Southern Miss Coaching Staff

Ellis Johnson has been hired as the new head coach at Southern Miss.  Here is a look at our projection for his coaching staff:

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* = Coordinator candidate

QUARTERBACKS COACH

David Reaves* - ex-New Mexico Offensive Coordinator

• Worked on staff at South Carolina from 2002-08.  He was the QB coach in '08, Ellis Johnson's first season with the Gamecocks.

Larry Edmondson - Rice Quarterbacks Coach

• WR coach at Southern Miss from 1988-90.  Ellis Johnson was the defensive coordinator at USM in 1988 and '89.

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RUNNING BACKS COACH

Pat Washington - Southern Miss Running Backs/Special Teams Coach

• Has been on staff at Southern Miss since 2009.
• WR coach at Mississippi State in 2007 and '08.  Ellis Johnson was the defensive coordinator at MSU from 2004-07.

Willie Simmons - ex-Middle Tennessee State Offensive Coordinator

• Played quarterback at The Citadel in 2003 after playing his first three seasons at Clemson.  Ellis Johnson was his head coach at The Citadel.

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WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

Walt Bell - Southern Miss Wide Receivers Coach

• WR coach at Southern Miss in 2011 after spending the 2010 season as a graduate assistant with the team.

Tim Bowens - ex-UAB Wide Receivers Coach

• Played WR at Alabama from 1996-99.  Ellis Johnson was the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator from 1997-99.

Guy Holliday - UTEP Wide Receivers Coach

• WR coach at Mississippi State from 2003-06.  Ellis Johnson was the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator from 2004-06.  

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TIGHT ENDS COACH

Charlie Coiner - ex-North Carolina Defensive Line Coach

• Graduate assistant at Appalachian State from 1983-86.  Ellis Johnson was the defensive coordinator at Appalachian State in '84.

Robert Matthews - Southern Miss Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

• Worked as TE coach at Southern Miss in 2011 after spending the 2010 season as an administrative assistant with the team.

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OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Neil Callaway* - ex-UAB Head Coach

• OL coach at Alabama from 1997-2000, spending the last three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide.  Ellis Johnson was the team's defensive coordinator during the same time span.

JB Grimes - ex-Kansas Offensive Line Coach

• OL coach at Mississippi State from 2004-08, where he worked with Ellis Johnson for four seasons when Johnson was the Bulldogs' DC from 2004-07.

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DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Mike DuBose* - ex-Memphis Defensive Coordinator

• Head coach at Alabama from 1997-2000, where Ellis Johnson was his defensive coordinator.
• DL coach at Alabama from 1990-96, including one year ('96) as defensive coordinator.  Ellis Johnson coached the Crimson Tide outside linebackers from 1990-93.
• DL coach at Southern Miss in 1982.

Lance Thompson*- Tennessee Defensive Line Coach

• DL coach at Alabama in 1999 and 2000, where Ellis Johnson was his defensive coordinator.

Dave Sollazzo - Villanova Defensive Line Coach

• Played defensive line at The Citadel from 1973-76.  Ellis Johnson played DL for The Citadel from 1971-74 and stayed on to coach the defensive ends in 1975.   

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LINEBACKERS COACH

Tommy West* - ex-UAB Defensive Coordinator

• Head coach at Clemson from 1993-98, where Ellis Johnson was his defensive coordinator from 1994-96.

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DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Keith Jones - Navy Defensive Backs Coach

• Was Ellis Johnson's defensive coordinator at The Citadel in 2001.
• Played DB at The Citadel from 1970-74.  Ellis Johnson played DL at The Citadel from 1971-74.

Troy Douglas - North Carolina Defensive Backs Coach

• Played WR at Appalachian State from 1983-86.  Ellis Johnson was the defensive coordinator at Appalachian State in 1984.

Grady Brown - Southern Miss Cornerbacks Coach

• Joined the USM staff prior to the 2010 season.

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