged nearly 2½ sacks per game, recorded 25 total takeaways (15 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries) and allowed the opposition to convert on just 26 percent of its third-down opportunities. In addition to shutting out three of 10 opponents, the Jags also held two others to a single-digit scoring total. USA allowed five schools less than 250 yards of total offense, highlighted by a school-record 88 given up to Pikeville (Ky.) in the season opener. Eight individuals in the group posted at least 20 tackles, with six of those credited with 30 or more stops including a pair of individuals - Enrique Williams and Justin Dunn - who finished with better than 40. A total of 27 players made at least one stop behind the line of scrimmage, with 16 collecting at least one of the Jags’ 24 sacks. Clark came to South Alabama after nine years as head coach of the two-time Alabama Class 6A champion Prattville Lions. His last two teams won 30 straight games, while the 2007 squad was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the USA Today’s national high school poll. Following his final season at PHS, he was named the Alabama High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year and was also selected Schutt Southeast Regional Coach of the Year. He first led the Lions to the state 6A playoffs in 2000, his second season guiding the program, where they lost by two points in the opening round. Clark earned his first postseason victory a year later, helping PHS advance to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual state champion, which is where the Lions’ season would end each of the next two falls. Prattville made its first state championship game appearance under Clark in 2004, with the team allowing three touchdowns in four postseason contests leading up to the final including recording a pair of shutouts. The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 playoffs before dropping a two-point decision as well. Clark posted a 107-11 (90.7%) overall record during his tenure, suffering his last regular-season loss during the second week of the 2002 season. Clark served on the staff of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic three times, including as head coach in the summer of 2007. He also served as head coach in the 2004 North-South All-Star Game. Following graduation from Jacksonville State in 1990 with a degree in physical education, Clark began his coaching career as an assistant at Piedmont High School. There, he helped guide the Bulldogs to the state 3A playoffs in both of his seasons at the school, including reaching the quarterfinals his first fall. He later coached at Tuscaloosa County High School, Coffee County (Ga.) High School and Dothan High School - the last stop before taking over at Prattville, he led DHS to back-to-back appearances in the state 6A playoffs, which included picking up a first-round victory in 1998. Clark and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Katie (17) and Jacob (15).
Jerry Mack became the newest member of the South Alabama football coaching staff in February, joining the program in time for spring practice. In his role, he will work with Jaguar wide receivers, a position he has five years of experience guiding at three different NCAA Division I institutions. Mack was the wide receivers coach at Memphis last fall, where he helped Tannar Rehrer rank among the top 10 in Conference USA - and among the top 50 in the country - in receptions per game after making 70 catches for 593 yards and four touchdowns. In all, six different Tiger wideouts recorded a double-digit reception total in his only season with the program while four of those individuals scored at least one touchdown. He first worked with wide receivers as an assistant at Jackson State from 2006-07. While with the Tigers, he was part of a staff that led the program to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2007, and his efforts helped Jaymar Johnson get selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2008 National Football League Draft. Mack was selected to coach in the Heritage Bowl all-star contest following his second season on staff. Mack was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Central Arkansas during the 2008 and ’09 campaigns as well. The Bears finished 10-2 in his first season on staff, ranking 10th at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) level in total offense while finishing 12th in the final Sports Network poll. In two seasons, Mack had three receivers earn honorable mention all-Southland Conference accolades while 14 UCA players on the offensive side of the ball received all-league recognition during that span; that included Nathan Brown being voted the conference Player of the Year in 2008. In 2010, Mack was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Golden Lions finished that fall second in the SWAC in passing and total offense, ranking in the top 30 nationally in both categories. Individually, Raymond Webber was a candidate for the Walter Payton Award - presented to the top offensive player at the FCS level - and named to eight different All-America teams after leading the country in receiving yards per contest while standing second in catches per outing. Josh Boudreaux was honorable mention all-conference after finishing in the top 35 in the country in total offense and pass efficiency. A native of Memphis, Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season to Arkansas State. He would letter three times at ASU before earning his bachelor’s degree from the school in management information systems. Mack would go on to get his master’s degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006 after serving on the Statesmen coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He has also completed three internships in the NFL with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. Mack and his wife Starlett have two sons, Jaden and Jaxon, and one daughter, Skyler.
