HEAD COACH

SYLVESTER CROOM

When Mississippi State began its search in October 2003 for the 31st

head coach in its long football history, the university sought an enthu-

siastic teacher with the energy to rebuild the Bulldog football program

and an individual with an attention to detail who demands the discipline needed

to bring structure to a vast organization. On all accounts, MSU found its man when

it hired Sylvester Croom on Dec. 1, 2003.

“Sylvester Croom met all of the criteria we laid forth for the selection of a new

head football coach at Mississippi State,” Director of Athletics Larry Templeton

said. “We went after the best football coach, and we’re confi dent we found that

individual in Sylvester Croom.”

MSU faithful hope that State's season-ending 35-14 win over Ole Miss to cul-

minate the 2005 campaign signals a turning point toward the future of Croom's

program.

Croom continues the daunting task of constructing the foundation upon which

the Bulldog football program will be rebuilt. In the two years since being named

to head MSU's football fortunes, the traits that made Croom the best coach for

State have come to life.

Croom became an in-demand speaker at alumni and booster events because of

his forthright approach to directing the pigskin program. But his non-stop energy

on the banquet circuit was only exceeded by the fervor with which he began shap-

ing the Bulldog football operation. He established new offensive and defensive

systems, paying particular attention to an attack which mirrored what he taught

as a National Football League assistant. And despite the fact he had been away

from the college game for 17 years as a pro coach, he has been unwavering in his

demand for student-athlete accountability, on the fi eld and off it.

His fi rst two Bulldog teams fi nished 3-8, a record he has been quick to point out

is not acceptable at MSU. That said, the fi nal marks were still one-win improve-

ments over the team he inherited. His fi rst team posted the school’s fi rst victory

over a ranked team in four years, a 38-31 win over then-No. 20 Florida, and his

second squad captured the Egg Bowl Trophy for the fi rst time in four years.

Even before coaching his fi rst football contest on the Starkville campus, Croom

was recognized nationally in 2004 for his impact on the college game. Dennis

Dodd ranked him #2 on CBS Sportsline’s list of the 50 most relevant people in

college football for the 2004 season. In so doing, Dodd said: “The State program

HEAD COACH

92

CROOM’S ARRIVAL USHERED IN A NEW ERA OF MEDIA RECOGNITION FOR THE SCHOOL AND ITS PLAYERS.

SYLVESTER CROOM

Joined MState: December 2003Alabama, 1975

HEAD COACH

93

took on a more organized look the moment he arrived.”

Sports Illustrated rated him the 31st most infl uential minority in all of sports. “In

Mississippi and beyond, his impact has already been profound,” SI noted.

Croom came to State from the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, where he served the

previous three seasons under then-Packer general manager/head coach Mike Sher-

man as the team’s running backs coach. He is a veteran of 29 years in the coaching

profession, 17 of which have come at the professional level on the offensive side of

the football. He spent four years as an NFL offensive coordinator.

Croom’s Packer running attack ranked third in the National Football League

in 2003, averaging 160 yards per game. Under his guidance, Ahman Green blos-

somed into one of the true stars of the NFL. He fi nished second in the league in

rushing in ‘03 and was the fourth most productive rusher in the NFL over the three

seasons in which Croom was his coach.

The natural by-product of Green’s stellar season in 2003 was a third-straight,

12-4 regular season and a second consecutive NFC North title. Croom, who had

already accepted MSU’s head coaching position, helped the Packers to the second

round of the NFL playoffs.

In 2002, Green Bay clinched the inaugural NFC North championship with a sec-

ond-straight 12-4 record. Croom’s backs contributed to a Packers’ rushing effort

that posted the most yards on the ground in 17 years. His rushers helped Green

Bay rank fi fth in the National Football Conference in that category. As part of that

effort, Green earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl on the heels

of his third-straight 1,000-yard season. He ranked fourth in the NFC in rushing.

Additionally, Croom’s work with undrafted free agent Tony Fisher furthered his

reputation as a successful teacher. Fisher’s rushing total was the most by a Green

Bay rookie in 16 years.

In his fi rst season in Green Bay, Croom helped the Pack qualify for the postsea-

son for the fi rst time in three years with a 12-4 record. Green Bay defeated San

Francisco in the NFC Wild Card game, the Packers’ fi rst postseason win in three

seasons. Green posted a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season and led the team

in receptions for a second-straight year. Green was second in the NFC in both

rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage. Under Croom’s tutelage, Green

was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and earned his fi rst of three straight

trips to Hawaii’s Pro Bowl. He was also a second-team, All-Pro selection by the

Associated Press.

During his three seasons in Green Bay, the Packers were the second-most suc-

cessful NFL franchise, winning nearly 70 percent of their games over that stretch.

“Sylvester is a great football coach,” Sherman said. “He is a salt-of-the-earth

person who represents everything good.”

Sherman hired Croom on Jan. 30, 2001, and the latter arrived in Green Bay after

four seasons as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (1997-2000).

Croom achieved noted success during those four years in charge of the Detroit

attack. His 1997 offense ranked second in the NFL overall, and he helped lead the

Lions to a postseason playoff berth. Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders led

the NFL in rushing and became just the third player in league history to crack the

2,000-yard barrier that year. Wide receivers Herman Moore and Johnnie Morton

both surpassed 1,000 yards receiving, with Moore leading the NFL with 104 catch-

es. Detroit became the fi rst organization to have teammates lead the NFL in both

rushing and receiving in the same season. Moore and Morton entered the 2003

season Nos. 7 and 21, respectively, on the NFL’s top active receivers list.

In 1998, Sanders rushed for nearly 1,500 yards, and Morton duplicated the

feat of more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season. One year later, Morton and

Germaine Crowell combined for nearly 2,500 yards receiving and tight end David

Sloan earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with the best production by a Lion tight end

in 20 years.

Croom helped lead Detroit to its best fi nish in three seasons during the 2000

campaign, narrowly missing a second-straight, post-season appearance, what

would have been the third in his four seasons in the Motor City.

Prior to his tenure with Detroit, Croom tutored the San Diego Charger running

backs for fi ve seasons (1992-96). During that span, the Chargers twice won Ameri-

can Football Conference Western Division titles and participated in postseason

play three times. The ‘94 Charger team not only won a Western Division champion-

ship, it won a pair of postseason contests and played in Super Bowl XXIX.

Under Croom’s direction, second-year back Natrone Means set a team rushing

record in 1994 with 1,350 yards. It was in San Diego where Croom fi rst joined the

staff of head coach Bobby Ross, with whom he made the move to Detroit.

“He’s as good a coach as you could ask for on the fi eld and in the classroom,”

Ross said. “He is a great communicator with coaches and with players. I’ve had

some great coaches work for me like George O’Leary, Ralph Friedgen and Frank

Beamer. I put Sylvester Croom in the same category as those guys.”

Croom broke into the NFL as running backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buc-

caneers in 1987. He worked in Tampa for four years (1987-90) before joining the

Indianapolis Colts in the same capacity for one season (1991).

But the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native also has a solid resume on the college coaching

level. He worked for 11 seasons at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, all on

the defensive side of the football. Croom oversaw both the inside (1977-81, 1984-

86) and outside (1982-83) linebackers during his tenure with the Crimson Tide.

He helped Alabama to back-to-back national championships in 1978-79. With his

help, Alabama led the Southeastern Conference in total defense during the 1979

and ‘80 seasons.

“CROOM’S NO-NONSENSE APPROACH HAS EARNED HIM RESPECT AMONG HIS PLAYERS . . . IT IS (HIS) BLUNT HONESTY AND EXCELLENT RAPPORT WITH HIS PLAYERS THAT HAS MADE HIM SUCCESSFUL...”— TOM SILVERSTEIN, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTNEL

SYLVESTER CROOM

HEAD COACH

94

That ‘79 team recorded fi ve shut-

out wins, gave up just seven touch-

downs all season, and allowed only

180 yards of total offense per game

during its championship run.

During his coaching tenure at Ala-

bama, the Crimson Tide went to 10

postseason bowl games in 11 years.

He accompanied Alabama teams to

the Sugar Bowl (1977-79), Cotton

Bowl (1980-81), Sun Bowl (1983,’86),

Liberty Bowl (1976,’82) and Aloha

Bowl (1985) while in Tuscaloosa.

Croom helped Alabama teams to a

composite 102-28-2 record during

those 11 seasons.

Croom began his Alabama coach-

ing tenure on the staff of legendary

Tide head football coach Paul “Bear”

Bryant and stayed in Tuscaloosa

when Ray Perkins was hired to suc-

ceed Bryant.

Croom only left UA when Perkins

took him to Tampa Bay when the

latter was named the head coach

there.

“Mississippi State has hired a real

good man,” Perkins said. “Sylvester

is a great character guy, and he’s a

bright coach. He gets along well with

people, and he’s very organized.”

Croom also enjoyed a measure of

teaching success on the collegiate

level at Alabama. Four of his players

- E.J. Junior (1981), Mike Pitts (1983), Cornelius Bennett (1987) and the late Derrick

Thomas (1989) - all became fi rst-round NFL draft picks following their days with

Croom. Two of his linebackers - Wayne Davis (1983-86) and Thomas Boyd (1978-

81) - rank one-two on Alabama’s all-time tackle chart, while Thomas still ranks fi rst

in career sacks at UA.

Croom fi rst enjoyed achievement at Alabama as a player under Bryant, letter-

ing for three seasons (1972-74), and starting the fi nal two at center, helping the

Tide to a 22-2 overall record as a starter. During his playing career with the Tide,

Alabama captured three straight SEC titles and the national championship in 1973.

The Crimson Tide went to the Cotton, Sugar and Orange Bowls during his playing

career.

