Southern Arkansas University Men's Football

Neriah Brown enters his second season at the helm of the Mulerider Men's and Women's Golf programs at Southern Arkansas. Brown, who is no stranger to Mulerider Golf, takes over the reins of a pair of programs that showed great improvement during previous head coach Ben Sanders' tenure during which Brown played and also served as a graduate assistant. In three semesters as a member of the Mulerider Men's Golf team, Brown posted six rounds in the 70s including a career-best even-par effort of 71 in the opening round of the 2018 MWSU Holiday Inn Express Classic which proved to be his final collegiate round after the remaining rounds were cancelled due to inclement weather. The following spring semester, Brown joined Sanders' staff as a graduate assistant and helped engineer one of the most successful spring campaigns in program history. The Mulerider Men appeared in NCAA postseason play for the first time in the program's Division II Era (1995-96), won a program-record three team events, set 11 program records and notched the two lowest team round scores ever. In the fall of 2019, the Muleriders captured their second-straight GAC Preview title and logged three top six finishes as a team amongst tough regional competition. In two tournaments before the COVID-19 shortened spring season of 2020, the Muleriders placed second at the Houston Classic and defended their Arkansas Collegiate title. For the Mulerider Women, Brown has greatly aided the group over the past three semesters. During that time, the SAU Women recorded a pair of top five team finishes with a third-place finish at the Natural State Golf Classic and a fifth-place showing at the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational. At the HSU Spring Invite, the Muleriders recorded a 54-hole score of 954 (+90) to set a new three-round program record. Following the 2019 season, a pair of Mulerider Women in Bailey Carr and Mackenzy Turner were honored by the league as All-Great American Conference Honorable Mention selections. Along with his playing career and past appointment as a graduate assistant, Brown brings a plethora of extensive knowledge surrounding the game of golf, swing training and development and golf event planning. Brown owns a deep understanding of multiple swing concepts, short game fundamentals, effective mental and physical training routines as well as power and distance maximization processes that will undoubtedly continue to benefit the Mulerider Men's & Women's Golf programs. In addition to serving as a golf cart attendant and pro shop assistant at the Hot Springs Country Club since 2012, Brown trained with Leonardo Di Marino (developer of top junior golf program in Southeast region of United State over past five years) and worked with Philip Holley (multiple PGA Pro of the Year award winner) and Barry Howard (2014 Arkansas State Golf Association Hall of Fame Inductee). Brown received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Analysis from Southern Arkansas University as he graduated Cum Laude in May of 2018. This past spring, the Hot Springs, Arkansas, native, earned his Master of Business Administration from SAU. Additionally, Brown served as a graduate assistant for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) from September 2018 through May 2020.

Brad Smiley just wrapped season three as Head Football Coach of SAU and the 2024 season provided for more excitement in the Smiley era. A final ranking of #23 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, the Muleriders finished 9-2 which with their 19 wins in 2023 and 2024 they tied the 1952-53 Muleriders for the best 2-year win total in program history. The team had an electric and memorable night in November in which they tied 3 Great American Conference Football records in a 78-0 victory over conference foe Northwestern Oklahoma State. The 78 points and 11 touchdowns scored were two of the three GAC records, and the defense holding their opponent to minus 2 yards passing was the third record to go down in conference history.   The 2024 Muleriders also led the Great American Conference with 14 1st or 2nd Team All-GAC selections and had 17 honorees in total. The offensive group was led by the GAC Offensive Player of The Year, quarterback Judd Barton. Barton, a 5-time GAC Offensive Player of The Week selection, was also a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the nation’s best D2 football player. 1st Team All-GAC selections along with Barton were RB Jariq Scales, UTL Kadyn Roach, OL Colton Grier & Center Thomas Bowman. This group led an offense that once again finished among the nation’s top offenses, which they have done for each of the three seasons Smiley has been in Magnolia (2024 #6, 2023 #5 and 2022 #3). The 2024 Muleriders finished ranked #3 Nationally in Turnover Margin at +17, and their E.A.T. Offense finished 1st in the GAC in Passing Offense, as well as Top 10 nationally in Scoring Offense (#6), Total Offense (#6), Touchdowns Scored (#6), Red Zone Rushing Touchdowns (#5), Completion % (#6), Red Zone Scoring (#6) and Rushing Offense (#9). The 2024 season finished up a career for RB Jariq Scales that saw him finish as the all-time leading rusher, leading touchdown scorer and leader in all-purpose yardage in Mulerider Football history.   