Robert Matthews brings six years of collegiate coaching experience as he begins his first season on the University of South Alabama football staff. He will serve as the program’s offensive coordinator and work with the offensive line. Matthews was part of the Southern Mississippi staff for the last two seasons, serving as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator last fall while helping the Golden Eagles to a 12-2 finish and the 2011 Conference USA championship. USM defeated then sixth-ranked Houston 49-28 in the C-USA title game, then earned a 24-17 victory over Nevada in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl; the Golden Eagles would also beat Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech and bowl participant Virginia while ranking in the top 20 nationally in both scoring (15th, 36.86 points per game) and total (16th, 461.36 ypg) offense. USM averaged better than 200 yards per outing both rushing and passing in 2011, which included collecting a league-best 205.14 yards per contest on the ground. It was the second straight season that the Golden Eagles have recorded better than 200 yards per game rushing and passing, as in Matthews’ first year on the staff - he served in an administrative role which included responsibilities working with the offensive line - USM posted a then school-record 5,894 total yards while accomplishing the feat. The Golden Eagles would participate in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl and end the campaign with eight victories. Matthews served in various roles the previous four seasons at Oklahoma State, where he was part of a staff that guided the Cowboys to three bowls games during that span. As the program’s quarterbacks coach in 2009, Matthews helped OSU to a 9-4 record - which included a 6-2 mark in the Big XII Conference - and a berth in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. He was the Cowboys’ director of recruiting in both 2007 and ’08, and served as OSU’s coordinator of football operations in his first year with the program; while in the former role, Matthews’ responsibilities included directing the school’s walk-on program as well as other internal operations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Georgia, adding a master’s degree from the school in science education. Matthews played three seasons for the Bulldogs, and in addition to being part of Outback and Peach Bowl champion squads he was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll on three occasions. Before moving to the collegiate level, Matthews was tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Oconee (Ga.) High in 1999, Camden County (Ga.) High’s wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator the following fall and offensive coordinator at North Gwinnett (Ga.) High for two seasons from 2001-02. He also served three seasons as head coach at Shiloh (Ga.) High, where in addition to guiding the program to multiple postseason berths in the state’s highest classification he played a key role in a facility upgrade for the school that included a new strength center, locker room and coaches’ offices. His wife, the former Laura Henderson, was a member of the Canadian national golf team for over 10 years, going on to play collegiately at Georgia prior to coaching the women’s golf team at both UGA and Oklahoma State. The couple’s first child, Lilly, was born in April.
Beginning his fourth season at South Alabama, assistant coach Tommy Perry will once again serve in the dual role of working with Jaguar running backs while coordinating the special teams units. Last fall, Perry’s efforts with placekicker Jordan Means - who connected on 13-of-15 field-goal attempts while leading USA with 62 points - helped the program land its first All-American after he was honored by the Beyond Sports College Network. In addition to Means’ performance, punter Scott Garber finished 17th among all punters at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 41.71 yards per kick, Jeremé Jones ended up 27th with an average of 8.61 yards per punt return, and as a team USA stood eighth after recording 23.91 yards per kickoff return. In the offensive backfield, the duo of Kendall Houston and Demetre Baker both finished among the top 10 FCS Independent running players in rushing and scoring; the former led the squad with 558 yards while reaching the end zone on eight occasions, the latter 491 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns. And when both were lost due to injury, Perry was able to help true freshman J.J. Keels post 329 all-purpose yards while contributing to the running game as well as on kick and punt returns. Five Jag running backs gained at least 100 yards in the program’s inaugural season in the fall of 2009, with the group accounting for almost 80 percent of USA’s 267 yards per game on the ground. Brandon Ross led the group with 594 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Santuan McGee rushed for 350 yards and three scores to help the Jaguars average better than six yards per carry. His efforts helped the Jags excel on special teams play too. Garber averaged 42 yards per punt with nine of 22 kicks downed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line, and Erling Riis averaged just under 13 yards per punt return. The kick return unit gained nearly 30 yards per runback, while USA allowed opponents to average only 17 yards per kickoff return. And, Jaguar kickers combined to make 