As a senior captain, the 6-0, 229-pound Croom was named all-SEC and a Kodak

All-America, in addition to earning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best offen-

sive lineman in the league. He earned a trip to the 1975 Senior Bowl in Mobile,

Ala., for his standout play. He was so respected by the Alabama coaching staff

for his devotion to the game of football that the program each spring awards the

“Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award.”

Before making his mark at center while at UA, he had stints at linebacker, tight

end and tackle.

“In my career, I’ve been around a lot of great leaders,” Ozzie Newsome, Hall

of Fame tight end, current general manager of the Baltimore Ravens and former

teammate of Croom’s at Alabama,

said. “And he led that huddle, trust

me. He was impressive at a lot of

things, but mostly a leader.”

At just 20 years of age, Croom

earned a bachelor’s degree in history

with a minor in biology in 1975 from

Alabama. He earned his master’s de-

gree in educational administration in

1977 from the Tuscaloosa school as

well.

A 1975 free agent signee of the

New Orleans Saints following his

playing days at Alabama, Croom

played one season in the NFL before

going back to Tuscaloosa to launch

his coaching career as a graduate as-

sistant in 1976. He worked with the

centers during that one-season ap-

prenticeship.

Born Sept. 25, 1954, in Tuscaloo-

sa, Ala., Sylvester Croom Jr., starred

at Tuscaloosa High School as a line-

backer and tight end. His wife, Jeri, is

also a Tuscaloosa native. The couple

has a daughter, Jennifer, who lives

with husband Ira Bates and daughter,

Ryan, in Mobile, Ala.

The son of a Tuscaloosa minis-

ter, Croom’s late father, mother and

aunts were all school teachers. The

elder Croom, who was an all-Ameri-

ca football player at Alabama A&M,

served as the team chaplain at the

University of Alabama and was recently recognized posthumously by the institu-

tion as one of the 40 pioneers of civil rights in the state.

THE SYLVESTER CROOM FILEPERSONALBirthdate: September 25, 1954Birthplace: Tuscaloosa, Ala.Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Ala.Family: Wife (former Jeri Ingram); Children (daughter Jennifer)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Tuscaloosa [AL] HS (1971)College: Alabama (1975)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEHigh School: Tuscaloosa [AL] HS (1968-70)College: Alabama (1972-74)Professional: New Orleans Saints (1975)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1976 Graduate Assistant, Alabama (Centers)1977-81 Assistant Coach, Alabama (Inside Linebackers)1982-83 Assistant Coach, Alabama (Outside Linebackers)1984-86 Assistant Coach, Alabama (Inside Linebackers)1987-90 Assistant Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Running Backs)1991 Assistant Coach, Indianapolis Colts (Running Backs)1992-96 Assistant Coach, San Diego Chargers (Running Backs)1997-00 Assistant Coach, Detroit Lions (Offensive Coordinator)2001-03 Assistant Coach, Green Bay Packers (Running Backs)2004- Head Coach, Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Player1973 Cotton1973 Sugar1975 Orange

As a Coach1976 Liberty 1981 Cotton1977 Sugar 1982 Liberty1978 Sugar 1983 Sun1979 Sugar 1985 Aloha1980 Cotton 1986 Sun

COACH CROOM AND HIS WIFE, JERI

CROOM'S COACHING RECORDS YEAR SCHOOL RECORD BOWL / PLAYOFFS ASSISTANT COACH 1977 Alabama 11-1 Sugar

1978 Alabama 11-1 Sugar 1979 Alabama 12-0 Sugar 1980 Alabama 10-2 Cotton 1981 Alabama 9-2-1 Cotton 1982 Alabama 8-4 Liberty 1983 Alabama 8-4 Sun 1984 Alabama 5-6 1985 Alabama 9-2-1 Aloha 1986 Alabama 10-3 Sun 1987 Tampa Bay 4-11 1988 Tampa Bay 5-11 1989 Tampa Bay 5-11 1990 Tampa Bay 6-10 1991 Indianapolis 1-15 1992 San Diego 11-5 AFC Semifinals 1993 San Diego 8-8 1994 San Diego 11-5 Super Bowl XXIX 1995 San Diego 9-7 Wildcard Round 1996 San Diego 8-8 1997 Detroit 9-7 Wildcard Round 1998 Detroit 5-11 1999 Detroit 8-8 Wildcard Round 2000 Detroit 9-7 2001 Green Bay 12-4 NFC Semifinals 2002 Green Bay 12-4 Wildcard Round 2003 Green Bay 10-6 NFC SemifinalsHEAD COACH 2004 Mississippi State 3-8 2005 Mississippi State 3-8

CROOM VS. ALL OPPONENTS Alabama 0-2 Arkansas 0-2 Auburn 0-2 Georgia 0-1 Florida 1-1 Houston 0-1 Kentucky 1-1 LSU 0-2 Maine 0-1 Murray State 1-0 Ole Miss 1-1 Tulane 2-0 UAB 0-1 Vanderbilt 0-1

NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS• Part of San Diego staff that led the Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX• Highly instrumental in the development of NFL star running backs Ahman Green

(Green Bay), Natrone Means (San Diego) and Barry Sanders (Detroit)• On the Alabama staff that led the Crimson Tide to 10 bowl games in his 11

seasons, including back-to-back national titles in 1978 and 1979• Tutored four fi rst-round draft picks (E.J. Junior, Mike Pitts, Cornelius Bennett

and Derrick Thomas) while at Alabama• Played on three straight (1972-74) SEC championship teams at Alabama and

the Crimson Tide’s 1973 national championship team• Named Kodak all-American as a senior captain in 1974• Has an Alabama football annual award named for him - “The Sylvester Croom

Commitment to Excellence Award”

HEAD COACH

95

2004 - MISSISSIPPI STATERECORD (3-8, 1-7 SEC WEST)

9/4 TULANE W 28-7 9/11 * AUBURN L 14-43 9/18 MAINE L 7- 9 9/25 * at LSU L 0-51 10/2 * at Vanderbilt L 13-31 10/9 UAB L 13-27 10/23 * FLORIDA W 38-31 10/30 * KENTUCKY W 22- 7 11/6 * at Alabama L 14-30 11/20 * ARKANSAS L 21-24 11/27 * at Ole Miss L 3-20 * Denotes SEC game

2005 - MISSISSIPPI STATERECORD (3-8, 1-7 SEC WEST)

9/3 Murray State W 38-6 9/10 * AUBURN L 0-28 9/17 vs. Tulane W 21-14 9/24 * GEORGIA L 10-23 10/1 * LSU L 7-37 10/8 at Florida L 9-35 10/22 * HOUSTON L 16-28 10/29 * at Kentucky L 7-13 11/5 * ALABAMA L 0-17 11/19 * vs. Arkansas L 10-44 11/26 * OLE MISS W 35-14

CROOM’S HEAD COACHING RESULTS

COACH CROOM WORKED WITH BEAR BRYANT FOR 5 YEARS

ASSISTANT COACHES

96

SHANE BEAMERRUNNING BACKS

One of the youngest members of the Mississippi State football coaching staff

can honestly say that he has been around college coaching since the day

he was born.

Shane Beamer was hired by Sylvester Croom to coach the Bulldog cornerbacks

under defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson in 2004. He made a spring ’06 move to

tutor the Bulldog running backs when Melvin Smith was added to State’s coaching

staff. Beamer also serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

If Beamer can bring to the running back position what he did for the corner-

backs over the first two years of his tenure in Starkville, Bulldog ball carriers should

look forward to future accolades.

This past season, both Derek Pegues and Keith Fitzhugh earned Freshman All-

SEC recognition under Beamer’s leadership, giving him three freshman all-league

players in just two seasons. In his first year at MSU, he helped Demario Bobo

achieve the same status at the cornerback position.

Beamer, 29, came to MSU from the University of Tennessee, where he spent

three seasons as a graduate assistant football coach on the defensive side of the

ball. In that capacity, he assisted with the development of the Volunteer defensive

backs, was directly responsible for coaching the place-kickers, punters, and long

snappers, and assisted in all special teams areas. He also oversaw game opponent

scouting while at UT.

During his three seasons in Knoxville, the Volunteers played in one Southeastern

Conference championship game (2001) and went to three straight bowl games

(2002 Florida Citrus, 2002 and ‘03 Peach Bowls). That first Vol team defeated

Michigan 45-17 in Orlando to culminate an 11-2 season. While at UT, Beamer

earned a master’s degree in sport science in December 2003.

Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, Beamer worked one season as an offen-

sive graduate assistant at Georgia Tech. He assisted with the Yellow Jacket quar-

terbacks and wide receivers in his one season at the Atlantic Coast Conference

school. Georgia Tech finished that season with a 9-3 overall record, including

a berth in the ‘00 Peach Bowl. That team generated 33.8 points per game on

offense.

Beamer earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1999, and was the Hokies’ starting long snapper on the football team for three seasons. He also

contributed at Tech in the wide receiver corps. While there, he played on four

bowl teams (redshirted on a fifth) and three Big East Conference championship

squads.

He sat out his true freshman year as a member of the ‘95 Hokie team that

whipped Texas 28-10 in the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. During his junior

season, Tech crushed Alabama 38-7 in the Music City Bowl at Nashville. He con-

cluded his college playing career, helping the ‘99 Virginia Tech team to a No. 2

final regular season ranking and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

The Blacksburg, Va., native is the son of longtime Virginia Tech head football

coach Frank Beamer. He married the former Emily Gladney, a Starkville, Miss.,

native this past June.

Joined MState: January 2004Virginia Tech, 1999

THE SHANE BEAMER FILEPERSONALBirthdate: March 31, 1977

Birthplace: Charleston, S.C.

Hometown: Blacksburg, Va.

