Austin Peay State University Men's Football

Justin Collett joined Jeff Faris’ staff as the director of football sports performance in Feb. 2024. Collett comes to Clarksville after a three-season stint as a sports performance coach with the Indiana football program. His time in Bloomington followed two years as an intern with Tennessee's strength and conditioning staff. Collett began his career at Maryville as the department’s head strength and conditioning coordinator for three seasons, while also serving as a Scots football coaching staff member. The Hiram, Georgia, native played four seasons as an offensive lineman for the Scots and helped them win the USA South Athletic Conference title during his senior season. Collett graduated from Maryville College with a bachelor's degree in 2017.

Blake Littman joined Jeff Faris’ staff as its director of player personnel in June 2025. Prior to arriving in Clarksville, Littman was the assistant director of personnel and a recruiting assistant at Indiana from 2019-25. While with the Hoosiers, Littman assisted the directors of recruiting and personnel in evaluating potential student-athletes, cutting film, and putting together recruiting plans for specific coaches.  He also helped the director of recruiting oversee the transfer portal and assisted with official and unofficial visits.  Littman also was a graduate recruiting intern at UCLA, May-Sept. 2019, assisting the Bruins’ recruiting staff with transcript evaluations and assisting during official and unofficial visits. During his first stint at Indiana, Littman was a recruiting intern, 2017-19, and began working in college athletics as a student equipment manager at Arizona, 2014-15. Littman graduated from Indiana with a bachelor's in 2019.

Dianne Radic joined Jeff Faris’ staff as its director of football operations and player engagement in July 2025. Prior to arriving in Clarksville, Radic served as a recruiting analyst and the director of player engagement at Tennessee Tech during the 2024-25 academic year.  Her duties with the Golden Eagles included coordinating recruiting visits, assisting with team-specific gameday operations, helping with community outreach and volunteer opportunities, and working with TTU’s sports information, creative, and marketing departments.  Before arriving in the Volunteer State, Radic was a recruiting volunteer at Florida, 2023-24, after serving as an on-air personality and content creator at ESPN Gainesville, 2022-24. While with ESPN Gainesville, she created and hosted “Sports Lab,” which was the first entirely student-run radio show on WRUF ESPN 98.1. Radic also served as a sports anchor and local news reporter for WUFT News in North Florida. Radic earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida in May 2024. 

Ashlyn Wood joined Jeff Faris’ staff as its director of on-campus recruiting in Aug. 2025. Prior to arriving in Clarksville, Wood served as a recruiting assistant at Duke, June-July 2025, assisting with visits, leading tours, helping with photoshoots, and more. Before her time in Durham, North Carolina, Wood was an athletic recruiter at Auburn, 2023-25, serving as a frontline ambassador where she helped coordinate and host prospective athletes and their families on game days. During her time at Auburn, Wood also was a creative assistant for the Auburn Lowder Center, designing branded content, digital assets, and strategic campaigns for student-led entrepreneurial startups. Wood graduated from Auburn in Aug. 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Quinn Billerman is in his second season as the Governors’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, after joining Jeff Faris’ inaugural coaching staff in Dec. 2023. Before joining the Governors, Billerman spent one season as the quarterbacks coach at Jackson State. Prior to his time at JSU, he served as a graduate assistant at Duke for two seasons and an offensive quality control coach at Rice for three seasons. Billerman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, North Carolina Central. A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Billerman helped coach a pair of teams to bowl games, with Duke earning a bid to the 2022 Military Bowl and NC Central earning a bid to the 2016 Celebration Bowl.  Billerman began his playing career at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to NC Central, where he helped the Eagles win back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in 2014 and 2015. Billerman earned his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central in 2015.  