MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones has hired Mike Adams, the former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at South Carolina State, to fill one of the remaining openings on his football staff, pending an official announcement.
Adams will reportedly coach linebackers for the Jaguars.
Success at South Carolina State
Adams joined South Carolina State in 2006 and coached defensive backs for two seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator, when he also took over the linebackers.
The Bulldogs won Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in 2008 and 2009 and shared the title in 2010.
South Carolina State’s 2010 defense ranked first nationally in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense. It was second in scoring defense, sacks per game, pass efficiency defense and first downs allowed, fifth in third-down conversion defense and sixth in tackles for loss. That unit included the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, one first-team All-MEAC selection and five second-team picks.
Coaching Background
Adams began his coaching career at his alma mater, Ball State, in 1997 as a student assistant working with linebackers. He graduated from Ball State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration.
He then went to Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana, where he coached wide receivers and running backs in 1998 before moving to defensive backs in 1999 and 2000. After the 2000 season, he spent five seasons at West Georgia coaching defensive backs and special teams before joining South Carolina State.
Recommendation From Savage
In an interview with WNSP, it was noted that Adams came recommended by Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage.
South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Jones has led the program since its founding.