Family: Wife (former Emily Gladney)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Blacksburg (1995)

College: Virginia Tech (1999)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEVirginia Tech (1995-99)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2000 Georgia Tech

2001-03 Tennessee

2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Player

1995 Sugar

1996 Orange

1998 Gator

1998 Music City

2000 Sugar

As a Coach

2000 Peach

2002 Citrus

2002 Peach

2003 Peach

NOTABLE

Starting deep snapper at Virginia Tech and was on Hokie squads that won

three Big East titles ... Also on the VT team that finished the 1999 season

ranked second nationally ... Son of longtime Virginia Tech head coach Frank

Beamer.

COACH BEAMER AND HIS WIFE, EMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

97

J.B. GRIMESOFFENSIVE LINE

When head football coach Sylvester Croom hired J.B. Grimes, the new

MSU head coach was bringing in a college assistant coach with a long

list of credits as an offensive line tutor. He has done nothing in the first

two years in Starkville to alter that reputation.

Grimes’ offensive line moved a Bulldog rushing attack that averaged just 118

yards per game before his arrival to 158 yards and 138 yards per game, respec-

tively, in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs. In both seasons, Jerious Norwood

surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing total. State was seventh in the league in rushing

last fall, but just 7 yards per game from the league’s top four.

In just his first season with the Bulldog offensive linemen, State rushed for 1,744

yards, the most at the school in four years. Under his guidance, offensive tackle

David Stewart was selected in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans in the

2005 National Football League draft.

Grimes, 51, came to Mississippi State from East Carolina University, where he

served Pirate head coach John Thompson as assistant head coach and offensive

line coach in 2003.

Under Grimes, the Pirates’ offensive line paved the way for its third straight

1,000-yard rusher. After ECU’s running game struggled early in the season, the

Pirates averaged 161 yards rushing per game in the last seven contests.

A veteran of 28 years in the coaching profession, the last 26 of which have

come at the collegiate level, Grimes has been associated with teams that have

won five conference championships and gone to 13 post-season bowl games.

Prior to making the move to East Carolina, Grimes served as the offensive line

coach under R.C. Slocum at Texas A&M for five seasons, 1998-2002. During his

time in College Station, A&M posted a 40-22 overall record. Those teams ended

their seasons in the 1999 Sugar Bowl as champions of the Big XII, the ‘99 Alamo

Bowl, the 2000 Independence Bowl, and the ‘01 GalleryFurniture.com Bowl.

Immediately prior to joining the A&M staff, Grimes coached five seasons at

Virginia Tech, 1993-97. As the offensive line coach for head coach Frank Beamer

at Tech, he helped the Hokies to a composite 44-16 overall record. Grimes helped

lead the Gobblers to season-ending berths in the ‘93 Independence Bowl, the ‘94

and ‘98 Gator Bowls, the ‘95 Sugar Bowl, and the ‘96 Orange Bowl. The 1995 and

‘96 teams won back-to-back Big East championships.

Grimes served as offensive line coach at his home-state institution, Arkansas,

on two different occasions. He was with Razorbacks from 1989-92, working under

three different head coaches. He helped head coach Ken Hatfield’s final Arkansas

team to a 10-2 overall record and a berth in the ‘90 Cotton Bowl as Southwest

Conference champions. Two seasons later, he assisted Jack Crowe’s second and

final UA team to an Independence Bowl invitation. He earlier had worked at

Arkansas under Lou Holtz from 1981-82 as first a graduate assistant, and then the

offensive line instructor. Those two teams posted a 17-6-1 record and landed in

the Gator and Bluebonnet Bowls, respectively.

He served two terms as the offensive line coach at Northeast Louisiana, from

1979-80 and again from 1985-88. With Grimes as the offensive line coach, NLU

won the 1987 Division I-AA national championship. He worked one-year stints at

Delta (Miss.) State and Missouri in 1983 and ‘84, respectively. Grimes began his

coaching career with two seasons on the Arkansas high school level.

A four-year letterman as an offensive guard at Henderson (Ark.) State, he

helped his team to a 40-6 record during that time. Grimes helped lead his ‘74

Henderson State team to a berth in the NAIA championship game. He earned

his bachelor’s degree in education from Henderson State in 1977 and received his

master’s in education from Northeast Louisiana.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., John Bryan Grimes grew up in Clarendon, Ark. He

is married to the former Jennifer Graves, and the couple has four children, sons

Aaron and Nick, and daughters Danielle and Lindsey.

Joined MState: December 2003Henderson (Ark.) State, 1977

THE J.B. GRIMES FILEPERSONALBirthdate: July 5, 1955Birthplace: Memphis, Tenn.Hometown: Clarendon, Ark.Family: Wife (former Jennifer Graves); Children (sons Aaron & Nick; daughters Danielle & Lindsey)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Clarendon (1973)College: Henderson [Ark.] State (1977)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEHenderson [Ark.] State (1973-76)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1977 Nashville [Ark.] HS1978 Des Arc [Ark.] HS1979-80 Northeast Louisiana1981-82 Arkansas1983 Delta State1984 Missouri1985-88 Northeast Louisiana1989-92 Arkansas1993-97 Virginia Tech1998-02 Texas A&M2003 East Carolina2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach 1981 Gator 1982 Bluebonnet 1990 Cotton 1991 Independence 1993 Independence 1994 Gator 1995 Sugar

NOTABLEHas coached 28 years, 26 of them on the collegiate level ... Associated with teams that have won five conference championships and earned 14 bowl berths ... Helped guide Northeast La. to the 1987 Division I-AA national cham-pionship ... Was on the Texas A&M staff that led the Aggies to the Big XII title and 1999 Sugar Bowl.

1996 Orange 1998 Gator 1999 Sugar 1999 Alamo 2000 Independence 2001 GalleryFurniture.com

COACH GRIMES AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

98

BRICK HALEYDEFENSIVE LINE

Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom injected some spice

into his fi rst Bulldog coaching staff with the hiring of fi ery Brick Haley as

the team’s defensive line coach.

That personality went on display from the outset of his coaching tenure at

State. This past fall, he helped defensive end Willie Evans lead the Southeastern

Conference in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss and pace all defensive line-

men in total tackles. During his first year, Haley was instrumental in the continued

growth of nose guard Ronald Fields, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2005

National Football League draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

His work has helped MSU knock nearly 50 yards per game off the opponents’

rushing average. In 2003, the year prior to Haley’s arrival, MSU allowed over 190

yards rushing per game, worst in the SEC. In 2005, his defensive front was key to

allowing only 141 yards per game, a jump of four spots in the league rankings.

Haley, 40, came to Mississippi State from Georgia Tech, where he helped the

Yellow Jackets to a pair of post-season bowl games the previous two seasons as

linebackers’ coach.

Georgia Tech concluded the 2003 campaign with a second-straight 7-6 overall

record, including a 52-10 win over Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl. During the

‘03 season, Tech defeated Auburn 17-3, and beat post-season bowl teams North

Carolina State and Maryland, holding the latter to just a field goal. His top two

linebackers, Keyaron Fox and Daryl Smith, combined for 272 tackles, 24 for loss

(minus 80 yards) and five quarterback sacks (minus 33 yards). Fox was named first-

team, all-Atlantic Coast Conference for his performance (150 tackles, 13 for loss),

while Smith earned honorable mention all-league honors.

In 2002, Haley helped Tech to a 7-6 overall record and a berth in the ‘02 Silicon

Valley Classic in San Jose, Calif. Under Haley’s tutelage, Tech linebackers Smith,

Fox and Recardo Wimbush finished 1-2-3 on the team in total tackles. In fact,

that trio combined for 285 tackles, 34 for loss (minus 90 yards) and 10 quarter-

back sacks (minus 57 yards). Wimbush earned all-ACC recognition following that

season.

Haley joined Chan Gailey’s Tech staff following three seasons as the defensive

coordinator and linebackers’ coach at Baylor, 1999-2001.

Prior to joining the Big XII institution, Haley coached the outside linebackers

at Clemson in 1998.

A native of Gadsden, Ala., Haley entered the college coaching ranks full-time

as the defensive line coach at Austin Peay from 1991-93. He was named the

defensive line coach at Troy State in 1994 and remained there through the 1996

season. During that last season at Troy, Haley’s defense allowed an average of just

115 rushing yards per game and racked up 39 sacks. He was named defensive

coordinator there following the ‘96 campaign, but moved to Houston to coach the

outside linebackers in 1997.

Haley had one year of prior experience in the Southeastern Conference before

coming to Starkville, having served as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1990.

He began his coaching career on the high school level in Enterprise, Ala.

Haley played collegiate football at Alabama A&M from 1984-88, working as a

linebacker. In 2005, Haley was inducted into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of

Fame.

Andrea “Brick” Haley is married to the former Tina DeLaine. They have three

sons, Adrian, A.J. and Jeremy.

Joined MState: January 2004Alabama A&M, 1989

THE BRICK HALEY FILEPERSONALBirthdate: May 16, 1966

Birthplace: Gadsden, Ala.

Hometown: Gadsden, Ala.

Family: Wife (former Tina DeLaine);

Children

(sons Adrian, A.J. & Jeremy)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Emma Sansom (1984)

College: Alabama A&M (1989)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEAlabama A&M (1984-88)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1989 Enterprise [Ala.] HS

1990 Arkansas

1991-93 Austin Peay

1994-96 Troy State

1997 Houston

1998 Clemson

1999-01 Baylor

2002-03 Georgia Tech

2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach

2002 Silicon Valley Classic

2003 Humanitarian

NOTABLEInducted into Alabama A&M Hall of Fame in 2005 ... Received Alabama A&M’s

Inpiration Award in 1987 and was named MVP in 1989.

COACH HALEY AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

99

GUY HOLLIDAYWIDE RECEIVERS

The lone on-fi eld coach retained from the previous Mississippi State football

coaching staff was Guy Holliday, who continues his work with the Bulldog

wide receiving corps.