BILLERMAN'S CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2024-CURRENT) 2024: Named Austin Peay’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Dec. 2023. In his first season in Clarksville, starting quarterback Austin Smith posted the second-best completion percentage (.630) in the UAC and program history, while his 2,354 passing yards were third in the UAC and seventh-best by an APSU quarterback in a single season. Wide receiver Jaden Barnes earned Second Team All-UAC honors after totaling 58 receptions for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns, posting just the fifth 1,000-yard receiving season in program history. Barnes finished the year with the third-most receiving yards in a season in Austin Peay history and had the sixth-most receiving touchdowns in a single season. Barnes also averaged 90.25 receiving yards per game, which is the seventh-best season in APSU history. JACKSON STATE (2023) 2023: In his first season as a full-time assistant coach, Jackson State’s offense ranked 18th in the FCS in completion percentage (.651), 32nd in total offense (389.5), 35th in team passing efficiency (139.74), and 40th in passing offense (227.6). The Tigers also led the SWAC in completion percentage and total offense while ranking second in passing offense and team passing efficiency. Billerman’s quarterbacks combined for 237 completions for 2,505 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing 125 times for 317 yards and seven touchdowns. Jason Brown led the Tigers’ quarterbacks with 136 completions for 1,443 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown. Jacobian Morgan added 83 completions for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 150 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns. In addition, Zy McDonald completed 18 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Billerman’s quarterbacks helped Jackson State go 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the SWAC during the 2023 season. DUKE (2021-22) 2021-22: Billerman spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Duke, working with the Blue Devils' quarterbacks and wide receivers. After a 3-9 season in 2021, Duke posted a 9-4 record in 2022 and picked up a 30-13 win over UCF in the Military Bowl. The Blue Devils offense ranked 31st in the country in scoring offense (32.8), 39th in rushing offense (184.2), and 43rd in total offense (415.7) in 2022. Quarterback Riley Leonard also ranked 40th in the NCAA in passing yards (2,967) and 46th in passing touchdowns (20) during the 2022 season, while also ranking 22nd nationally with 13 rushing touchdowns.  RICE (2018-20) 2018-20: Spent three seasons as an offensive quality control coach at Rice. During the three-game fall slate in 2020, Billerman worked with Owls quarterback Mike Collins, who earned C-USA All-Conference honorable mention recognition after completing 53 passes for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (2016-17) 2016-17: Billerman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at NC Central, where he worked with the Eagles' quarterbacks and wide receivers for two seasons. During his first season on staff, the Eagles offense ranked 50th in the FCS and led the MEAC in passing offense (223.2) while ranking 43rd and 58th nationally in scoring offense (28.9) and total offense (384.5) – both marks that ranked second in the conference. Quarterback Malcolm Bell led the MEAC in passing yards (2,431) and passing touchdowns (17) in 2016 while also ranking 28th in the FCS and third in the conference in passing efficiency (137.6). NC Central went 9-3 overall and won the MEAC with an 8-0 record in conference play in 2016, before falling to No. 14 Grambling State, 10-9, in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2012-15) A two-year starter at New Mexico Military Institute, Billerman set the program’s single-season records for passing yards (2,962) and touchdowns (34) in 2013. Billerman also was named the offensive MVP of the 2013 El Toro Bowl after throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Arizona Western. Following the 2013 season, Billerman transferred to North Carolina Central, where he played in seven games and made three starts at quarterback in 2014. Billerman completed 50 passes for 463 yards and one touchdown while helping the Eagles go 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC to win the conference championship. During his senior season in 2015, Billerman played in 10 games and made one start at quarterback while completing 42 passes for 399 yards and five touchdowns. The Eagles went 8-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play to win the 2015 MEAC Championship.