The Mulerider defense also had a great 2024, led by two D2 Elite 100 selections, two-time AFCA All-American CB Melvin Smith Jr. and All-GAC 1st Team DE Dawson Scott. Smith also became only the second Mulerider in program history to be selected to participate in the Reece’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. along with SAU Hall Of Famer Cedric Thornton. As he prepares for a career in professional football Mel is currently the highest rated D2 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Scott wrapped up a career in Magnolia that saw him become not only the GAC leader in sacks but also the school’s all-time career sack leader.    In season two at the helm, the 2023 Muleriders became only the second football squad in school history with 10 victories, a feat which hadn't been accomplished in 73 years (1952).  The Muleriders finished the 2023 campaign 2nd in the GAC at 10-2, undefeated in Wilkins Stadium and the 2023 Live United Bowl Champions. They defeated Missouri Western State University 43-27 in the December clash of NCAA Super Region 3 ranked teams, where the Muleriders clinched their first postseason win since 1990.   Explosive and league leading offenses have become the norm as SAU finished 1st in the GAC and Top 5 in the nation in Total Offense for the second consecutive season.  The 2023 Muleriders also had a 1st Team AFCA All-American in junior CB Melvin Smith and a 1st Team Academic All-American in junior RB Jariq Scales, who has received this honor in consecutive seasons.  Scales also became the first Mulerider rusher in school history to hit the 1,000-yard mark in three consecutive seasons.  Along with 1st Team selections Smith, Scales and OL Colton Grier, the 2023 Muleriders posted nine All-Great American Conference selections.     In his first season as head football coach of The Muleriders in 2023.  His first season at the helm provided plenty of excitement and promise for the future of the program.  In his inaugural game at Wilkins Stadium on September 1, 2022, The Muleriders set a new home-opener school record for points scored in their 62-31 victory over GAC foe Northwest Oklahoma State.  Explosive offensive numbers became the norm in 2022 as SAU’s offense finished 1st in the Great American Conference and tied for 3rd in NCAA Division 2 in Total Offense, at 485.6 yards per game.  Offensively the team finished Top 4 in nine different categories, leading the GAC in Total Yards, Yards Per Game and First Downs.  The Muleriders also finished Top 25 nationally in 7 different offensive categories, including 6th in the nation in 3rd Downs Conversions (49%) and Rushing Offense (257.8 yards per game).  The rushing attack was led by sophomore RB Jariq Scales, who was named both 1st Team All-GAC and 1st Team Academic All-American and became only the second player in SAU history to have back-to-back 1000-yard rushing seasons.  In 2022 The Muleriders had six players selected on the All-GAC team, including SAU’s all-time leading scorer, K Austin Wilkerson, who joined Scales as a 1st Team Academic All-American and Cliff Harris Award nominee, LB Jacob Berry.   Smiley came to Magnolia from his hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana where he spent the previous four seasons as offensive coordinator at Northwestern State University.  While at NSU the Demon Offense broke or tied 24 school records, including posting the school’s all-time career leader in passing, completions and passing touchdowns (Shelton Eppler); the school’s all-time single season leader in receptions (Quan Shorts) and the all-time single season leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (Jazz Ferguson).  In 2021, the Demons offense also broke the single game record for Total Offense with 707 yards in a victory over #14 ranked UIW.  During his short tenure at NSU, Smiley’s offense produced a Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year, an All-Louisiana College Team Offensive Player of the Year, two Division 1 FCS All-American wide receivers and NSU’s only 400-yard passers in school history.   Prior to NSU, Smiley built Trinity Valley Community College (2007-2017) into one of the country’s most dominant junior college football programs. In 2014, American Football Monthly magazine honored Smiley as the National Junior College Coach of the Year after leading the program to a perfect 12-0 record that season.  Smiley took over a TVCC program that only won two games in its previous season and finished becoming the only program in conference history to win five consecutive conference championships (2013-2017).  Smiley’s Cardinals during that span would also win three regional championships (2013, 2014 and 2016), spent 64 consecutive weeks ranked in the NJCAA Top 20 and 22 straight weeks ranked in the NJCAA Top 10.  