Holliday drew much of the credit for a drastically improved MSU wide receiver

group in 2003. With his pass-catchers as the principle targets, State passed for

2,424 yards in 2003, the fourth-best, single-season passing yardage total in school

history. With Holliday as his mentor, flanker Justin Jenkins improved his season’s

receiving total from 28 catches in ‘02 to 62 as a senior. Jenkins’ 62 catches in a

season tied for the fourth-most in Bulldog history, and were the most since Eric

Moulds managed the same number in 1995.

Holliday came to MSU from Western Michigan University where he served the

previous three seasons as tight ends and then receivers coach. In 2002, Holliday’s

first with the entire receiver group, his pass catchers accounted for 256 yards

receiving per game, more than 70 percent of the Bronco attack. Under his guid-

ance, the WMU receiving corps boasted four players with 37 or more catches.

Tight end Mo Afariogun had 39 catches for five touchdowns and was named all-

Mid-American Conference for a third-straight year by the league’s coaches.

He also handled Western Michigan’s return specialists while in Kalamazoo.

His kickoff return unit led the MAC with a 22.9-yard average, and his punt return

group finished third in the league, averaging 13.4 yards per return. Holliday

coached back-to-back conference individual leaders in kickoff returns.

Holliday joined the Western Michigan staff in 2000 and tutored only the tight

ends his first two years. It was during that time that he developed Afariogun into

one of the nation’s top receiving tight ends, finishing his career with 105 catches.

Holliday helped the 2000 Bronco team to a 9-3 overall record and to the MAC

Western Division title. That team won an early season game at Iowa and dropped

a narrow 19-14 decision to Marshall in the MAC Championship game.

Holliday, 43, previously served as offensive coordinator at Alabama State

University from 1995-96 and 1998-99. He helped the Hornets become the No. 1

passing team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during his time there.

Prior to arriving at Alabama State, Holliday was the offensive coordinator at

Tuskegee from 1992-94. Under Holliday’s direction, Tuskegee was the second-

highest scoring team in Division II in ‘92, averaging 38 points per game. The

Pioneers ranked in the nation’s top 10 in passing offense during all four years.

Holliday began his coaching career at Clark-Atlanta University.

A 1987 graduate of Cheyney (Penn.) with a bachelor of arts degree, Holliday

has had seven former players sign professional football contracts.

Holliday and his wife, the former Patricia Morgan of Atlanta, Ga., are the par-

ents of two children, son Justin and daughter Schyluer.

Joined MState: January 2003Cheney (Pa.), 1987

THE GUY HOLLIDAY FILEPERSONALBirthdate: January 1, 1963

Birthplace: Baltimore, Md.

Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

Family: Wife (former Patricia Morgan);

Children (son Justin,

daughters Christie & Schyluer)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Baltimore Polytechnic (1981)

College: Cheyney [Pa.] (1987)

PLAYING EXPERIENCECheyney [Pa.] (1983-85)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1990-91 Clark-Atlanta University

1992-94 Tuskegee

1995-96 Alabama State

1998-99 Alabama State

2000-02 Western Michigan

2003- Mississippi State

NOTABLETutored MSU receiver Justin Jenkins to second-team, all-SEC laurels in 2003

... Helped lead Western Michigan’s 2000 squad to a 9-3 overall record and to

the MAC Western Division crown ... Tuskegee was the second-highest scoring

team in Division II in 1992 under his leadership as offensive coordinator ... As

offensive coordinator at Alabama State, he helped the Hornets become the

No. 1 passing team in the SWAC.

COACH HOLLIDAY AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

100

ELLIS JOHNSONDEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / INSIDE LBS

When Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom tabbed Ellis

Johnson as his defensive coordinator, he not only was drawing on his

Alabama connections for an experienced defensive leader, but he was

also getting a veteran teacher with head coaching credits on his resume.

Johnson’s defensive know-how went on display immediately. In his first season

with State’s defense, his group whacked more than 100 yards per game off the

opponents’ total offensive output per game in 2003. This past season, MSU

whittled another 30 yards per game off that average and moved to eighth overall

in the league, just 40 yards per game from moving into the conference’s top three

schools. In 2005, Johnson’s defense held five opponents to 17 points or less.

Also under his direction, Jeramie Johnson tied for the SEC lead in interceptions

in 2005 and earned all-SEC honors at free safety.

Johnson, 54, came to State from The Citadel, where he served the previous

three seasons as the school’s head football coach. The military institution based

in Charleston, S.C., finished the 2003 campaign with a 6-6 mark, the best record

at The Citadel in six years.

A veteran of over a quarter-century in the coaching profession, it was a third

homecoming for the former Citadel player. He served as defensive ends coach

at his alma mater in 1975 to begin his coaching career and returned as linebacker

coach in 1982, a pair of one-year stints. Johnson’s varied background includes

work at the high school, small college, I-AA and major college levels. He has

coached in four Southeastern Conference championship games and tutored 20

players who have made National Football League rosters.

Prior to his head coaching responsibilities at The Citadel, Johnson was defen-

sive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Alabama from 1997-2000.

During that four-year stay in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide finished the 1999

season 10-3, won the Southeastern Conference championship over Florida 34-7 in

the league title game, and earned a berth in the 2000 Orange Bowl. That team

had the nation’s second-best rushing defense, a unit that ranked ninth nationally in

total defense. He also helped UA to a Music City Bowl appearance in 1998.

That tenure in Tuscaloosa was his second with the Tide. He spent four years

as Alabama’s outside linebacker coach (1990-93), helping Gene Stallings’ teams

to a 41-9 record on the field. He helped the 1992 UA team go undefeated, win

the SEC title, and earn unanimous national championship acclaim. His linebackers

were an integral part to Alabama’s defense ranking first nationally in both total

defense and against the run. The ‘91 team finished 11-1, losing only to Florida.

All four Tide teams ended their seasons in bowl games: the 1991 Fiesta, the ‘91

Blockbuster, the ‘93 Sugar, and the ‘93 Gator.

Between stints at Alabama, Johnson spent three seasons at Clemson (1994-96),

the first two as outside linebackers coach, the final as defensive coordinator and

defensive line instructor. Those last two Tiger teams concluded their seasons in

the ‘96 Gator and ‘96 Peach Bowls. He helped that ‘95 defense rank 10th nation-

ally overall and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring defense.

Prior to his initial stay with the Crimson Tide, Johnson was the defensive coor-

dinator at Southern Mississippi (1988-89). On the staff of Curley Hallman at USM,

those two teams finished 15-8 overall, and earned a post-season bowl reward at

the Independence Bowl in 1988.

Between his second stint at The Citadel and the two-year stay in Hattiesburg,

Johnson worked in the state of North Carolina. He was head coach at Gardner

Webb College (1983), defensive coordinator at Appalachian State (1984) and out-

side linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at East Carolina (1985-87).

Johnson played defensive end for the Citadel in the early 1970s, and his coach-

ing career began under Bobby Ross following his graduation in 1975.

A native of Winnsboro, S.C., Johnson is married to the former Caroline Courie

of Columbia, S.C. The couple has two sons, Eli and Charlie, and a daughter,

Sandra Elliott.

Joined MState: December 2003The Citadel, 1975

THE ELLIS JOHNSON FILEPERSONALBirthdate: December 23, 1951Birthplace: Winnsboro, S.C.Hometown: Winnsboro, S.C.Family: Wife (former Caroline Courie); Children (sons Eli and Charlie; daughter Sandra Elliott)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Winnsboro (1970)College: The Citadel (1975)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEThe Citadel (1970-74)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1975 The Citadel1976-78 Gaffney [S.C.] HS1979-81 Spartanburg [S.C.] HS1982 The Citadel1983 Gardner Webb College1984 Appalachian State1985-87 East Carolina1988-89 Southern Miss1990-93 Alabama1994-96 Clemson1997-00 Alabama2001-03 The Citadel2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach1988 Independence1991 Fiesta1991 Blockbuster1993 Sugar1993 Gator

NOTABLEHead coach at The Citadel during the three seasons prior to coming to MSU ... On the Alabama staff that guided the Tide to the 1992 SEC and national titles ... Helped lead the UA defense to a No. 1 ranking in total defense that season ... Also assisted in guiding Alabama to the 1999 SEC crown ... Aided in mentoring Clemson’s defense to a No. 10 ranking in 1995.

1996 Gator1996 Peach1998 Music City2000 Orange

COACH JOHNSON AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

101

AMOS JONESSPECIAL TEAMS / OUTSIDE LBS

With a relationship that dates back nearly a quarter century, Mississippi

State head football coach Sylvester Croom turned to long-time friend

and professional associate Amos Jones to coach the Bulldog linebackers

and head up State’s special teams. With the 2006 restructuring of the defensive

staff, Jones will handle the outside linebackers and special teams.

Under Jones’ guidance, first-year linebacker Titus Brown earned Freshman

All-SEC recognition in 2004 and freshmen Jamar Chaney and Anthony Littlejohn

earned similar honors in 2005. It was also Jones’ work that helped Jared Cook lead

the league in punting and earn All-SEC honors. Jones followed up that perfor-

mance by helping Blake McAdams earn Freshman All-SEC honors as the league’s

third-best punter in 2005.

A coaching veteran with 25 years of experience under his belt, Jones, 46, came

to MSU from James Madison University. He spent the 2003 football season as

the Dukes’ tight ends and special teams coach, helping the team to a 6-6 overall

record.

Prior to going to JMU, Jones coached the running backs and special teams for

four years at the University of Cincinnati (1999-2002). During his stay in the Queen

City, Jones’ handiwork helped all-American place-kicker Jonathan Ruffin earn

the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker in 2000. During that same time,

his punter, Adam Wulfeck earned all-Conference USA honors, and he coached a

pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Jones helped the Bearcats to three post-season bowl

berths, the 2000 and ‘01 Motor City Bowls and the 2002 New Orleans Bowl.