Greg Jones is in his first season as the Governors’ defensive coordinator after joining Jeff Faris’ coaching staff in Feb. 2025. Before joining the Governors, Jones served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tennessee Tech during the 2024 season. Prior to his time at TTU, he was the co-defensive coordinator at Gardner Webb in 2023 and assistant offensive line coach at Old Dominion in 2022. Jones spent six seasons at Wake Forest (2016-21) – with the Deacons appearing in a bowl game each year – in various roles for the Deacons and was an assistant coach and director of recruiting at Cornell from 2013-15. Before his time in the Ivy League, Jones spent one season at Kenyon College (2012) and Rhode Island (2011) after beginning his coaching career at Wilkes University (2010). In his playing career, Jones was a three-year letterwinner at Bucknell, totaling 30 starts for the Bison. He had 257 career tackles and earned All-Patriot League honors as a senior in 2009. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Bucknell in 2010 and a master’s in liberal studies from Wake Forest in 2017.  JONES’ CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2025-CURRENT) 2025: Joined Jeff Faris’ staff as the Governors’ defensive coordinator in Feb. 2025. Tennessee Tech (2024) 2024: Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in his lone season at Tennessee Tech, which earned a share of the OVC-Big South Football Association title after finishing 7-5 with a 6-2 record in league play. The Golden Eagles led the OVC-Big South Football Association in scoring defense (21.9), yards allowed (330.4), touchdowns allowed (33), turnovers gained (24), first-downs allowed (215), tackles for loss (7.7), and rushing yards allowed (82.9), which ranked second in the FCS. The Golden Eagles also were second in the league in the league in sacks (35), interceptions (16), pick-sixes (2), and fourth-down defense (.476). TTU held opponents to 14-or-fewer points five times, including in each of the season's final four games, helping lead the program to five-straight wins to end the 2024 season. Seven defensive student-athletes were named All-Big South-OVC selections, with defensive lineman Daniel Rickert, linebacker Cayman Spaulding, and defensive back Tim Coutras earning first-team recognition. During the 2024 season, Rickert and Gaines both earned Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week. Gardner-Webb (2023) 2023: Served as Gardner-Webb’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Helped lead the Runnin’ Bulldogs to an OVC-Big South Football Association Championship and a berth in the 2023 FCS Playoffs after posting a 7-5 record and 5-1 mark in conference play. The Runnin’ Bulldogs ranked third in the FCS in tackles for loss (7.8), fourth in defensive touchdowns (4), and 15th in rushing defense (106.3). They ended the season with five-straight wins and outscored their final two opponents – Tennessee Tech and Charleston Southern – 69-10 to claim their second-straight postseason berth. Five defensive Runnin’ Bulldogs earned All-OVC-Big South recognition, with three – defensive lineman Ty French, linebacker William McRainer, and defensive back Ka’Kai Young – earning first-team honors.  Old Dominion (2022) 2022: Served as an assistant offensive line coach at Old Dominion. The Monarchs won three games during the 2022 season, with two coming in Sun Belt Conference play. The season was highlighted by a 20-17 victory against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg during Week 1. Wake Forest (2016-21) 2021: Second season as Wake Forest’s linebackers coach. The Demon Deacons had a school-record seven wins in Atlantic Coast Conference play and matched the program’s best season with 11 total victories, including a 38-10 win against Rutgers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Wake Forest posted its most turnovers gained (29) since 2008, while its 38 sacks were the second-most in program history and the most since 1992. Additionally, linebacker Luke Masterson earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition. 2020: First season as Wake Forest’s linebackers coach came in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. The Demon Deacons won four games, including three in ACC play, and earned an appearance in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl – marking a program-record fifth-straight bowl appearance. Linebacker Ja’Cquez Williams led the Deacons with 73 total tackles and finished second on the team with 6.0 tackles for loss. Wake Forest led the ACC and ranked eighth in the FBS with a +1.11 turnover margin. 2019: Served as the Demon Deacons’ director of player personnel and recruiting. Helped the Deacons sign their highest-rated recruiting class in program history, which featured the two highest-rated recruits according to 247Sports, in four-star wide receivers Nolan Groulx and Donavon Greene. 2018: Spent the 2018 season as an offensive analyst for Wake Forest, which went 7-6 overall with a 3-5 record in ACC play and defeated Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl. The Demon Deacons ranked 28th in the FBS in total offensive per game (449.8), 26th in rushing offense (213.7), and 34th in scoring (32.8). Wide receiver Greg Dortch was seventh in the FBS with 7.4 receptions per game, 20th with 89.8 receiving yards per game, and 24th nationally with 1,078 total receiving yards. 2017: Second season as a defensive graduate assistant for the Demon Deacons, who went 8-5 with a 4-4 mark in ACC play and defeated Texas A&M in the Belk Bowl. Defensive back Essang Bassey ranked ninth in the FBS and second in the ACC with 1.5 passes defended per game, while Duke Ejiofor – a sixth-round draft pick by the Houston Texans – ranked 19th nationally and third in the ACC with 16.5 tackles for loss. 2016: First season on Wake Forest’s staff as a defensive graduate assistant. The Demon Deacons went 7-6 with a 3-5 record in ACC play and defeated Temple in the Military Bowl. Wake Forest was 23rd in the FBS in scoring defense (22.2), 18th in third-down defense (34.1), 22nd in redzone defense (.778), and 40th in total defense (370.5).  Cornell (2013-15) 2015: Third season as Cornell’s secondary coach and first as the team’s director of recruiting. The Big Red went 1-9 with a 1-6 record in the Ivy League; their lone victory was a 3-0 win over Columbia. 