Birmingham-Southern College Men's Football

Anthony Colucci is entering his first season as Head Coach of the Panthers after being hired in December 2022. Colucci has been the offensive coordinator for the Panthers since the 2017 season. In the 2022 season, Colucci helped the Panthers' offense remain one of the best in the SAA. BSC finished first in the conference in total yards and yards per game. The Panthers also led the SAA in rushing with 251.3 yards per game in conference play. Sophomore RB Jon Lewis couldn't be stopped and earned All-American honors by the Associated Press, D3Football.com, and the American Football Coaches Association in 2022. OL Brandon Armstrong was named to the All-Region Second Team Offense in 2022, and nine total Panthers were all-conference selections from the offense. The BSC All-SAA tight end streak was also extended to six straight years with Bryon Millsap earning first team honors. In 2021, Colucci helped the Panthers to the winningest season in program history. The Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, following the first NCAA tournament berth in program history. The 2021 season was another record setting year for the Panthers’ offense. The Panthers once again led the SAA in scoring and broke three SAA all-time rushing records. The offense also broke 12 school records including scoring, rushing yards, and more. The offense produced a school record 10 All-SAA selections. Robert Shufford capped off a storied career with another All-American season. Shufford took advantage of running lanes created by four All-SAA offensive linemen: Brandon Armstrong, Chris Moore, Michael Gray, and Derrick Maddox. Armstrong was also named the All-Region Team. For the fifth consecutive season BSC produced an All-SAA tight end. In 2021 the honor went to Byron Millsap. During a shortened 2021 spring season, the Panther offense led the SAA in scoring. Overall, the offense produced nine all-conference players. Robert Shufford led the way while winning the SAA Offensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year. Helping pave the way for him were all-conference offensive lineman: Chris Moore, Brandon Armstrong, and Derrick Maddox. In a shortened season, Wells Smith and Brandon Rew were both on pace to set multiple receiving records. For the fourth consecutive season, the Panther offense produced an All-SAA tight end. This year, the recognition went to Luke DeFur. The 2019 season was a record year for the Panthers’ offense. In total, the offense finished top 10 in four national categories, including the national leader in tackles for a loss allowed. The offense set 11 school records across total offense, scoring, all-purpose yards and more.  They led the league in every team offensive category and were powered by unanimous All-American and Gagliardi finalist Robert Shufford. The running back used the holes created by four All-Southern Athletic Association offensive lineman. Tackles Austin Lewter and Spencer Scofield were first-team all-conference. Lewter was also named all-region and earned Academic All-District honors.  The offensive line received national recognition, set program records, and ranked nationally. Quarterback Trevor Oakes quietly became the all-time passing leader. In all, the offense produced a finalist for the award given to the top Division III football student-athlete, a unanimous All-American, three all-region selections, and nine All-SAA nods. In 2018, the Panthers’ offense improved in every statistical category, finishing second in the SAA for total offense under Colucci. They set a new school record during their week six win, totaling 650 yards of offense. The Panthers also put up 57 points in the win, the third most in school history. The passing attack led the way for most of the season while ranking in the top 50 nationwide in almost all categories. The Panthers’ offense received seven all-conference nods for their 2018 performances. Highlighting the group was freshman wide receiver Gentry Neese, who was named the Southern Athletic Association Newcomer of the Year. Neese tallied 55 receptions for 553 yards and one touchdown on the year. The offensive line received nationwide recognition when they were named to the d3football.com Team of the Week after paving the way for 285 rushing yards and a total of 518 yards in their week eight win. This was also the third consecutive week in which the BSC offensive line didn’t give up a single sack. Colucci’s first season on the Hilltop saw the BSC offense ranked nationally in every category, including passing offense.  The Panthers’ set a new school record in their week six performance while throwing for 447 total yards. And five Panthers earned all-conference nods on the offensive side of the ball. Colucci previously spent three years on staff at Centre College, where he was the tight ends coach for two years before taking over the offensive line. During his tenure with the Colonels, the offense broke program records in total points and yards per season for three consecutive years, finishing 2016 with 5,086 total yards (which ranked 13th nationally for total offense). They also ranked in the top 20 of all NCAA Division III in six other offensive categories, including 42.6 points per game. During the 2016 campaign, four Colonel offensive lineman were recognized with All-Southern Athletic Association honors under Colucci. Tre Killian was a first-team all-conference selection while both Jeremy Walker and Tim Grabenstein were recognized on the second team. Lowell Brown earned honorable mention all-conference as well. Centre has compiled 500-plus yards of offense in nine games over the past two seasons, with 12 of at least 400 yards. The Colonels finished top 20 in NCAA Division III in total offense in 2015 as well, with quarterback Heath Haden setting program career records in passing yards (8,872), passing touchdowns (68), and total yards (10,623). In 2014, the Colonels completed an undefeated regular season which sent them to the NCAA Division III Playoffs representing the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). During that conference championship run, Colucci coached all-conference first team selection Brandon Kamp at the tight end position, who was also named to the 2015 Kentucky Football Hall of Fame All-Commonwealth Team.  A native of Ashtabula, Ohio, Colucci spent his playing days at Capital University where he was a three-year starter on the offensive line. He is a 2014 graduate of Capital University with a bachelor’s degree of science in nursing.  Colucci and his wife Chelsea have one son, AJ. They reside in Gardendale, Ala.