During his 11 seasons, Smiley coached twenty All-Americans, one National Player of the Year, two Conference Offensive Players of the Year, three Conference MVP’s, four Conference Defensive Players of the Year, was named Region Coach of the Year three times and was victorious in four of their five bowl appearances.    The Cardinal’s offense held a top 10 national ranking in nine of Smiley’s 11 seasons as head coach, and their prolific offense led the nation in total touchdowns and scoring offense for three straight seasons (2014-2016).  During his tenure at TVCC, the offense set eight NJCAA national records including: Yards Per Game (656.1 in 2015) and Yards in a Season (7,778 in 2014). In 2015, the Cardinal’s offensive numbers led all of college football regardless of level.    Prior to TVCC, Smiley spent seven seasons (2000-2006) coaching at Tulane University in New Orleans. While at Tulane he spent five seasons coaching the Green Wave tight ends as well as carrying the title of recruiting coordinator.  While there he was a part of an offensive staff that produced Tulane’s career passer (former 1st Round NFL draft pick Patrick Ramsey), top two rushers (former NFL running backs Matt Forte and Mewelde Moore) and scoring leader (Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Seth Marler).  Smiley and his beautiful wife Janna have been married for 27 years, and they have two wonderful children.  His oldest, Ben, is a 2024 Business Administration graduate of Louisiana Tech University and is currently pursuing his MBA in Finance from Louisiana Tech as well. His daughter Clary is currently an undergrad at Southern Arkansas University, where she is a Biology (Pre-Health) major, as well as serving on the football staff as a student assistant with Football Operations.  Coach Smiley holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing from Baylor University, and a Masters of Education in Sports Administration from Northwestern State University.  

The latest addition to the 2024 Great American Conference’s Men’s Golf Coach of the Year’s staff competed in the sport at a pair of institutions as she started at the NJCAA’s Tyler Junior College in August of 2019 and ventured to NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M for her final 2 years and 10 months as a student-athlete.   During her summers as a Panther, Billips sought to stay around the sport and thus worked as a cart attendant at Oak Mountain State Park Golf from June 2022 to August 2022 (3 months). From June of ’23 to August of the same year, the Bedford, Texas native continued her time with Oak Mountain State Park Golf as a pro shop attendant.   During her transition from Tyler to Prairie View, Billips operated as an intern for the Northern Texas PGA from May of ’21 to August of that year. Her duties included overseeing player registration, starting, officiating rules, and award presentations. The Lone Star descendant completed pre- and post-tournament duties such as including event reporting and equipment and course setup/breakdown.   In her last two years as a student-athlete, Billips acquired a pair of All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors as she was named a first-teamer in 2023 and a second-teamer in 2024. For her junior season, Billips led the Panthers at the 2023 SWAC Championship with a 73 on the final day to place fourth with her three-round total of 237 (84-80-73). Her performance secured second-place for the Panthers in the conference tournament.   Her final performance as a student-athlete saw Billips tie for eighth in the 2024 SWAC Championship as she was just four strokes shy of the PVAMU team-leader with a 239 (81-78-80).   Education Tyler Junior College (Aug. 2019 – June 2021) Associate’s degree, General Studies   Prairie View A&M University (August 2021 – December 2023) Bachelor’s of Applied Science – BASc, Kinesiology and Exercise Science   Honors & Awards Second Team All-SWAC – Southwestern Athletic Conference (April 2024) First Team All-SWAC – Southwestern Athletic Conference (April 2023) Summa Cum Laude – Prairie View A&M University (December 2023)  

Jackson is beginning his first year with the SAU Athletics Department.  A native of the Lone Star State, Pickard has five years of experience from both Stephen F. Austin State University and Ouachita Baptist University. While in Nacogdoches, Texas (at SFA), he worked as a Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications. In this role, he assisted with game day operations for Stephen F. Austin's 18 varsity sports teams, maintained the athletics website, and designed and published game notes and media guides for the athletics teams.  Before his time in Texas, Jackson gained valuable experience in athletic communications while working as a student assistant in the athletic department at Ouachita Baptist University. In this role, he assisted the Tigers' athletic department by handling tasks such as public announcing, scorekeeping, and operating NCAA live statistics. Jackson, who is from Georgetown, Texas, learned many of the skills he would later develop at SFA during his time at Ouachita Baptist University. 