5-of-6 field-goal attempts while converting 40 extra points, with Michel Chapuseaux ending the season second on the team in scoring with 46 points. Despite losing Ross to a season-ending injury midway through the 2010 campaign, Perry’s group still managed to contribute to an attack that averaged more than 230 yards per game rushing and nearly 440 overall. Highlighted by a school-record 891 yards from Houston, the Jags’ top four rushers all gained at least 200 yards in the fall as eight running backs combined to collect totals of 1,923 yards (82.7 percent of the team’s overall total) and 25 scores. The unit also contributed to the passing attack, led by T.J. Glover’s 14 receptions - which tied for fourth on the team - for 155 yards. Behind the efforts of Glover and Jones, USA’s punt returners increased the team’s average from 8.8 yards to 16 per run back, while Jaguar placekickers combined to go 17-of-23 on field-goal attempts one year after making only four in seven outings; that including helping Lawson McGlon kick a school-record four field goals on two different occasions. The Jags also averaged almost 23 yards per kick return and more than 39 yards per punt, as Garber had 16 of 34 kicks end up inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Perry spent the three seasons prior to joining the Jag staff before the program’s first-ever spring practice as a graduate assistant and then an intern on the staff at Alabama, working under both Nick Saban and Mike Shula. The Crimson Tide went undefeated in the regular season in the fall of 2008, advancing to the Southeastern Conference championship game as well as the Allstate Sugar Bowl. After posting a 12-2 record, the team was ranked sixth in both the final Associated Press and USA Today top-25 polls. UA finished 7-6 the previous season, defeating Colorado 30-24 in the PetroSun Independence Bowl, while the Crimson Tide participated in the same postseason contest his first year as part of the program. Perry began his coaching career as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Texas in 2004, also serving as an academic advisor for the Longhorns. He became a linebacker and strength coach at Texas A&M-Commerce later that year, moving over to coach running backs and handle kickoff return duties in 2005 for the Lions. Three of his backs earned all-Lone Star Conference honors that year, including one who was named the Offensive Back of the Year after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 10 games. His responsibilities at TAMUC also included assisting with the program’s recruiting in Northeast Texas and Northern California. Perry has additional experience coaching at the professional level after working as a special teams assistant and head strength coach for NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals in 2006. That spring the team posted a 7-3 mark and competed in the World Bowl. A 2003 graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in English and history, Perry played two seasons - lettering in 2003 - for the Aggies as a fullback, inside linebacker and defensive end while also participating on various special teams units. He was one of four players on the team who served as the program’s 12th man as a senior. He began his career as an inside linebacker at Tyler [Texas] Junior College. Perry, who earned his master’s degree in health & human performance from Texas A&M-Commerce 2005, is married to the former Angela Painter. The couple has one daughter, Joanna Rose (3).
Over the program’s first three seasons of competition, the South Alabama defense has annually been strong against the run. That success can be traced back to the efforts of the Jaguar defensive line and its position coach, fifth-year assistant Brian Turner. Jaguar defensive linemen combined to post 30 of the team’s 67 tackles for loss in 2010 as USA completed a second straight undefeated season, with Romelle Jones pacing the squad with six, Randon Carnathan and Anthony Taylor supplying five each, and Andy Dalgleish and Montavious Williams collecting four apiece; Jones and Taylor would lead the group overall with both posting 19 total stops. Turner’s unit also broke up eight passes, recovered four fumbles and blocked two kicks as USA allowed only 81.2 yards rushing, 254.6 total yards and 13 points per contest. The previous fall, 11 of Turner’s players combined to account for 18 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, helping the Jaguar defense allow under 235 yards and seven points per game while going 7-0 in the school’s inaugural season. Three USA defensive linemen - Taylor, Williams and Jones - paced the group after posting double-figure tackle totals, with Taylor tying for fourth on the squad with four stops for loss. A year ago, Jones led the Jags for the second consecutive season with seven stops for loss, while Williams added five and Dalgleish four in helping USA surrender less than 150 yards per outing on the ground while ranking 16th in the country at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level in total defense at 309.7 yards per contest. As the program’s recruiting coordinator, Turner’s efforts have assisted the Jags in putting together signing classes to help add to the talent level and depth in the program. That has included inking multiple players ranked among the best at their position by Scout, Inc., as well as numerous individuals who have helped their high schools to state championships and deep