2014: Served as Cornell’s secondary coach. The Big Red led the Ivy League with 19 turnovers gained, led by Ivy League Rookie of the Year Nick Gesualdi, whose four interceptions were a freshman record, third in the Ivy League, and 25th in the FCS. Gesualdi also led the league’s freshmen in passes defended (8), tackles for loss (5.0), and sacks (2.0). 2013: Helped lead Cornell to three wins, including two Ivy League victories, during his first season in Ithaca, New York. Defensive back Michael Turner was named an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention after leading the team with three interceptions, six pass deflections, and three forced fumbles.   Kenyon College (2012) 2012: Served as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Division III Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and helped the Lords to a 6-4 overall record and 5-2 record in the North Coast Athletic Conference after the program was winless in both the 2011 and 2010 seasons. The 2012 season also marked Kenyon’s first winning season since 2005. The Lords’ defense was second in the NCAC in scoring defense (18.0) and yards per game allowed (306.7). Linebacker Kolin Sillivan also earned Division III All-America honors after finishing fifth nationally with 74 solo tackles, 10th with 20.0 tackles for loss, and 25th with 108 total tackles. Rhode Island (2011) 2011: Served as the cornerbacks coach at Rhode Island during the 2011 season. Wilkes University (2010) 2010: Began his coaching career as the linebackers coach at Division III Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Freshman linebacker Tate Moore-Jacobs earned All-Eastern College Athletic Conference honors after leading the league with 130 tackles. COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2006-09) After redshirting during his freshman season in 2006, Jones went on to be a three-year starter for Bucknell at linebacker, where he made 30 starts and had 257 career tackles. An All-Patriot League selection as a senior, Jones’ 101 tackles and three interceptions in 2009 were best for second and fourth in the league, respectively. 

Lucas Reed is in his first season as the Governors’ special teams coordinator after joining Jeff Faris’ coaching staff in Jan. 2025. Reed comes to Clarksville from Rice, where he spent the previous seven seasons and, most recently, was the Owls’ tight ends coach during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Reed was a four-year letterwinner and three-year team captain as a quarterback at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Reed graduated from Ouachita Baptist with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance in 2017. REED'S CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2025-CURRENT) 2025: Joined Jeff Faris’ staff as the Governors’ special teams coordinator in Jan. 2025. Rice (2018-24) 2024: Second season as the Owls’ tight ends coach for head coach Mike Bloomgren, who is now the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns. After losing starting tight end Boden Groen due to injury four games into the 2024 season, Reed led Elijah Mojarro and Graham Walker to a pair of 200-yard seasons. Walker, who transitioned from wide receiver to tight end in Groen’s absence, finished the season by leading the position with 24 receptions for 252 yards, while Mojarro had 22 receptions, 215 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. Walker, Mojarro, and Groen – who had 12 receptions for 94 yards before his injury – accounted for 20 percent of Rice’s completions during the 2024 season.  2023: Transitioned from a quality control coach to the Owl’s tight ends coach prior to the 2023 campaign. Boden Groen was second among American Athletic Conference tight ends with 39 receptions, third with 383 receiving yards, and fifth with three touchdowns. In addition, his 39 receptions and 383 yards were the most by an Owls tight end since 2011 and 2012, respectively.  2022: Second season as an offensive quality control coach, specializing in quarterbacks. TJ McMahon led the Owls with 2,102 yards and 18 passing touchdowns, ranking seventh and sixth in Conference USA, respectively. His 18 passing touchdowns also were tied for the seventh-best season in program history. The Owls went 5-8 overall with a 3-5 record in AAC play and faced Southern Miss in the LendingTree Bowl. 2021: First season as an offensive quality control coach, working primarily with quarterbacks. Quarterback Jake Constantine led the Owls with 1,622 passing yards and eight touchdowns, which were the most by an Owls’ quarterback since 2016. The Owls went 4-8 overall with a 3-5 record in Conference USA play. 2020: Second season as an offensive graduate assistant for the Owls during the COVID-19-shortened year. Rice went 2-3 overall, with all games coming in CUSA play. Quarterback Mike Collins threw for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns with a 176.3 passer rating in three starts. 2019: First season as an offensive graduate assistant, working primarily with the Owls’ running backs. Aston Walter led the Owls in rushing yards (798), scoring (60), total touchdowns (10), and rushing touchdowns (8) in his first season as a starter after entering the season with just 260 career rushing yards in his first four collegiate seasons. Walter’s 6.6 yards per carry also led Conference USA. 2018: Began his coaching career as a special team assistant during the 2018 season. That season, Jack Fox – a 2024 NFL First Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl punter for the Detroit Lions – was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year and a Ray Guy Award semifinalist after leading CUSA in punting for the second-straight season with a 45.5-yard punting average. Placekicker Haden Tobola also was an All-CUSA Honorable Mention after finishing third nationally with a program-record 90.9 field-goal percentage (10-for-11). COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2014-17) A four-year letterwinner and three-year captain for Ouachita Baptist, Reed made 38 appearances at quarterback for the Tigers. He threw for 854 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, while adding 165 yards and one score on the ground. He then appeared in seven games as a senior, passing for 257 yards and five touchdowns, rushing for 86 yards, and recording his career’s lone receiving touchdown. 