The 2023 season will be Mike Harris' third season on the BSC coaching staff. Harris enters his second season as the assistant secondary coach after working with the defensive line in 2021.  The 2022 season saw huge success for the Panthers' secondary with eleven interceptions in ten games and at least one interception in all but one contest. Defensive backs Jimmy Anderson and Conner Thornburg earned All-Region honors while five total Panthers secondary players earned All-SAA in 2022. In 2021, Harris helped the Panthers to the winningest season in program history. The Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, following the first NCAA tournament berth in program history. Harris, a former long-time high school coach in the state of Alabama will bring a wealth of knowledge to the staff. Most recently, he served as the defensive coordinator at Sylacauga High School. Prior to his three years with Sylacauga, Harris spent 18 seasons as a head coach and athletic director in the state.  Originally from Verbena, Ala, Harris is a graduate of Faulkner University. He and his family currently reside in Verbena, Ala. 

Jeremy Austin was hired as the defensive line coach in June of 2023. He comes to Birmingham Southern after spending the last season at Mississippi Valley State (FCS). At MVSU, Austin coached and developed All-SWAC edge rusher Ronnie Thomas, who signed with the Calgary Stampeders. Under Austin, Thomas broke MVSU single season sack record with 10.5, led the SWAC in total sacks, total TFLs and placed 5th in FCS for TFLs total and per as well as 4th in FCS Sacks total and per.  Before the individual success at MVSU he spent two seasons with the Charlotte 49ers as Defensive Grad Assistant/Assistant Defensive Line Coach. Prior to his stint at UNC Charlotte, the Columbia, South Carolina native was the Quality Control and Assistant Defensive Line Coach as well as Video Coordinator at Wofford College (FCS) from 2020-21.  Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Austin also interned with the Gamecocks' recruiting department in 2017. Austin began his career at Cardinal Newman High School in his hometown over three seasons as Varsity Outside Linebackers Coach and JV Defensive Coordinator (2014-17). Austin received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from The University of South Carolina in 2017.  

Greg Mitchell enters his first season with the Panthers and will serve as the Wide Receiver coach for the 2023 season. Birmingham-Southern is the fifth collegiate coaching stop for Mitchell, who comes to Birmingham after spending the 2022 season as the wide receiver coach/video coordinator at Division II Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.  Prior to Upper Iowa, Mitchell spent the 2021 season as the wide receiver coach/video coordinator for Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. In his one season with the Gators, Mitchell helped sophomore wide receiver Vaun Ross lead the NCAC conference in total receptions (57). Prior to Allegheny, Mitchell served two stints (2018 & 2020) as the wide receiver coach at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. In his first season with St. Olaf, Mitchell helped first-year wide receiver Gabe Alada to Honorable Mention All-MIAC honors after Alada led the MIAC in yards per catch (20.9), while ranking third in receiving touchdowns (9) and fourth in both receiving yards (753) and receiving yards per game (75.3). His average of 20.9 yards per reception ranked 10th in NCAA Division III, while his nine receiving touchdowns were the most by an Ole wide receiver since 2013. In addition to his time in Minnesota, Mitchell spent one season (2019) coaching the running backs as a graduate assistant at Division II Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. In his one year with Emporia State, Mitchell helped Junior running back Carlos Grace to All-MIAA honors after Grace rushed for 824 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Mitchell has also coached in three different all-star events. In January of 2023, he served as the wide receiver coach & assistant head coach for Team Crusaders in the HBCU Dream Bowl all-star game in Little Elm, TX. In January of 2022, he also served as the wide receiver coach for Team Crusaders in the HBCU Dream Bowl all-star game this time in Salem, VA. In June of 2019, Mitchell served as the wide receiver coach for the U.S. National Team Middle School Bowl game in Frisco, TX.  Originally from Sheldon, WI, Mitchell is a 2016 graduate of Augsburg University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in communication studies and played four years as a wide receiver for the Auggies.  