postseason runs. Before coming to Mobile, Turner had worked the previous five years on the coaching staff at Sun Belt Conference rival Troy. In addition to serving as recruiting coordinator, he spent his last season as coach of the defensive ends after working with the safeties in 2006. A guard and center for the Trojans in the mid-1990s, Turner previously worked with the offense, focusing primarily on tight ends and wide receivers. In five years with the program, Troy compiled a 33-27 (55%) mark overall while going 20-8 (71.4%) in Sun Belt action. The Trojans earned invitations to a pair of bowl games - they were an at-large participant in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl, and they defeated Rice 41-17 in the 2006 New Orleans Bowl after receiving the bid as SBC champion - while winning league titles in each of his last two years. During Turner’s playing career, the Trojans posted a 31-6-1 (82.9%) record, including the school’s first perfect regular-season (11-0) in 1995. In 1993, Troy advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs with victories over Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State, while the 1994 and 1995 squads qualified for postseason play as well. A native of Fort Meade, Fla., Turner began his coaching career as the tight ends coach at Dothan (Ala.) High in 1996. After three seasons on the Tiger staff, he served as a graduate assistant at Troy from 1999-01. The Trojans recorded a winning record all three seasons, posting a 28-8 (77.8%) mark in that span including a 13-1 (92.9%) record in Southland Football League action. Troy won the conference championship in both 1999 and ’00 before moving up to the NCAA Division I-A level his final year; the Trojans advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs his first season as a graduate assistant while participating in postseason play the following fall as well. His first full-time appointment at the collegiate level came in 2002, when he spent a year as offensive line coach at North Alabama before returning to Troy. Turner joined his brother John on the USA football staff, making South Alabama one of the few programs at the NCAA Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) level with brothers patrolling the same sideline. Their father, Blaine, played football at University of Tampa and later coached at the high school level for 30 years. Turner completed his bachelor’s degree in social science in 2000. He is married to the former Kristi Jernigan, and has one daughter, Bryce (4).
A member of the South Alabama coaching staff since the program’s first year, assistant coach John Turner will be in his first season working with Jaguar tight ends in the fall after four years guiding the offensive line. In the program’s first-ever season, Turner’s unit played a key role in helping the Jaguars average better than 45 points and nearly 440 yards per outing. The offensive line cleared the way for USA running backs to record an average of more than six yards per carry, while the passing game accounted for over 170 yards per contest as the group surrendered just seven sacks in seven games. Five Jag linemen recorded five knockdown blocks per game or more, including two - Jon Griffin and Chris Brunson - who paced the group with 55 and 53 pancakes, respectively. In 2010, the offensive line was just as effective as USA averaged more than 41 points and nearly 440 yards per game while winning all 10 outings. The unit helped the Jaguars collect more than 200 yards per game both on the ground and through the air, and it allowed just 12 sacks despite missing the services of a pair of upperclassmen for multiple games. Both Griffin and Trey Clark were credited with better than seven pancake blocks per contest, with six individuals reaching double digits in the category. The Jaguars averaged better than 325 yards and nearly 25 points per contest last year against an upgraded schedule that featured the first two NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in school history, while the unit’s pass-blocking efforts helped USA quarterbacks throw for better than 170 yards per contest. Seven lineman were credited with at least 10 knockdown blocks on the season, while off the field Clark became the first member of the program to earn national academic honors after he was named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. A native of Fort Meade, Fla., Turner served as offensive line coach at Chattanooga beginning in 2003 and was promoted to assistant head coach following the 2005 season. His line units surrendered less than a sack per game on average over his last three years and he produced a trio of all-Southern Conference selections - tackle Josh Shinpaugh in 2005, guard Justin Matherson in 2006 and center Garrett Windham in ’07. Turner went to UTC after one season at Western Carolina. He has also had collegiate coaching stops at Clemson as a graduate assistant for Tommy Bowden in 2001 and at Auburn in 1997 and ’98, when he was offensive line and special teams assistant under Terry Bowden. AU won the SEC West and defeated Clemson in the Peach Bowl his first year with the program, while Clemson went 7-5 and defeated Louisiana Tech 49-24 in the Humanitarian Bowl in his lone season with the program. CU spent eight weeks in the national rankings, with the highlight of its season a 47-44 overtime victory at then-No. 9 Georgia Tech. A 1988 graduate of Jacksonville State with a degree in physical