Antonio Bradford is in his second season, after joining Jeff Faris’ inaugural coaching staff in Aug. 2024. Bradford served as the Governors' run-game coordinator and running backs coach during the 2024 season, and added offensive tackles to his coaching responsibilities for 2025.   Bradford, who spent the 2021 season as the Governors’ tight ends coach, comes from South Alabama, where he served in the same position under Jaguars’ head coach Kane Wommack. Before his first season in Clarksville, Bradford spent six seasons at Tennessee State under Rod Reed, where he coached tight ends, offensive tackles, and was the Tigers’ run-game coordinator. Bradford began his coaching career at his alma mater, Alabama State, where he finished his tenure as the program’s associate head coach. Bradford graduated from Alabama State with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2005 and later earned a master’s degree in general counseling. Bradford and his wife, Faith, have two daughters, Autumn and River. BRADFORD’S CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2024-CURRENT) 2024: Named Austin Peay’s run-game coordinator, running backs coach, and offensive tackles coach prior to the 2024 season. Led an Austin Peay running game which totaled 1,716 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, with four Governors totaling at least 200 yards on the ground and three recording multiple rushing scores. South Alabama (2022-23) 2023: Served as the running backs coach at South Alabama. The Jaguars finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference with 172.3 rushing yards and fifth with 2,240 yards on the ground. They were led by Third Team All-SBC honoree La’Damian Webb’s 1,007 yards and a program-record 16 rushing touchdowns. South Alabama's 2,240 rushing yards were the most since 2014 and the third-most in program history. 2022: Joined head coach Kane Wommack’s staff as a running backs coach in 2022. During his first season in Mobile, Alabama, the Jaguars increased their rushing yards by 682 yards compared to the 2021 season, while also tallying four more touchdowns on the ground. Running back La’Damian Webb became the second player in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, finishing his junior year with 1,063 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Jaguars’ run game helped improve their win total from five to 10 and earn a share of the Sun Belt Conference West Division Championship.  Austin Peay (2021) 2021: Served as the Governors’ tight ends coach under head coach Scotty Walden during the 2021 season, in which Austin Peay went 6-5 overall and 4-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Tennessee State (2015-20) 2020: Tennessee State went 2-5 during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 football season, which was played in the spring of 2021. The Tigers averaged 133.7 rushing yards per game, which was fifth-best in the OVC. 2019: The Tigers again finished third in the OVC in total offense with over 400 yards per game, while posting the league's third-best passing offense (260.7) and fifth-best rushing offense (139.4). 2018: Tennessee State was third in the OVC in offense with 432.4 yards per game, and was led by 156.2 rushing yards per game, which ranked in the top five in the league. 2017: Tennessee State finished third in the OVC in scoring (24.3) and rushing yards per game (140.0). TSU's rushing attack was led by Curtis Sabree’s 439 yards on the ground, while four other Tigers also rushed for at least 100 yards. 2016: Aided in the training of Unanimous All-American selection Jessamen Dunker, who signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants. Tennessee State went 7-4 and 4-3 in OVC play, finishing at the top of the conference with 32.3 points per game and fourth with 166.9 rushing yards per game. 2015: Joined head coach Rod Reed’s staff as the tight ends and offensive tackles coach in addition to serving as the Tigers’ run-game coordinator. Tennessee State went 4-6 during his first season on staff and averaged 123.4 yards per game. Alabama State (2005-14) 2005-14: Spent 10 seasons at his alma mater and ultimately became the Hornets’ associate head coach. His offensive line groups helped ASU’s offense rank 12th in the FCS with 235.5 rushing yards per game in 2014. During the 2013 season, the Hornets finished 14th nationally with 236.3 yards per game. During his tenure on the sidelines in Montgomery, he also served as the team’s video coordinator, assistant recruiting coordinator, assistant coach, and interim head coach. COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2001-04) Bradford was a three-year starter at left guard for Alabama State. The Hornets won back-to-back Southwest Athletic Conference Eastern Division titles in 2003 and 2004. Alabama State also won the program’s second-ever SWAC Football Championship in 2004, with the team captained by future NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XLVIII Champion Tarvaris Jackson. 