Jones, who has coaching experience on the high school, collegiate and profes-

sional levels, coached the linebackers at Tulane University in 1995-96. During that

two-year stint, he helped linebacker Brian Williams become the seventh most-

productive tackler in Green Wave history.

He spent one season at the University of Pittsburgh (1992) as the kicking game

coordinator. Under his eye, Panther place-kicker Sean Conley converted 16-of-19

field goal attempts that season.

Jones had two stints of duty at his alma mater, the University of Alabama. He

worked with the Crimson Tide special teams in 1990-91 under head coach Gene

Stallings. Those two UA teams went 18-6 overall and appeared in a pair of post-

season bowl games. The ‘90 team ended a 7-5 season with a bid to the Fiesta

Bowl. One year later, the Tide finished 11-1, and beat Colorado in the Blockbuster

Bowl. Philip Doyle earned all-America recognition under his tutelage in 1990,

making 24-of-29 field goals. A decade earlier, he began his coaching career

as a graduate assistant under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1981-82.

Those two Crimson Tide teams posted a 17-6-1 record, earning a Southeastern

Conference championship in ‘81 and a pair of bowl games.

Between those two assignments in Tuscaloosa, Jones coached first the tight

ends (1983-85) and then the defensive line (1986-88) under former MSU assistant

coach Bruce Arians when he was the head coach at Temple University from 1983-

88. During his entire stay in Philadelphia, he worked with the Owl special teams

as well.

Jones worked one season with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian

Football League (1997), helping guide them to a Western Division playoff berth,

and has worked in the high school ranks in both Alabama and Florida.

A 1982 graduate of the University of Alabama, he played safety and running

back for Bryant. He was a member of the 1978 and ‘79 Tide teams that went

23-1 and earned back-to-back SEC titles, national championships, and Sugar Bowl

crowns. He lettered on the ‘80 team that finished 10-2 with a win in the ‘81 Cotton

Bowl. He later earned his master’s degree from UA in 1992.

Jones and his wife Stacey have four children, daughter Samantha and sons

Joshua, Nathan and Jeremy.

Joined MState: December 2003Alabama, 1982

THE AMOS JONES FILEPERSONALBirthdate: December 31, 1959Birthplace: Tallahassee, Fla.Hometown: Aliceville, Ala.Family: Wife (former Stacey Merkle); Children (daughter Samantha; sons Joshua, Nathan & Jeremy)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Pickens Academy (1978)College: Alabama (1982)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEAlabama (1978-80)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1981-82 Alabama1983-88 Temple1989 Shades Valley [Ala.] HS1990-91 Alabama1992 Pittsburgh1993-94 Eau Gallie [Fla.] HS1995-96 Tulane1997 British Columbia [CFL]1998 East St. John [La.] HS1999-02 Cincinnati2003 James Madison2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Player 1979 Sugar 1980 Sugar 1981 CottonAs a Coach 1982 Cotton 1982 Liberty 1990 Fiesta 1991 Blockbuster

NOTABLECoached MSU’s Jared Cook to the SEC punting title in 2004 ... Tutored Cincinnati’s all-American place-kicker Jonathan Ruffin, who earned the Lou Groza Award in 2000 ... Was all-American PK Phillip Doyle’s mentor at Alabama ... Member of Alabama’s ‘78 and ‘79 squads that won SEC and national titles.

2000 Motor City 2001 Motor City 2002 New Orleans

COACH JONES AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

102

WOODY MCCORVEYASST. HC / OFF. COORD. / QBS

No assistant coach hired by Sylvester Croom has a longer personal rela-

tionship with the Bulldog head coach than Woody McCorvey, who Croom

hired as his assistant head coach. McCorvey runs Croom’s West Coast

offense and coaches the team’s quarterbacks.

In his two seasons at the helm of the Bulldog offense, McCorvey helped Jeri-

ous Norwood become just the second running back in MSU history to surpass the

1,000-yard rushing plateau in consecutive seasons. Within McCorvey’s offense,

Norwood became the school’s all-time leading rusher.

In 2005, Norwood gained 1,136 yards on the ground, the third-highest single-

season rushing mark. On the way to that feat, he gained 257 yards rushing against

Houston, a single-game MSU record.

In Norwood’s fi rst season under McCorvey, the running back became just the

sixth Bulldog back to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

McCorvey, 55, came to State from the University of Tennessee where he served

the previous fi ve seasons as the Volunteers’ running backs coach. With McCorvey

heading the UT running game, the Volunteers posted a 46-14 overall record dur-

ing that time frame. He helped guide Tennessee to the 2000 Fiesta, 2001 Cotton,

2002 Florida Citrus, 2002 and ‘03 Peach Bowls.

Under McCorvey’s leadership, Tennessee maintained the school’s reputation of

having a hard-nosed rushing attack. The Volunteers’ led the Southeastern Confer-

ence in rushing in 1999, averaging 191.3 yards per game.

McCorvey’s work helped tailback Travis Stephens pace the SEC in rushing in

2001 with 1,464 yards. He was named fi rst-team, all-America that season and

narrowly missed winning the Doak Walker Award as the country’s premier running

back. One year prior, McCorvey helped tailback Travis Henry fi nish second in the

league and 14th nationally in rushing with 1,314 yards. During that team-rushing,

league-leading ‘99 season, current National Football League star Jamal Lewis was

third among conference ground-gainers.

Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, McCorvey worked one season at South

Carolina, where he served as the Gamecocks’ receivers coach.

McCorvey took the South Carolina job following an eight-year stay at the Uni-

versity of Alabama from 1990-97. McCorvey served seven seasons as the Tide

receivers coach, and the 1996 campaign as the team’s offensive coordinator.

During those fi rst seven seasons under head coach Gene Stallings, Alabama

posted a 70-16-1 overall record on the fi eld. During that time, UA was invited to

the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, the 1991 Blockbuster Bowl, the 1993 Sugar Bowl, the 1993

Gator Bowl, the 1995 Citrus Bowl, and the 1997 Outback Bowl. Alabama won the

SEC Championship and the national title during an undefeated ‘92 campaign.

With McCorvey at the controls of the offense in 1996, Alabama fi nished 10-3

overall, including a win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl.

Before his SEC tenure, McCorvey worked seven years at Clemson University

(1983-89). With McCorvey coaching the tight ends from 1983-85 and the wide re-

ceivers from 1986-89, Clemson posted a 60-19-3 overall record. During that time

frame, the Tigers were invited to the 1985 Independence Bowl, the 1986 and ‘89

Gator Bowls, as well as the 1988 and ‘89 Florida Citrus Bowls.

From 1979-82, he served as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M. He began his

collegiate coaching career at North Carolina Central in 1978. McCorvey began his

coaching career with a six-year stint at Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla.

A quarterback at Alabama State University from 1968-72, McCorvey earned his

bachelor’s degree from ASU in 1972 and a master’s degree from the University of

West Florida in 1977.

A native of Grove Hill, Ala., McCorvey is married to the former Ann Brown, and

the couple has a son, Marlon.

Joined MState: December 2003Alabama State, 1972

THE WOODY MCCORVEY FILEPERSONALBirthdate: September 30, 1950Birthplace: Grove Hill, Ala.Hometown: Atmore, Ala.Family: Wife (former Ann Brown); Children (son Marlon)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Escambia County (1968)College: Alabama State (1972)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEAlabama State (1968-71)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1972-77 Tate [Gonzalez, FL] HS1978 North Carolina Central1979-82 Alabama A&M1983-89 Clemson1990-97 Alabama1998 South Carolina1999-03 Tennessee2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach1985 Independence1986 Gator1988 Citrus1989 Citrus1989 Gator1991 Fiesta1991 Blockbuster1993 Sugar

NOTABLEMentored Tennessee’s rushing attack that led the SEC in 1999 ... Tutored first-team, all-American Travis Stephens and current NFL star Jamal Lewis at UT ... Member of the Alabama staff that guided the Crimson Tide to the 1992 SEC and national crowns ... UA went to six bowls during his eight seasons in Tuscaloosa.

1993 Gator1995 Citrus1997 Outback2000 Fiesta2001 Cotton2002 Citrus2002 Peach2003 Peach

COACH MCCORVEY AND HIS WIFE, ANN

ASSISTANT COACHES

103

MELVIN SMITHDEFENSIVE BACKS

Mississippi State University head coach Sylvester Croom wasted little time

bringing a coach with deep Mississippi connections and proven recruit-

ing ability back to the Magnolia State this past spring with the hiring of

Melvin Smith as the Bulldogs’ defensive backfield coach.

For Smith, 48, returning to MSU is a homecoming, not only to the university but

to the state of Mississippi. A native of Taylorsville, Miss., who grew up in Magee,

Miss., Smith was an assistant football coach previously at State for seven years

(1995-2001), helping guide the Bulldogs through arguably the greatest period in

the school’s football history. The 24-year coaching veteran has spent 20 of those

years working in the Magnolia State.

Smith comes back to Mississippi State following three seasons at Texas A&M,

where he coached the safeties. During his tenure in College Station, Texas, Smith

helped the Aggies to a 7-4 regular season record in 2004 and a berth in the 2005

Cotton Bowl.

Prior to his stint at A&M and immediately following his seven years at MSU,

Smith coached the safeties at Alabama in 2002. That Crimson Tide team posted

a 10-3 regular season record that year.

Despite his assignment with the secondary, Smith has shown an ability to teach

on both sides of the ball. In addition to having served six seasons as a defensive

backfield coach, he started his MSU coaching career with one year as the wide

receivers coach during his initial stay in Starkville.