education, Turner was a standout offensive lineman for the Gamecocks in 1986 and 1987. JSU finished 5-4-1 in each of his two seasons as a letterwinner. He began his coaching career immediately as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, working with a team that reached the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. The Gamecocks ended that season 10-2 overall, and they went 7-1 in Gulf South Conference play to tie for the league championship - JSU would defeat West Chester 63-24 for the school’s first postseason victory in six years. Turner also has ties to the high school ranks in the state, coaching at Daleville High School (1989-93), Dothan High School (1994-96) and UMS-Wright Prep (1999-00). In just his second season on the staff, Daleville High advanced to the second round of the state 4A playoffs before falling 27-21 in double overtime to the eventual runner-up. After a two-point loss in the second round to the same school the following fall - this time, the opposition would go on to earn the title - his DHS team won the state championship in 1992 and advanced to the state finals in 1993. Dothan HS advanced to the state 6A playoffs in his final year on the staff as well, while his efforts helped UMS-Wright win a pair of postseason contests to make the quarterfinals of the 4A bracket in each of his two seasons with the school. Turner has coaching in his heritage as his father, Blaine, is a retired head coach in the Florida high school ranks, while his brother Brian is also on the USA staff. While at Auburn, Turner earned his master’s degree in physical education in 1998. He and his wife Kim have one son, Walker Wilson (5).
Bryant Vincent enters his second season on the South Alabama staff, and his first as the program’s quarterbacks coach. In his first season with the Jags Vincent worked primarily with tight ends, as his efforts helped Kevin Helms become the first player at the position in the program to finish with a double-figure reception total after he collected 14 catches for 216 yards; both totals were among the top five on the squad overall. Individually on special teams, several Jaguars ranked among the national leaders at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision including Scott Garber (17th in punting), Jordan Means (tied for 18th in field goals per game and 69th in scoring) and Jeremé Jones (27th in kick returns), while as a team USA was eighth in the country after averaging nearly 24 yards per kickoff return. Vincent had been a head coach at the high-school level the previous five years before coming to USA, including four at Spanish Fort High School. In addition to leading the Toros to the state 5A championship in the fall of 2010, he was twice named the Baldwin County Coach of the Year following the 2008 and ’10 campaigns. In his second year guiding the program, SFHS finished 11-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs before falling to the eventual winner. A season later, the Toros advanced to the semifinals of the state playoffs where they dropped a 29-28 decision to the ultimate champion on the way to an 11-3 finish before claiming the state title his last season; SFHS ended 2010 with a 13-2 mark. He also served as the school’s athletic director during that four-year span, overseeing a program that collected five state championships in that time in addition to the one he coached in football, the Toros also picked up two titles in track, one in cross country and one in baseball. In his first season as a head coach, Vincent led Greenville (Ala.) High to a 10-3 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the state 5A playoffs in 2006 one year after the Tigers finished 1-9. For his efforts, he was selected the 5A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. In five years as a head coach, he compiled a 49-16 (75.4%) overall mark going 12-3 (80%) in the postseason - which included a 39-13 (75%) record at Spanish Fort High. Vincent who originally hails from Glasgow, Ky. is a 1998 graduate of West Alabama, where he earned a degree in physical education. He got his start in the coaching profession as a student assistant for the Tigers in the fall of 1996, going on to coach UWA’s wide receivers the following season. After one year as the offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach at Hart County (Ky.) High School, Vincent moved to the staff at Charles Henderson (Ala.) HS. He was the Trojans’ quarterbacks and receivers coach in 1999, earning a promotion to offensive coordinator after his first year with the school. In his last three seasons at CHHS, the school posted a 24-8 (75%) record while averaging 29.5 points per contest; Vincent’s unit put up three of the four best offensive seasons in the school’s history during that time as well. Vincent also served as the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator - working with quarterbacks and wide receivers at Spain Park (Ala.) HS during the 2003-05 seasons. In his first season on the staff, the Jaguars improved from 14 to 26 points per game offensively, going from 3-7 to 7-3 to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in school history. SPHS would earn its first postseason victory the following fall, finishing the year 9-4 after advancing to the quarterfinals of the state 6A playoffs before falling to the eventual champions. Vincent, who added a master’s degree from Troy in 2001, and his wife Holli have two sons, Brady (15) and Bret (6).