Ben Thaw is in his first season as the Governors’ safeties coach after joining Jeff Faris’ staff in March 2025.  Prior to joining the Governors, Thaw was a linebackers coach at Lehigh for two seasons. Before his time in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, he served in various roles on Wake Forest’s coaching staff, including a graduate assistant for linebackers and defensive backs, a defensive quality control coach, and a recruiting intern.  Thaw earned a bachelor’s in government from Wesleyan University in 2020 and earned a master’s in liberal art studies from Wake Forest in 2023.  THAW’S CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2025-CURRENT) 2025: Joined Jeff Faris’ staff as the Governors’ safeties coach in March 2025. Lehigh (2023-24) 2024: In his final season in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, the Mountain Hawks went 9-4 and won the Patriot League with a 5-1 record in conference play. Lehigh advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and defeated No. 9 Richmond in the opening round of the playoffs, marking the program’s first postseason victory since 2011 and its 10th all-time. Linebacker Mike DeNucci was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award – presented to the best defensive player in the FCS – and was a First Team All-Patriot League selection. DeNucci started all 11 games for the Mountain Hawks, totaling 80 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three pass deflections.  2023: In his first season as Lehigh’s linebackers coach, Mike DeNucci was one of three Mountain Hawks to earn postseason recognition, as the senior linebacker was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection after totaling 87 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble and blocked kick.  Wake Forest (2020-22) 2022: Was a defensive graduate assistant and transitioned from working with Wake Forest’s defensive backs to linebackers. The Demon Deacons went 8-5 and defeated Missouri in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Senior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. was an All-ACC Honorable Mention selection with 117 tackles – the most by a Demon Deacon since  2006  – 5.5 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. 2021: Worked as a defensive graduate assistant with the Demon Deacons' defensive backs. Wake Forest went 11-3, including 7-1 in ACC play to win the Atlantic Division, and defeated Rutgers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Redshirt senior Traveon Redd was a Second Team All-ACC selection with 69 tackles, 2.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections. 2020: Served as a football recruiting intern during his first season in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.   COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2016-19) A four-year letterwinner at Wesleyan University, Thaw appeared in 31 games, totaling 100 tackles and 11 interceptions throughout his collegiate career. Was a First Team All-New England and All-East Region selection as a senior with 33 tackles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and two blocked kicks. He had two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a junior, and four interceptions and 10 pass breakups during his sophomore season. 