Kyle Washington just wrapped up his first year in Magnolia and led the Muleriders to another successful year offensively. Led by the GAC Offensive Player of The Year Judd Barton, the Mulerider Offense finished first or second in the Great American Conference in twelve different categories and top ten in all of NCAA D2 in nine categories. They led the GAC in Passing Offense, Completion Percentage, Red Zone Scores, Red Zone Touchdowns and Turnovers Lost in which they were 2nd nationally. They finished Top 6 nationally in Scoring Offense, Total Offense, Touchdowns Scored, Red Zone Scores and Red Zone Touchdowns.   Washington, who also coaches the Mulerider quarterbacks, helped tutor the top signal caller in the conference. The aforementioned GAC Player Of The Year QB Judd Barton, was also a five-time recipient of the GAC Offensive Player Of The Week, was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the nation’s D2 player of the year, and was an Honorable Mention selection on the Don Hansen All-American Team. Barton led the GAC in Total Offense, Total Yards, Touchdowns Responsible For, Completion Percentage, Yards Per Attempt and Fewest Interceptions. Washington’s offense led the GAC with a league best 8 offensive players named to the All-GAC 1st or 2nd teams.         Washington joined Smiley's staff in Magnolia after serving as the quarterbacks coach at Northwestern State for the past two seasons. While in Natchitoches, Washington helped the Demon offense average 346.2 yards per game over 17 games. The NSU quarterbacks averaged 238 yards through the air and accounted for 25 passing touchdowns.     Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Washington was invited to participate in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Indianapolis Colts in July and August of that year.   Washington, a standout quarterback at Angelo State, has also served as the offensive coordinator at Franklin Pierce, a Division II school in New Hampshire.   With Washington on staff, the Ravens saw their offense enjoy an increase of 148 yards per game and an additional 115 rushing yards per game upon his arrival. While coaching quarterbacks and running backs in addition to his coordinator duties, Washington helped running back EJ Burgess rank fifth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (161.5) while earning All-Super Region One first-team acclaim and Northeast 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.   Washington spent the 2019 season as an offensive quality control coach at McNeese State, focusing on quarterbacks. While with the Cowboys, Washington oversaw video breakdowns of opposing defenses, conducted individual drills for Cowboy quarterbacks and implemented the scheme for the scout team defense.    He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant working with running backs at his alma mater Angelo State in 2016 and 2017.   During his playing career at Angelo State, Washington was a semifinalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy – the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 2014. In his senior season, Washington quarterbacked a Rams offense that led Division II with an average of 560 yards per game, producing an average of 411 yards per game himself. He earned his second straight All-American nod from D2Football.com that season and repeated as the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year.   A three-time All-LSC honoree and three-time team captain, Washington helped lead Angelo State to a Lone Star Conference Playoff championship and a berth in the 2014 Division II national playoffs. He was the San Angelo Standard Times' Sportsman of the Year in 2014 and made the first of two appearances on the Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Team. In 2013, Washington became the first ASU player to throw for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season.   His Angelo State career made him the Most Valuable Player on the Standard Times' All-Decade Team, selected in 2020. At the conclusion of his career at ASU, Washington owned every significant career passing record in Ram annals, including completions (766), yards (9485), yards per game (225.8), touchdowns (84) and completion percentage (61.6%).   Following his decorated college career, Washington participated in rookie mini-camp with the Philadelphia Eagles and was a training camp participant with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders.  