A longtime colleague of South Alabama defensive coordinator Bill Clark the two have worked together since the fall of 1999 Duwan Walker begins his fourth season as the Jaguars’ assistant coach in charge of the secondary. In 2011, USA cornerbacks and safeties played a key role in the Jags finishing the campaign ranked in the top 20 nationally among all NCAA Football Championship Subdivision schools in both passing and total defense after allowing just 167 and just under 310 yards, respectively, in the two categories. Whether it was Charles Harris posting 81 total stops to end the year second on the squad in tackles, Gabe Loper intercepting two passes he was the only individual on the team with more than one pickoff or B.J. Scott breaking up a team-best four passes, members of Walker’s secondary contributed to that effort. Six defensive backs combined to intercept 11 passes in 2010, with Tim Harvey and Michael Wilson sharing the team lead with three apiece, defending another 18 as the Jags gave up less than 175 yards per game through the air, fewer than 255 yards per outing overall and just 13 points per contest. The secondary had a hand in recovering a pair of fumbles and were credited with forcing three, while five members of the unit posted a double-digit tackle total; Ken Barefield and Jerron Mitchell ranked third and fourth on the team with 37 and 34 stops, respectively. Members of Walker’s secondary found multiple ways to contribute to a defensive unit that gave up less than 235 yards per game as well as just 41 total points as the Jaguars finished 7-0 in their inaugural season in 2009. USA defensive backs accounted for all but one of the team’s 14 interceptions returning two of those for touchdowns broke up seven other pass attempts, forced two fumbles and recovered another pair. Four members of Walker’s unit posted at least 20 tackles, while another two reached double figures in the category. Walker spent the previous nine years prior to his arrival in Mobile as an assistant at Prattville High School, where he coached under current USA defensive coordinator Bill Clark. At PHS, he worked for two years as defensive backs coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2001. During that time, he helped the school advance to the state 6A playoffs on eight occasions, three state championship games and the state title in each of his last two seasons on the staff. Overall, the Lions would go 107-11 (90.7%) during his tenure with the program that included winning every regular-season contest from the third week of the 2002 campaign through the end of his time at PHS. The Lions first advanced to postseason action in his second year on the staff, and they picked up their first playoff victory during his tenure a year later after advancing to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual state champions. PHS would again move on to the final eight in 2002 and ’03, then made the state championship game for the first occasion while he was on the staff in 2004. After another quarterfinal appearance the next fall, Walker helped guide the Lions to the state 6A championship in both 2006 and ’07. They won 30 straight games during that span, finishing second in the country in the USA Today’s national high school poll his last season with the school. He gained his start in the coaching profession as a graduate assistant at Troy beginning in 1997, working with the defensive line for one season before helping defensive backs the next. In his second season on the staff, Walker helped the Trojans to an 8-4 finish and a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs that included going 5-2 in the Southland Football League. A four-year letterman at Troy from 1992-95, Walker played as a true freshman, primarily on special teams. He spot-started at safety as a sophomore before moving into the No. 1 spot on the depth chart for his junior and senior seasons. During his time at Troy, the Trojans competed as an NCAA Division I-AA independent, reaching the semifinals of the playoffs in 1993 while also participating in the event in both 1994 and ’95. The school would go 41-7-1 (84.7%) overall during his career, winning 10 or more games while losing just once in three of those years. Walker earned a bachelor’s degree in human services with a double minor in psychology and biology from Troy in 1996, and he received his master’s degree in counseling from the school in 2001. He and his wife Kaylyn have three children, Durelle (22), Christian (9) and Caden (7).