He tutored the likes of current National Football League cornerback Fred

Smoot (1999 and 2000) and long-time pro standout wide receiver Eric Moulds

(1995) during that time.

In 2000, three of his four defensive backfield starters signed professional foot-

ball contracts. That secondary intercepted 19 passes, the second-most in school

history. One year earlier, Smith’s secondary led the Southeastern Conference in

pass defense and finished the season ranked fourth nationally in that department.

In 1998, his troops were the last NCAA Division I unit to allow a touchdown

through the air (Week 5).

From 1997-2000, Mississippi State posted a 33-15 overall record, 20-12 in the

SEC. The 1998 team won the SEC Western Division championship and played

eventual national champion Tennessee in the SEC title game in Atlanta. That team

culminated the year with a berth in the 1999 Cotton Bowl. In 1999, State finished

10-2, defeating Clemson in the ’99 Peach Bowl. The 2000 Bulldog team won eight

games and beat Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.

Smith has also coached on the collegiate level in Mississippi at Ole Miss (1992-

94) and Delta State (1990-91). He began his coaching career on the high school

level at Greenwood (Miss.) from 1982-89.

Smith holds a master’s degree in administration from Delta State (1992) and a

bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Millsaps College. Smith

is married to the former Sheilah McLemore and the couple has four children, sons

Robert and Melvin, and daughters Deondra and Ashlee.

Joined MState: February 2006Millsaps, 1982

THE MELVIN SMITH FILEPERSONALBirthdate: February 1, 1958

Birthplace: Magee, Miss.

Hometown: Magee, Miss.

Family: Wife (former Sheilah McLemore);

Children (sons Robert and Melvin, and

daughters Deondra and Ashlee)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Magee HS

College: Millsaps (1982)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEMillsaps (1980-81)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1982-89 Greenwood [MS] HS

1990-91 Delta State

1992-94 Mississippi

1995-01 Mississippi State

2002 Alabama

2003-05 Texas A&M

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach

1992 Liberty

1999 Cotton

1999 Peach

2000 Independence

2005 Cotton

NOTABLEEntering his second stop at State after spending seven seasons with the

Bulldogs in the late 1990s … Has tutored three all-American Bulldogs and

six all-SEC players … Entering his 23rd year of playing or coaching in the

state of Mississippi, 13 on the collegiate level … A member of the U.S. Army

Reserve’s 173rd Quartermaster Company, Sgt. Smith was called to duty in

October 1990 and served more than six months in Saudi Arabia during the

Persian Gulf War.

COACH SMITH AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

104

REED STRINGERTIGHT ENDS

When Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom rewarded

Reed Stringer with a position on his full-time, on-the-field staff in Janu-

ary 2005, it was an endorsement of the work performed by the former

two-year graduate assistant in Croom’s initial season.

Stringer responded in 2005 by helping Eric Butler become the school’s all-time

touchdown receptions leader among tight ends with seven scoring catches.

Stringer, 27, who served the previous two seasons as the school’s graduate

assistant on offense working primarily with the offensive line, continues his work

with the tight ends on Croom’s 2006 staff. He is blessed with tutoring one of the

team’s deeper positions.

He heads into the ‘06 season with a pre-season all-SEC performer and former

freshman all-league returner at tight end -- Butler -- who set a single-season MSU

record for touchdown catches by a Bulldog tight end the year before establish-

ing the career standard, one of the team’s most versatile performers -- Dezmond

Sherrod -- who has already made a name for himself as a relentless blocker who

can play fullback as well, and a converted wide receiver -- Jason Husband -- who

has been impressive as a pass catcher at the position.

It was his fervor in working with the scout team preparing the Bulldogs for their

weekly opponents, and his work with J.B. Grimes and the 2004 offensive line, that

paved the way for his promotion.

Prior to joining the MSU staff, Stringer served one year as a graduate assistant

working with the tight ends at his alma mater, Delta State. A four-year letterman

on the Statesmen’s offensive line, he helped DSU claim the 2000 NCAA Division

II national championship.

Stringer concluded his career with a string of 35 consecutive starting assign-

ments at offensive left tackle. In addition to that ’00 national title, he was also

instrumental in helping Delta State win the 1998 and 2000 Gulf South Conference

championships. He graduated from the Cleveland, Miss., based institution in

2001 with a degree in business management. Stringer also completed his master’s

degree work in business administration from DSU in 2003.

A native of Canton, Miss., Stringer was a two-time academic all-Gulf South

Conference player while at Delta State. He was also named to the GSC Academic

Honor Roll three times. He married the former Emily Howell, of Starkville, Miss.,

this past summer.

Joined MState: January 2005Delta State, 2001

THE REED STRINGER FILEPERSONALBirthdate: January 26, 1979

Birthplace: Canton, Miss.

Hometown: Canton, Miss.

Family: Wife (former Emily Howell)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Canton Academy (1997)

College: Delta State (2001)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEDelta State (1998-2001)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2002 Delta State (GA)

2003-04 Mississippi State (GA)

2005- Mississippi State

NOTABLEA four-year letterman on the Statesmen’s offensive line (ended his career

by starting 35 consecutive games at left tackle) ... Helped DSU claim the

2000 NCAA Division II national title ... On teams that also won the 1998

and 2000 Gulf South Conference championships ... An Academic all-Gulf

South Conference honoree in his final two seasons and three-time GSC

Academic Honor Roll selection ... Coached DSU’s tight ends in 2002 as a

graduate assistant.

COACH STRINGER AND HIS WIFE, EMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

105

ROCKEY FELKERCOORDINATOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Mississippi State head football coach Sylvester Croom retained Rockey

Felker as the staff’s coordinator of football operations in 2004 and the

former Bulldog player and head coach continues to assist the staff in

that capacity. When Felker was hired in the spring of 2002, it was indeed a sweet

homecoming for one of the school’s most loved personalities.

Felker, 53, was the nation’s youngest collegiate head coach when he was

selected to guide the MSU football program in 1986. He directed the Bulldogs to

a 6-5 mark in his first season at the helm, the school’s first winning season in five

years. Felker’s team won road games at Syracuse and at defending Southeastern

Conference champion Tennessee during that ’86 season, and he became the first

State head football coach to post a winning record in his initial season since the

legendary Darrell Royal in 1954. Felker served as State’s head football coach

through the 1990 season.

He came back to State as the school’s head coach following 11 years as an

assistant coach on the collegiate level. Immediately prior to rejoining the MSU

program, he was an assistant at Alabama from 1983-85. He served as the Crimson

Tide receivers coach in 1983-84 and the offensive backfield coach in ‘85. During

his stay in Tuscaloosa, he helped Alabama to postseason bowl wins over Southern

Methodist (’83 Sun Bowl) and Southern California (’85 Aloha Bowl).

Prior to returning to the SEC, Felker worked two years each at Texas Tech

(1979-80) and Memphis State (1981-82) under the guidance of the late head

coach Rex Dockery.

Felker began his coaching career at Mississippi State following his playing days,

working for head coach Bob Tyler. He worked with the junior varsity (1975) and

the varsity receivers, quarterbacks and running backs (1976-78).

A native of Jackson, Tenn., Felker was a five-sport letterman at Brownsville

(Tenn.) High School, earning all-state honors in football under the tutelage of his

father, Edwin “Babe” Felker, an assistant coach at the school.

Felker’s first association with Mississippi State came in December 1970, when

he signed a football scholarship to play quarterback for the Bulldogs. After play-

ing one year of freshman ball, he was under center for most of the next three

seasons. In 1974, Felker led MSU to a 9-3 overall record, leading the SEC in total

offense and directing the Bulldogs to a win over North Carolina in the Sun Bowl.

He was named the Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and the Birmingham

Post-Herald Outstanding Senior Player for his stellar final season.

Following his five years as head coach at MSU, Felker worked nine more years

as an assistant coach. He had two terms as the offensive coordinator at the

University of Tulsa (1991-92 and 1997-99) and spent four years on the coaching

staff at the University of Arkansas, working three seasons (1994-96) as the school’s

offensive coordinator.

He helped Tulsa to a 10-2 record in 1991, coaching the quarterbacks and wide

receivers. That Golden Hurricane team defeated San Diego State in the Freedom

Bowl during that season. He also tutored the running backs during his stay at the

Western Athletic Conference school.

While at Arkansas, Felker coached the running backs in 1993, then tutored

the quarterbacks the next three years. He helped the Razorbacks win the SEC

Western Division title and earn a berth in the ’95 SEC Championship Game. The

Razorbacks concluded that season with a bid to the Carquest Bowl in Miami, Fla.

Felker is married to the former Susan Tingle and they have three sons, Jay,

David and Stephen.

Joined MState: February 2002Mississippi State, 1975

THE ROCKEY FELKER FILEPERSONALBirthdate: February 1, 1953Birthplace: Jackson, Tenn.Hometown: Brownsville, Tenn.Family: Wife (former Susan Tingle); Children (sons Jay, David & Stephen)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Haywood (1971)College: Mississippi State (1975)

PLAYING EXPERIENCEMississippi State (1972-74)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1975-78 Mississippi State1979-80 Texas Tech1981-82 Memphis State1983-85 Alabama1986-90 Mississippi State1991-92 Tulsa1993-96 Arkansas1997-99 Tulsa2002- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Player 1974 SunAs a Coach 1983 Sun 1985 Aloha 1991 Freedom 1995 CarQuest

NOTABLEStarting quarterback for the Bulldogs while lettering three seasons at State ... Named Nashville Banner SEC Player of the Year and honorable mention all-America after leading the SEC in total offense in 1974 ... Also led State to a 26-24 win over North Carolina in the Sun Bowl that year ... A 10th-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1975 NFL draft ... Mississippi State’s head coach from 1986-90 ... Led MSU to a 27-23 upset win over defending SEC champion Tennessee in his second game as coach.