TJ Langley is entering season 5 in the Blue & Gold, and has established himself as one of the top defensive line coaches in the region. Already the program’s Recruiting Coordinator, Coach Langley in the spring of 2025 has also added the responsibility of Assistant Head Coach for the program.    His 2024 “Trench Mob” was a force to be reckoned with, leading the Great American Conference in Sacks and finishing top 15 nationally. His defensive line also helped to lead a defense that also finished 1st in the GAC in Defensive Touchdowns (2nd NCAA), 2nd in Tackles for Loss (16th NCAA) and 3rd in Total Defense and Scoring Defense.     Coach Langley has made it a tradition for the Mulerider’s to have some of the top defensive lineman in the GAC each year, having had a GAC 1st or 2nd Team selection annually. The 2024 contributors were 1st Team selection DE Dawson Scott and 2nd Team selection’s DT Elvin Calhoun and DE/OLB Hunter Hewitt. A finalist for the GAC Defensive Player of The Year, Scott was also named to the D2 Football Elite 100, was a 2nd Team AFCA All-American Team and Honorable Mention Don Hansen All-American Team selection. Scott not only led the GAC in Sacks (4th NCAA), but his incredible season saw him also finish 2nd in the GAC in Tackles for Loss and Forced Fumbles (10th NCAA).   In 2023, Langley helped turn around a defense that led the program to a 10-win season, and a 2023 Live United Bowl Championship. The Muleriders were among the league leaders in multiple categories including, Defensive TD's (2nd), Fumbles Recovered (2nd), Interceptions (2nd), Scoring Defense (4th), Sacks By (4th) and Total Defense (4th).  Tutoring defensive linemen to All-Great American Conference status has become a consistent theme in Magnolia with Langley's total now at five in three seasons.  This includes 2023 selections DE Dawson Scott and DT Elvin Calhoun, 2022 selection DE Prince Udenze and 2021 picks DE David Walker and DT Demoni Boyd.   Langley navigated the Muleriders’ defensive line unit through the pandemic-canceled season of 2020, while his 2021 unit made up for lost time serving a Mulerider defense that finished second in the Great American Conference in sacks with 28 in 11 games totaling 199 yards. Langley’s front helped the SAU defense rank tied for fourth in yards allowed per rush at 4.3.   In his first year on the sideline (year two on staff), Langley tutored a pair of All-GAC honorees in David Walker and Demoni Boyd. Walker, a second-team selection, recorded 15.5 tackles for loss which included seven sacks, while Boyd, who earned honorable mention, logged 8.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 coming as sacks in addition to recording a pair of blocked kicks.   Hired in July of 2020, Langley arrived in Magnolia from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. While at NEO, Langley coached the Golden Norsemen defensive line and linebackers as part of a defensive unit that led Region XIV in pass yards allowed per game (162.9), ranked tied for second in points allowed per game (22.2) and posted the fourth-best rushing defense in the league (146.1) during the 2019 season.   Prior to his time at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Langley began his coaching career at Idabel High School (OK) where he spent four seasons as defensive coordinator under legendary head coach Dennis Parker (2x Texas High School Football Coach of the Year). With Langley at the helm of the Warriors' defense, HIS made four-consecutive trips to the state playoffs after posting a 1-9 record the year prior to Langley's arrival and in 2017 his defense ranked in the top 10 statewide in points allowed. Additionally, Langley served as the school's strength and conditioning coach during his time in Idabel and in his final three years he served as the head powerlifting coach.   As a collegiate student-athlete, Langley's football career began at Northeastern Oklahoma State in 2007 where he played tight end. He transferred to Arkansas Tech where he played both tight end and defensive end during his Wonder Boy career which culminated in him being inducted into the Arkansas Tech University T Club. As a senior, Langley recorded 23 tackles (17 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a team-leading nine quarterback pressures in his senior season which helped him earn an invitation to the inaugural Eastham Energy All-Star Game in Tempe, Arizona.   Following his collegiate career, Langley signed as an undrafted free agent of the Buffalo Bills in 2011 before playing three seasons in the Arena Football League with the Jacksonville Sharks and Philadelphia Soul. While with the Philadelphia Soul in 2012, Langley competed in Arena Bowl XXV.   In 2016, Langley received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Recreation from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and in 2018 he received his Master of Science in Sports Administration with an emphasis on Strength and Conditioning from SOSU.   Langley and his wife, Sarah, have one son, Braylon, a strong 15-year-old #CFWarrior who is fighting and winning his daily battle with cystic fibrosis and a 4-year-old daughter Lilliana Marie.  