Justin Schwind, who previously had worked with head coach Joey Jones at Birmingham-Southern, is beginning his fourth season on the South Alabama staff as the program’s head strength and conditioning coach. In his role, Schwind is responsible for designing and implementing football’s strength and conditioning program, supervising the day-to-day operation of the football weight room and overseeing a staff that includes two full-time assistants as well as graduate and student assistants. He also assisted in the design of the weight room facility that is part of the program’s $10 million field house. His efforts with the Jaguar football program a year ago led to his being named the 2011 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by Samson Equipment. Schwind was one of nine individuals recognized by the company, which honors recipients each year including strength and conditioning coaches from the National Football League, all college divisions and a pair of high school coaches. Schwind also works directly with the school’s men’s golf team, and he has a hand in supervising the strength and conditioning programs for each of USA’s 17 sports. He was at BSC for two years as the school’s head strength and conditioning coach, where he was responsible for working with all 21 programs. In addition to maintaining a schedule for both teams as well as his student assistant staff, Schwind supervised the day-to-day operations of three weight rooms he was responsible for helping to design one of those as well. Schwind earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Texas State in 2004, getting his start in the profession as a student assistant for the school as he worked primarily with the Bobcats’ baseball and football teams. After serving as a strength and conditioning intern at Rice, where he also assisted with neuroscience research at Baylor’s College of Medicine on a study involving athletic performance and visualization, he would go on to work as a graduate assistant for two years at Mississippi State. While in Starkville, he designed and maintained strength and conditioning programs for MSU’s track and field, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s golf teams. He would earn his master’s degree from Mississippi State in physical education in 2007. Schwind is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), United States Weightlifting Association (USAW) and the United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), and has received his crossfit football certification as well. He is engaged to Erin Boles, and is slated to be married in May 2013.
After serving as an offensive graduate assistant at South Alabama in the fall, Chase Smith rejoined the staff over the summer when he was named director of football operations. Smith’s responsibilities in his role include assisting with many of the program’s day-to-day activities including coordinating the budget, all aspects of travel and serving as USA’s professional scout liaison. He also has responsibilities assisting with the scheduling of preseason camp and practices, the recruiting process, clinics and community relations projects. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and master’s degree in ’08, both in physical education, from Jacksonville State, gaining extensive experience coaching at the high school level in Alabama after earning the first. He began as an assistant working with offensive and defensive linemen on the freshman team at Spain Park High in the fall of ’05, moving on to Greenville HS to work with running backs a year later the Tigers would finish 10-3 while advancing to the quarterfinals of the state 5A playoffs that season. Smith then joined the staff at Spanish Fort High, where he worked with running backs in 2007, the defensive line from 2008-09 and the offensive line in ’10. During his time on the Toro staff, SFHS put together a 39-13 (75%) mark culminating with the state 5A championship in Smith’s final year with the program. The Toros went 11-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in 2008, reached the semifinals of the state playoffs the following fall while putting together an 11-3 record prior to winning the title. Smith served as offensive coordinator that year as well, which SFHS ended with a 13-2 mark.
Mark Hewes has been a member of the South Alabama football support staff since the 2009 season; after serving as an equipment assistant as both an undergraduate and graduate student, he begins his second year as the Jaguars’ director of player personnel. Hewes’ responsbilities include supervising the academic standing and progress of football student-athletes through daily collaboration with Athletic Academic Services, monitoring the APR of the football program, providing daily assistance in regards to student housing, and managing the walk-on program. In addition, Hewes serves as USA’s liaison for high school relations, assists with camps, and provides community relations. His efforts helped the program have 52 individuals record a 3.0 grade-point average or better in at least one semester during the 2011-12 academic year, while 18 Jaguars ended the spring semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. As a student equipment manager and a graduate assistant, Hewes was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the football equipment room. Those duties included the preparation, distribution and maintenance of team apparel and equipment. Hewes provided inventory levels, assisted with the purchase of apparel and equipment, developed annual budgets, and oversaw the student manager’s hours and responsibilities. His efforts helped the Jaguars record back-to-back undefeated seasons, which included a combined 17-0 record. Prior to coming to USA, Hewes previously served three years as an athletic marketing intern at UAB from 2000-03. In that role, he was responsible for the development and implementation of marketing plans for the men’s and women’s soccer and baseball programs. In addition, he assisted with the planning and coordination of all football and men’s and women’s basketball marketing and advertising plans, game day activities and promotions. Hewes was also responsible for membership initiatives, as well as design and layout of the Junior Blazer Kids’ Club newsletters. Hewes received his bachelor’s degree from USA in 2010 and is currently pursuing his master‘s degree in communication. Hewes is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society (2010) and is currently a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA). Hewes who was a corporate account executive from 2003-09 and his wife Amy have two daughters, Ella Kate (8) and Morgan (4). They reside in Daphne, Ala.