ROCKEY FELKER AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

106

JIM NOWELLHEAD STRENGTH COACH

MSU head football coach Sylvester Croom hired a veteran strength and

conditioning coach to groom his athletes for the playing fi eld, and in

luring Jim Nowell to Starkville, Croom brought a Mississippian back to

the Magnolia State.

Nowell, 40, came to the State program in 2004 from West Virginia University,

where he served the Mountaineers for the previous two years as Director of

Skill Development on the strength and conditioning staff. He assisted the 2003

Mountaineer football program to an 8-4 regular season finish in 2003 and a berth

in the post-season Gator Bowl.

A Level I USA Weightlifting Strength Coach, he is also a member of the

National Strength & Conditioning Association. In 2004, Nowell was authenticated

as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and

Condition Association Certification Commission. It is given to professionals in the

field who design and implement strength training and conditioning programs for

athletes in a team setting. The CSCS program was established in 1985 as a way

of identifying individuals who possess the knowledge and skills needed to compe-

tently train athletes, and is the only strength and conditioning credential that has

been nationally accredited since 1993.

Nowell joined the West Virginia athletic program following a two-year stint in

the Southeastern Conference as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at

LSU. While in Baton Rouge, he worked with the football, baseball and softball

programs. During that time, the football team won the 2000 Peach and 2002

Sugar Bowls, the softball team claimed two SEC titles, and the baseball team

captured the SEC Western Division championship.

Prior to joining the collegiate strength and conditioning ranks, Nowell was

assistant athletic director, football defensive coordinator and head strength coach

from 1997-99 at Madison (Miss.) Central High School. He helped Madison Central

to the 1999 Class 5A state football championship and to two state powerlifting

titles. During his time at the prep power in suburban Jackson, Nowell helped the

football program to a 36-7 overall record, including a 15-0 mark during that ‘99

campaign. He was named Mississippi Strength Coach of the Year in May 2000.

Prior to his work at Madison Central, Nowell served as a football assistant coach

at Byram, Collins and Clinton High Schools in Mississippi, and Escambia High

School in Pensacola, Fla.

A native of Jackson, Miss., Nowell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in coach-

ing and sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990.

He earned a master’s degree in administration and supervision from William Carey

College, graduating in 1998 with a 4.0 grade point average.

Nowell is married to the former Linda Vernamonti, and the couple has two

children, Taylor and Jordan.

Joined MState: January 2004Southern Mississippi, 1990

THE JIM NOWELL FILEPERSONALBirthdate: August 2, 1966

Birthplace: Jackson, Miss.

Hometown: Magee, Miss.

Family: Wife (former Linda Vernamonti);

Children (son Taylor & daughter Jordan)

EDUCATIONHigh School: Magee (1984)

College: Southern Miss (1990)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1990 Byram [Miss.] HS

1991-92 Clinton [Miss.] HS

1993 Escambia [Fla.] HS

1994 Collins [Miss.] HS

1997-99 Madison [Miss.] Central HS

2000-01 LSU

2002-03 West Virginia

2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach

2000 Peach

2002 Sugar

2002 Continental Tire

2003 Gator

NOTABLEServed as Director of Skill/Development at West Virginia ... Worked with LSU

football, baseball and softball squads while in Baton Rouge ... Was assistant

athletic director, football defensive coordinator and head strength coach at

Madison Central, helping lead MCHS to the 1999 Mississippi Class 5A state

footbal championship and two state powerlifting crowns ... Named Mississippi

Strength Coach of the Year in 2000.

JIM NOWELL AND FAMILY

ASSISTANT COACHES

107

BRAD PENDERGRASSASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH

Organized and detail-oriented, Brad Pendergrass was hired by Mississippi

State head football coach Sylvester Croom in January 2004 as his personal

staff assistant.

Pendergrass handles a wide variety of administrative tasks for the head coach,

touching virtually every area of the football office operation. He serves as the

football office liaison in budgetary matters and compliance issues with the athletic

administration and assists recruiting coordinator Shane Beamer in on-campus

football recruiting with the Bulldog staff.

He continues to oversee football student-athlete housing and cafeteria issues,

directs all summer camps, and is the travel coordinator for home, away and bowl

game travel. He assists the athletic ticket office with player complimentary admis-

sions, and oversees the football office secretaries and all graduate assistants. He

serves as the head coach’s liaison with the video, training room, equipment and

facility personnel. In addition, Pendergrass manages the daily operation of the

football office.

He came to Mississippi State following a 10-year association with the University

of Tennessee as a student, graduate assistant and football staff member.

For the two years prior to assuming the MSU assignment, Pendergrass was a

recruiting assistant on the Volunteer football staff. In that capacity, he assisted

with the official and unofficial on-campus recruitment of student-athletes, partici-

pated in the evaluation of transcripts, prepared film and prospect databases, and

assisted with NCAA compliance paperwork. He also had a hand in UT summer

and fantasy camps. Prior to his appointment as the recruiting assistant, Pendergrass worked for

nearly three years as a graduate assistant in Tennessee football operations. In

that role, he helped coordinate the UT spring coaching clinic and helped oversee

the annual agent seminar and worked the pro timing days for Vol football players.

During the season, he was in charge of practice security and assisted with the daily

operation of the head coach’s office.

Pendergrass began his association with the Vol football staff as a student assis-

tant, working with both the equipment staff and later assisted with scout team

organizational duties.

Raised in Huntingdon, Tenn., Pendergrass received a Bachelor of Science in

Business/Marketing from the University of Tennessee in 1998. He earned a Master

of Science degree in Human Performance & Sports Studies, with a concentration

in Sport Administration, in 2001. He has done additional graduate classroom work

in human resource development.

Joined MState: January 2004Tennessee, 1998

THE BRAD PENDERGRASS FILEPERSONALBirthdate: June 25, 1976

Birthplace: Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Hometown: Huntingdon, Tenn.

EDUCATIONHigh School: Huntingdon (1994)

College: Tennessee (1998)

COACHING EXPERIENCE1998-03 Tennessee

2004- Mississippi State

BOWL EXPERIENCEAs a Coach

1998 Orange

1999 Fiesta

2000 Fiesta

2001 Cotton

2002 Citrus

2002 Peach

NOTABLEServed as a recruiting assistant at Tennessee for two seasons ... Was a gradu-

ate assistant for the Vols for three seasons and student assistant prior to that

role.

BRAD PENDERGRASS

ASSISTANT COACHES

108

RYAN HOLLERNCOORDINATOR OF RECRUITING OPERATIONS

Ryan Hollern was named to the newly created position of coordinator of

recruiting operations on the coaching staff this past summer, moving from

his duties on the field to administrative work with the football staff. In his

new assignment he will work in the daily operation of the recruiting office and will

coordinate prospect correspondence. He will oversee the database of prospective

student-athletes and will coordinate the video library. He will continue to work

closely with the entire football staff.

Previously, Hollern worked for two seasons as a graduate assistant on Croom’s

staff. In 2004, he joined the staff as a GA for administration, but moved to the

field a year later as the staff’s offensive assistant. A 2001 graduate of Gannon

University, Hollern played quarterback for two years for the Golden Knights.

Joined MState: July 2006Gannon, 2001

THE RYAN HOLLERN FILEPERSONALBirthdate: July 28, 1978Birthplace: Indiana, Pa.Hometown: Indiana, Pa.

EDUCATION High School: Indiana High School, 1997College: Gannon [Pa.], 2001

PLAYING EXPERIENCE Gannon [Pa.] (1999-01)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2002 Harding Univ. [N.C.] HS2004- Mississippi State

NOTABLEQuarterback for two seasons at Gannon ... Coached the quarterbacks at Harding University High School in Charlotte, N.C., for one season ... Served as an administrative graduate assistant in 2004 before taking an on-field GA role at State last year.

CASEY CLAUSENGRADUATE ASSISTANT - ADMINISTRATIONPERSONALBirthdate: January 9, 1981Birthplace: Northridge, Calif.Hometown: Northridge, Calif.

EDUCATION High School: Alemany, 2000College: Tennessee, 2004

PLAYING EXPERIENCE Tennessee (2000-03)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2005- Mississippi State

NOTABLEFour-year starter at QB for Tennessee ... Ranks second on Vols’ passing yardage list ... Posted a 34-10 record as a starting quarterback, 14-1 on the road.

JOE JUDGEGRADUATE ASSISTANT - ADMINISTRATIONPERSONALBirthdate: December 31, 1981Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pa.Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.

EDUCATION High School: Lansdale Catholic, 2000College: Mississippi State, 2005

PLAYING EXPERIENCE Mississippi State (2000-04)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2005- Mississippi State

NOTABLEPlayed in 27 games for Mississippi State, as a reserve QB and as the team’s primary holder ... His father played football at Temple and professionally for the Hamilton Tigercats of the Canadian Football League.

ANTHONY BLEVINSGRADUATE ASSISTANT - DEFENSEPERSONALBirthdate: July 23, 1976Birthplace: Birmingham, Ala.Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

EDUCATION High School: Pleasant Grove, 1994College: UAB, 1998

PLAYING EXPERIENCE UAB (1994-98)Birmingham Steeldogs [AFL] 2000Birmingham Thunderbolts [XFL] 2001

COACHING EXPERIENCE1999 Alabama State2003-05 Meadow Creek HS2005- Mississippi State

NOTABLEPlayed defensive back at UAB ... Served as a captain his senior season.

JODY WRIGHTGRADUATE ASSISTANT - OFFENSEPERSONALBirthdate: July 21, 1981Birthplace: Mobile, Ala.Hometown: Jackson, Ala.

EDUCATION High School: Pickens Academy, 2000College: Jacksonville (Ala.) State, 2005

PLAYING EXPERIENCE Jacksonville State (2000-02)

COACHING EXPERIENCE2002-04 Jacksonville State2005- Mississippi State

NOTABLECoached two OVC Championship teams at JSU ... Father Lynn Wright is a Hall of Fame Coach in Alabama at Jackson Academy.