Brandon Williams is in his second season as the Governors’ linebackers coach after joining Jeff Faris’ inaugural coaching staff in Jan. 2024.  Before coming to Clarksville, Williams spent six seasons as Hampton’s linebackers coach. Before his time at Hampton, he worked on the sidelines of his alma mater, East Carolina, as a graduate assistant and a defensive quality control aide. He played four seasons at East Carolina and made over 200 tackles in 41 appearances as a linebacker for the Pirates. Williams graduated from East Carolina in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. WILLIAMS' CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2024-CURRENT) 2024: Named Austin Peay’s linebackers coach in Jan. 2024. During his first season leading the Governors’ linebackers, Dion Hunter earned Second Team All-UAC with 97 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries; he also led APSU in tackles six times with at least six stops each contest. Hunter’s 97 tackles were fifth in the UAC and 47th in the FCS, while his 8.1 tackles per game were good for 46th nationally and fourth in the league. Bo Spearman also led the Govs with 4.0 sacks and ranked second on the team with 8.0 tackles for loss, while inducing a team-best 43 yards lost on stops behind the line. Hampton (2018-23) 2023: Coached Qwahsin Townsel to a Second Team All-CAA selection after totaling 107 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Townsel was invited to play in the AllState HBCU Legacy Bowl and named to the All-Draft HBCU Football Team following the 2023 season. 2022: The Pirates transitioned to the Colonial Athletic Association during the offseason and had their best scoring defense since 2017. Williams coached a pair of Second Team All-CAA selections in KeShaun Moore and Qwahsin Townsel. Moore earned his second-straight all-conference nod after finishing with 58 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 11 games, while Townsel led the Pirates with 100 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss. 2021: Hampton finished with five wins, including three victories in Big South Conference play, during its first season back from the pandemic. Williams guided KeShaun Moore to a Second Team All-BSC selection after totaling 48 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks during his redshirt junior season.  2020: The Pirates’ 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2019: Hampton increased its sack total to 29 during Williams' second season as the linebackers coach and the program's first year as a member of the Big South Conference. 2018: When former East Carolina defensive coordinator Robert Prunty was named the head football coach at Hampton, Williams joined his inaugural coaching staff as a linebackers coach. Hampton ended the season on a six-game winning streak, its longest since an 11-game stretch in 2005, and its seven wins were the most since a 10-win 2006 campaign. The Pirates’ 28 sacks also were their most since 2014. East Carolina (2015-17) 2016-17: Spent two seasons as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, where he worked primarily with the Pirates' defensive line. 2015: Transitioned from the field to the sideline, where he served as a quality control coach for the Pirates and assisted with on-campus recruiting. COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2011-14) Williams was a four-year letterman at East Carolina, 2011-14, and made 15 starts in 41 appearances for the Pirates. Finished his collegiate career with 203 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Started all 13 games for ECU as a senior, totaling 124 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown to earn Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Played in all 13 games as a junior, recording 69 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. His interception came in ECU’s 37-20 victory over Ohio in the 2013 Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl. Made 10 appearances on special teams in 2012. Appeared in five games as a freshman, making nine tackles and tallying a tackle for loss before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Michael Gehl is in his third year at Austin Peay and second as the Governors’ offensive line coach. Gehl previously served as the Governors’ assistant offensive line coach during their 2023 United Athletic Conference Championship season. Before joining the Governors, Gehl worked as an assistant coach at Gallatin High School in 2022, where he coached the Green Wave’s cornerbacks. Before starting his coaching career, Gehl was a tight end at Wheaton College for five seasons and served on the Thunder’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Gehl earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in communication from Wheaton College in Dec. 2021.  GEHL'S CAREER SUMMARY Austin Peay (2023-CURRENT) 2024: Remained on Austin Peay’s football staff and joined Jeff Faris’ inaugural staff as the offensive line coach in Aug. 2024. During his first season leading the Governors’ offensive line, Austin Peay’s running game totaled 1,716 yards and 16 touchdowns, with four Governors rushing for at least 200 yards. APSU also rushed for 200 yards in four games, highlighted by a 331-yard, five-touchdown rushing performance against Alabama A&M – the program's most rushing yards and touchdowns since 2021. His offense line also helped the Govs post a top 25 redzone offense in the FCS, with APSU scoring on 87.1 percent of its trips inside the 20-yard line.  2023: Worked as the assistant offensive line coach for the 2023 United Athletic Conference Champion Governors. During its championship season, Austin Peay’s offensive line helped pave the way for one of the best offenses in the FCS, as it ranked top 15 nationally in scoring, total offense, and passing offense. The team also set program records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense. Gallatin High School (2022) 2022: Was the cornerbacks coach at Gallatin High School for one season under head coach and former Governor, Chad Watson. The Green Wave went 4-7 during his lone season, while posting a 2-3 mark in 6A Region 5 play. COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2017-21) Gehl was a tight end at Wheaton College for five years, finishing his career with 64 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Thunder went 38-6 during his career.