After spending four years on the Hilltop as a student-athlete Trey Gory joins the Panthers coaching staff, serving as the Tight Ends coach. As a player at BSC, Gory was a four year starter, Second Team All-Conference in 2021, and Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2022 as a Defensive Lineman. A native of Mountain Brook, AL, Gory graduated from Birmingham-Southern in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  

Wil Truelove joined the Birmingham-Southern staff as a full-time assistant in 2012 after spending four years as a student-athlete. Truelove entered his first season as defensive coordinator in 2022 and will be the assistant head coach for the first time in the 2023 season. 2022 saw BSC continue their defensive success continue under Truelove. The Panthers finished second in the conference in yards given up per game and total touchdowns against. BSC also recorded at least one interception in nine of ten games. Under Truelove's defense, the Panthers had three of the top ten tacklers in the SAA. Jimmy Anderson and Conner Thornburg earned All-Region honors for the Panthers' defense. Eleven Panthers were All-SAA selections with five of them being part of the secondary. In 2021, Truelove helped the Panthers to the winningest season in program history. The Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, following the first NCAA tournament berth in program history. Truelove helped to lead a defense which set the all-time SAA record for scoring defense. The defense also broke 10 school record including sacks, TFL’s, rush yards allowed and more. Truelove also coached 3 linebackers to All-SAA honors in Court Coley, Cam DeArman, and Gage Motes. DeArman set the BSC record for career sacks. Coley was also named a First-Team All-Region selection. Truelove worked with the defensive line for the previous five seasons, and it was a force to be reckoned with under his guidance. During the shortened 2021 spring season, Truelove helped mentor two All-SAA defensive lineman. In a shortened season, Cam DeArman was on pace to set the single season sack record. In 2019, under Truelove’s guidance, the Panthers defensive line recorded 23 sacks breaking the school record at the time. The Panthers also set a new record for the best rushing defense in school history. Senior, and team captain, Corey Robinson led the way up front and was recognized on the All-Southern Athletic Association team. During the 2018 season Truelove helped produce two All-SAA honorees in Mitchell Milovich and Reggie Norwood. And 2016 saw Matthew Gibbs was recognized on the All-SAA team. Prior to Head Coach Tony Joe White’s arrival to Birmingham-Southern, Truelove spent his time coaching the secondary. During his inaugural coaching season, Truelove assisted on one of the top defenses in the conference. The Panthers finished second in the league in points per game on their way to a conference title. Andrew Shannon and Ty Keenum were named to the All-SAA teams under Truelove’s leadership. Truelove had a knack for getting his secondary to focus on takeaways. In 2014 LaPrintence Gunn was named to the All-SAA second team while leading the league in interceptions. The Panthers’ 2015 defense finished second in the conference for total takeaways. Matthew Franks and Matthew Byers were both honored on the All-SAA teams for their efforts. A native of McDonough, Ga., Truelove earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Birmingham-Southern in 2008. He and his wife Lauren have one daughter, Bailey.

Charlie Dudley will be entering his second season in the Panthers' football program. After taking over the Panthers’ running backs for the 2022 season, he will also be the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2022, Dudley's running backs were highly successful. The Panthers led the SAA in yards per game, yards per rush, and total rushing yards. Two BSC running backs finished inside the top ten in the conference in rushing with Jon Lewis leading the conference in total yards and rushing for 154.6 yards per game. Lewis was an All-American in the D3football.com, the Associated Press, and the American Football Coaches Association's teams. Dudley spent the last five seasons coaching Birmingham Prep, a postgraduate prep/junior college program, as the Offensive/Recruiting Coordinator and Academic Advisor. In these roles, Dudley helped lead Birmingham Prep to the National Prep School Athletic Association Championships (2017 & 2018) and a Southern Postgraduate Championship (2020) as well as a Semifinal appearance in 2019 and a finals appearance in 2021. He also oversaw over 80 percent of the eligible players receiving offers to play at 4-year schools from NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA since 2017. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minors in English and history. He also holds a masters in sports administration from Canisius College, a master’s in secondary education from Liberty University, a doctorate in education with a specialization in sports management from Northcentral University and is a published author. A native of Birmingham, Alabama he graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School. Dudley, his wife Sidney, and son Bo reside in Odenville, Ala.

Court Coley enters his second season as the linebackers coach for BSC. Coley joined the Panthers' staff before last season after graduating from The Hilltop in 2022. In 2022, Coley helped the Panthers defense rank second in the conference in yards given up per game and touchdowns against. Three Panther linebackers earned All-SAA honors with Ty Armstrong and Joey Kiernan ranking inside the top ten in total tackles.  As a player at BSC, Coley was a team captain and defensive MVP in 2021. He was also an All-South Region Team and All-SAA First-Team selection at linebacker. A native of Gadsden, AL, Coley graduated from Birmingham-Southern in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.