Errol Seaver begins his second year as the director of football video at South Alabama. His duties for the Jaguars include coordinating the filming and breakdown of practices and games for coaches’ analysis, directing the production of motivational, promotional, and recruiting highlights, and overseeing video trades with opponents as well as other day-to-day operations of the football video department. Seaver came to the program with seven years of college football video experience both at the school and conference level. In 2010, Seaver was a member of the Big 12 Conference staff, with duties that included working with the league’s officials in addition to assisting with video streaming at conference championships and coordinating the exchange of video between member schools. In his role, he assisted in the breakdown and analysis of Big 12 football games for officials’ purposes, worked in conjunction with current and former National Football League officials in the evaluation of officials’ mechanics and accuracy, and produced videos for officials’ training, clinics, and conferences. Big 12 Championships that Seaver helped coordinate the stream of game action and post-event press conferences included football, basketball, soccer and wrestling. Prior to his stint in the league office, Seaver was the football video coordinator for two years at Jacksonville State, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the video department that included coordinated filming of games and practices, as well as the breakdown of opponent film, for coaches’ analysis and game preparation, the implementation and production of motivational and season highlight reels, and the production of recruiting and player highlights for professional scouts. He also helped the program by upgrading equipment and improving the editing process in the department, allowing coaches more flexibility with team meetings and improving the efficiency of meetings. His efforts helped the Gamecocks record back-to-back 8-3 finishes, which included a combined 12-3 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. He also has four years experience at Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), serving as the program’s football video coordinator from 2002-05. Seaver was responsible for the filming of practices and games as well as the breakdown of opponent film for coaches’ analysis at the Hickory, N.C., school, and he helped the Bears upgrade from an analog to a digital video editing system. A native of Hickory, N.C., Seaver is married to the former Lindsey Kenz. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication, electronic media/broadcasting in 2008 from Appalachian State, and his master’s degree in public administration/athletic administration from JSU in ’10, and is a member of the Collegiate Sports Video Association (CSVA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Jeff Bailey is in his fifth season as USA’s equipment operations manager. In his role, Bailey is responsible for fitting and ordering all equipment including practice and game uniforms, helmets, shoulder pads, shoes and cleats for the football program. He is in charge of maintaining inventory levels and projecting future equipment needs, assists in coordinating the Jaguars’ practice and game day itinerary, and oversees the program’s staff of student managers. He came to South Alabama after serving as the equipment manager and director of football operations at Prattville High School since August 2003, where he worked for Jaguar assistant coach Bill Clark. At PHS his responsibilities included ordering, organizing and distributing equipment for more than 200 student-athletes on the varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams, maintaining facilities and grounds, supervising the Lions’ managers and ball boys, organizing travel arrangements and organizing public events for fund raising. Prior to working at PHS, Bailey served as the recreation coordinator for the City of Prattville Parks and Recreation Department for six years, where he assisted in managing the city’s recreation program. He also served as equipment manager for the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double A Minor League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, during the summer of 2005. A baseball player at Huntingdon (Ala.) College in 1983, Bailey and his wife Jan have five sons; Justin (25), Jarrett (23) a four-year pitcher for the Jaguar baseball team Codey Owens (20), and twins Travis and Trevor Owens (15).
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Brendt Bedsole
Bill Clark
Jerry Mack
Robert Matthews
Tommy Perry
Brian Turner 
John Turner
Bryant Vincent
Duwan Walker 
Justin Schwind
Chase Smith
Mark Hewes
Errol Seaver
Jeff Bailey