Anthony Lewis joined the football staff in the spring of 2025 and will coach the Mulerider offensive line. A wealth of experience at the Division 1 & 2 levels, Anthony brings a championship pedigree to the staff, both as a coach and as a player.    Lewis spent the fall of 2024 in Wichita Falls, where he coached the offensive line for Midwestern State University. While there, two of his offensive linemen were selected to the 2024 Lone Star Conference All-Conference Team.   Prior to MSU Lewis spent two seasons at Division 1(FCS) Tennessee State University, where he coached the offensive line for head football coach and college football hall of famer, Eddie George. Upon his arrival the Tigers saw immediate improvement up front and offensively. In the 2023 season, the Tiger’s offense saw major statistical jumps in several categories including Rushing Offense, Scoring Offense, Total Offense, as well as decreasing in Sacks Against by a whopping 13. Also in 2023, Lewis helped TSU secure their 1st winning season since 2017.   Prior to TSU, Lewis coached at his alma mater, Angelo State University, where he was a member of the Ram’s coaching staff for eight seasons. Hired immediately after completing his senior season, Anthony coached the tight ends for the 2014 Lone Star Conference Championship and 2014 NCAA DII  National Championship Playoffs, where they made it to the second round. Lewis coached the ASU tight ends for three seasons, 2014 to 2016 before taking over the offensive line in the 2017 season. He headed up the ASU offensive line for five seasons where they saw great successes up front and as a program. In Lewis’ five seasons he had a total of 14 selections to the LSC All-Conference teams. His 2021 line had four total selections, three of which were named to the 1st Team, and he had one 2nd Team selection. This list included Willis Patrick, who was named the 2021 LSC Lineman Of the Year, 2021 All-Super Region and a 2021 1st Team All-American.    In his final season at ASU, the 2021 Rams finished 11-3 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II National Championship Playoffs. Under Lewis' guidance, the offensive line helped pave the way for three All-LSC running backs. They finished the 2021 season averaging 224.8 Rushing Offense, which was good for 1st in the LSC (11th NCAA). They also finished 1st in the LSC in Total Offense (21st NCAA) averaging 444.1 yards per game.     Lewis was a standout lineman for ASU, starting for two seasons in 2012 and 2013. His senior season he was named to the 2013 Don Hansen All-American Team, as well as 1st Team 2013 All-Region and 2013 LSC All-Conference. That 2013 season he also anchored a rushing attack that set the Angelo State single season program rushing record of 3,059 yards. Lewis, a native of San Antonio began his playing career at Cisco Junior College and is a graduate of San Antonio Robert E. Lee High School. Lewis holds a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Angelo State University.   

Dionte Dean just wrapped up season one with The Muleriders, and helped lead a unit that finished top 3 in the Great American Conference in 8 different defensive categories. These categories included leading the conference in Defensive Touchdowns and Sacks, as well as finishing among the top two teams in the GAC in Tackles for Loss, Interceptions, Turnovers Gained, Passing Defense, Completion Percentage & Pass Efficiency Defense. The stingy 2024 defense were well represented on the 2024 All-GAC Team with five 1st or 2nd Team selections, including two-time AFCA All-American CB Melvin Smith Jr. who was also joined on the 1st Team with the GAC sack leader DE Dawson Scott. Both Smith Jr. and Scott were also named to the 2024 D2 Football Elite 100 Team, and both were selected to the 2024 AFCA All-American Team. In Dean’s defensive backfield, Smith Jr. was also joined on the 2024 All-GAC Team by 2nd Team Special Teams selection safety Tridell Talley, as well as 3rd Team selections CB Zay Woods and S Donovan Adkins. Under Dean’s tutelage, Melvin Smith Jr. in February 2025 became just the second Mulerider in program history selected to participate in the Recce’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Al.    Dean spent the 2023 season at UT Permian Basin, champions of the Lone Star Conference, where he orchestrated the Falcons' defensive unit to a top 10 ranking nationally behind top 15 marks in scoring defense and passing defense as well as a top 35 ranking in rushing defense. Dean's unit featured the both the LSC Linebacker of the Year (Hayden Kelly) and Defensive Lineman of the Year (Dom Varella). UTPB's historic season saw the Falcons fly into the D2 playoffs where Dean's defense held a Bemidji State offense to just 10 points and 220 yards of total offense.   Prior to UTPB, Dean spent five seasons as the defensive backs coach at Ouachita Baptist University. During his time at Ouachita, he helped the team to a record of 43-5, three Great American Conference titles, three NCAA playoff appearances, and the program's first Division II playoff victory over the University of Indianapolis.   In those four seasons (2018-2022), Dean coached the first Cliff Harris Award finalist in school history, Keandre Evans, and Gregory Junior, who became the school's first-ever NFL Draft selection when he was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.   Dean helped coach and mentor two All-American defensive backs, two All-Region defensive backs, and nine All-Conference defensive backs. In Dean's first season, the defense led the country in points per game (9.6), only allowed five passing touchdowns and created 19 interceptions in 11 regular season games.   Prior to Ouachita, Dean was the offensive coordinator at Blinn College in 2017 where he helped guide the Buccaneers to the NJCAA playoffs after BC missed out on the postseason the previous five seasons. Dean's offense averaged over 500 yards a game, 250 passing yards, and 255 yards rushing, all of which ranked in the top five in NJCAA.   Before Dean's stint at Blinn, he wore multiple hats at Cisco College, serving as head coach from 2014-17, as well as quarterbacks coach and offensive play caller, and as defensive coordinator from 2011-14.   CC's Richard Lagow was rated the No. 1 Quarterback in junior college football, eventually signing with the University of Indiana. Notable players from that team include defensive end Michael Clemons, who signed with Texas A&M and was drafted in the fourth round by the New York Jets in 2022, and defensive back Broderick Thomas, who signed with the University of Alabama - Birmingham and as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos while also spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs.   Dean played his collegiate ball at Tyler Junior College before transferring to East Central University where he became an All-GAC safety, leading the team in interceptions and tackles his senior year.   Following his playing career, Dean served as a graduate assistant for the Tigers coaching the cornerbacks in year one and the quarterbacks and wide receivers in year two.   Dean is the son of Twondlyn Carhee and Willie Green. Green played collegiately as a wide receiver at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) from 1986-1989 before being drafted in the eighth round by the Detroit Lions. Green played in the NFL from 1989-98 spending time with the Detroit Lions (1989-94), Carolina Panthers (95-96), and the Denver Broncos (97-98) winning Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII with Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Dean has two children, daughter Madison and son Kyler.   Dean, a native of Dallas, Texas and a graduate of Lancaster High School, earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology, Exercise and Sports Science from East Central where he also received his Master's degree in Sports Administration: Secondary Education.

Third-year head coach Brad Smiley has announced that Matt Tyler has been hired as Southern Arkansas' Linebackers Coach. The official announcement was made on February 28. Tyler, who brings experience at the Division II level and a familiarity of the Great American Conference to Magnolia, takes over for Derrick Berry who left the program in January to join the defensive staff of the United Football League’s San Antonio Brahmas. “I am excited to get to work with Matt and have him back in the GAC,” remarked Smiley. “He’s going to bring a lot of energy to the defense and to our program!” Tyler comes to SAU after a successful stint as the Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator/Special Teams assistant at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This past fall, Davenport posted an 8-2 record, while reaching as high as #9 in the D2 AFCA rankings. The lone losses suffered by the Panthers in 2023 were to top 10 ranked and NCAA playoff teams in Ferris State and Grand Valley State. While assisting the special teams unit he helped mentor a pair of All-GLIAC specialists in kicker Brandon Gielow and punter Kyle Wojahan. Prior to his one season stint at Davenport, Tyler served as the Running Backs Coach/Out of State Recruiting Coordinator at American River College in Sacramento, Calif. During his time at American River, he mentored multiple running backs on their way to an undefeated conference championship and Nor-Cal Championship game appearance. He also assisted with special teams which ranked among the top of the conference. Magnolia isn’t Tyler’s first stop in the Great American Conference. The Californian played fullback at Henderson State for three seasons. While with the Reddies, Tyler earned all-conference honors both on the field and in the classroom. The Henderson State offense ranked among the best during his time at HSU. In 2021, HSU had the fourth-best total offense in Division II (494.3 ypg) and seventh-best scoring offense (40.5 ppg). Between 2019 and 2021, the Reddies won 18 games and made an appearance in the 2019 Live United Bowl. Before HSU, Tyler attended and played at Butte College in Oroville, California where he played fullback for head coach Robby Snelling and the history-laden Roadrunners. made an appearance in the 2017 State Center Bowl. Tyler received his Associates of Arts in Sociology from Butte College in 2017, his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2019 and his Masters of Arts in Sports Administration from Henderson State in 2021. Born in Sacramento, California, Tyler attended Rocklin High School in Rocklin, California graduating in 2015. He currently resides in Magnolia, where he enjoys weightlifting and hiking in his free time.