FOOTBALL SUPPORT STAFF

BENNIE ASHFORDCOORDINATOR OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA

NANCY COVINGTONEXECUTIVE SECRETARY - HEAD COACH

TYLER HILLASSISTANT COMPLIANCE OFFICER

MIKE NEMETHASSOCIATE AD / MEDIA RELATIONS

JANE BALLARDEXECUTIVE SECRETARY

LINDA CRISWELLEXECUTIVE SECRETARY

TRAVIS ILLIANASSISTANT STRENGTH COACH

PHIL SILVAATHLETIC EQUIPMENT MANAGER

BRACKY BRETTCOMPLIANCE OFFICER

BROCK DULANEYCOORDINATOR OF FILMING & COMPUTING

JOHN MCALLISTERASSISTANT STRENGTH COACH

SUSAN SIMMONSADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY

ANN CARRASSISTANT AD / STUDENT LIFE

JOE GALBRAITHASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS

PAUL MOCKHEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

STEVE SMITHASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

109

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY

110

All Area Codes 662NAME ...............................OFFICE PHONE

TITLE/POSITION

ACADEMICSBAZZILL, Ericka .......................... 325-2066 administrative assistantBERRYHILL, Ray .......................... 325-2066 assistant AD/academic advisingCARR, Ann .................................. 325-2066 assistant AD/student lifeELLIS, Shelly ............................... 325-8125 study hall/tutorial servicesMOORE, Lynda .......................... 325-2066 academic counselorPARKER, Victor ........................... 325-2066 academic counselorWAGNER, Brittany ..................... 325-2066 academic counselor

ADMINISTRATIONCORHERN, Steve ....................... 325-3596 assistant business managerDEARMON, Debbie ................... 325-2532 administrative secretaryEDWARDS, Brenda .................... 325-3637 accounting assistantELLIS, Jim ................................... 325-8950 associate AD/external operationsGERHART, Michelle .................... 325-2999 accounting assistantGOLSON, Debby ....................... 325-0863 administrative assistantMcKENZIE, Duncan .................... 325-2532 associate AD/internal operationsRICE, Katherine .......................... 325-8082 administrative assistantTEMPLETON, Larry .................... 325-8082 director of athleticsWASSON, Pam ........................... 325-8235 accounting assistant

BASEBALLEDWARDS, April ........................ 325-3597 administrative secretaryHEDGES, Wade .......................... 325-3597 coordinator/baseball campMcNICKLE, Russ ......................... 325-3597 assistant baseball coachPOLK, Ron .................................. 325-3597 head baseball coachRAFFO, Tommy .......................... 325-3597 assistant baseball coach

BASKETBALL (MEN’S)CUNNINGHAM, Phil ................. 325-3800 assistant men's basketball coachGRANT, Marcus .......................... 325-3800 coordinator of basketball operationsKIRBY, Robert ............................. 325-3800 assistant men’s basketball coachLEE, Karin ................................... 325-3800 administrative secretarySTANSBURY, Rick ....................... 325-3800 head men's basketball coachWHITE, Mark .............................. 325-3800 assistant men’s basketball coach

BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)DORROH, Gail............................ 325-0198 administrative secretaryFANNING, Sharon ...................... 325-0198 head women's basketball coachFRANKLIN, Stacey ...................... 325-0198 assistant women’s basketball coachPERRY, Nitra ............................... 325-0198 assistant women's basketball coachROGERS, Errol ............................ 325-0198 assistant women's basketball coachSILER, Stephanie ........................ 325-0198 coordinator of basketball operations

All Area Codes 662Name ........................... Offi ce Phone title/position

BULLDOG SPORTS NETWORKELLIS, Jim ................................... 325-8950 associate AD/external operationsKEITH, Diane .............................. 325-8881 administrative secretaryHARRIS, Taylor ............................ 325-0692 marketing representative

COLISEUM OFFICEHUNT, Todd ................................ 325-4201 director/humphrey coliseumLANGSTON, Gail ....................... 325-4201 administrative secretaryNEUBAUER, Brenda ................... 325-4201 coordinator of servicesNEUBAUER, Duffy ...................... 325-4201 operations coordinator

DEVELOPMENT/MARKETINGBYRNE, Greg .............................. 325-3074 assoc. AD/development & marketingFELTON, Robyn .......................... 325-2291 bulldog suites directorGREGORY, Bart .......................... 325-3594 fi eld representativeHILLHOUSE, Judy ...................... 325-3075 executive secretaryMcMILLIN, Natalie...................... 325-3074 accounting assistantKARATASSOS, Straton ............... 325-3074 associate AD/athletic developmentRICHEY, Mike .............................. 325-3074 assistant AD/sports marketingROBERTSON, Susan ................... 325-3074 promotions coordinator

FOOTBALLBALLARD, Jane .......................... 325-2534 administrative secretaryBEAMER, Shane ......................... 325-8560 assistant football coachCOVINGTON, Nancy ................. 325-2539 executive secretaryCRISWELL, Linda ........................ 325-2536 administrative secretary CROOM, Sylvester .................... 325-2539 head football coachFELKER, Rockey ......................... 325-2536 coordinator of football operationsGRIMES, J.B. .............................. 325-8560 assistant football coachHALEY, Brick ............................... 325-8560 assistant football coachHOLLERN, Ryan ......................... 325-2534 coordinator of recruiting operationsHOLLIDAY, Guy .......................... 325-8560 assistant football coachJOHNSON, Ellis ......................... 325-2534 assistant football coachJONES, Amos ............................. 325-2534 assistant football coachMcCORVEY, Woody ................... 325-8560 assistant football coachPENDERGRASS, Brad ................ 325-3631 assistant to head football coachSIMMONS, Susan ....................... 325-2536 administrative secretarySMITH, Melvin ............................ 325-2534 assistant football coachSTRINGER, Reed ........................ 325-8560 assistant football coach

GOLF (MEN’S)HOMAN, Clay ............................ 325-2722 head men’s golf coachROBERTSON, Lee ...................... 325-2722 administrative secretary

All Area Codes 662Name ........................... Offi ce Phone title/position

GOLF (WOMEN’S)SANDERS, Christi ....................... 325-2722 head women's golf coachROBERTSON, Lee ...................... 325-2722 administrative secretary

GAME OPERATIONSEDWARDS, Don ......................... 325-0958 assistant coordinatorFREY, Brent ................................. 325-0958 assistant coordinatorPRATHER, Bart ........................... 325-2773 sports turf managerROLLINS, Jason .......................... 325-0958 assistant coordinatorTOMLINSON, Bobby ................. 325-7452 assistant AD/game ops & facilities

MEDIA RELATIONSANDERSON, Todd ..................... 325-7556 assistant directorCADE, John R. ............................ 325-2703 assistant directorCOOKE, Anne ............................ 325-2703 administrative secretaryDIER, Joe .................................... 325-8040 assistant directorGALBRAITH, Joe ........................ 325-2703 assistant directorKEITH, Diane .............................. 325-0540 administrative secretaryNEMETH, Mike ........................... 325-2703 associate AD/media relationsROSINSKI, David ........................ 325-3595 associate director

SOCCERESPARZA, Ja’net ........................ 325-0240 assistant soccer coachMANNERS, Andy ....................... 325-9190 assistant soccer coachMACDONALD, Neil ................... 325-0718 head soccer coachROBERTSON, Lee ...................... 325-2722 administrative secretary

SOFTBALLMILLER, Jay ................................ 325-0573 head softball coachREID, Bo ..................................... 325-0571 assistant softball coachSCRIVENER, Michelle ................ 325-2892 administrative secretarySMITH, Annie ............................. 325-0572 assistant softball coach

STRENGTH / EQUIPMENTAKINS, Richard ........................... 325-5750 assistant strength coachILLIAN, Travis .............................. 325-8582 assistant strength coachMcCALLISTER, John ................... 325-4007 assistant strength coachNOWELL, Jim ............................. 325-8627 head strength coachSILVA, Phil ................................... 325-3206 athletic equipment manager

SPORTS VIDEOASHFORD, Bennie ..................... 325-1332 coordinator of electronic mediaDULANEY, Brock ........................ 325-7846 coordinator for fi lming & computing services

All Area Codes 662Name ........................... Offi ce Phone title/position

STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICESBOLES, Dr. David ....................... 325-2532 associate AD/student servicesBRETT, Bracky ............................. 325-0245 coordinator of complianceHILL, Tyler ................................... 325-8731 assistant director of compliance

TENNIS (MEN’S)METZ, Michael ........................... 325-0801 assistant men’s tennis coachGUICHARD, Sylvain .................... 325-8506 head men’s tennis coachSCRIVENER, Michelle ................ 325-2892 administrative secretary

TENNIS (WOMEN’S)FOMINE, Max ............................ 325-9163 assistant women’s tennis coachLANE, Tracy ................................ 325-3510 head women’s tennis coachSCRIVENER, Michelle ................ 325-2892 administrative secretary

TICKET OFFICEDEES, Nicole .............................. 325-2600 accounting assistantHOLDER, Susan .......................... 325-2600 receptionistKNOX, Christina ......................... 325-2600 assistant ticket managerLAIRD, Luanne ............................ 325-2600 assistant ticket managerLUCAS, Brenda ........................... 325-2600 assistant ticket managerWALLACE, Pat ............................ 325-2600 assistant AD/ticket operationsTROSPER, Rachael ..................... 325-2600 accounting assistant

TRACK & FIELDDUDLEY, Steve ........................... 325-8333 associate head track & fi eld coachFRANKS, Houston ...................... 325-7042 assistant track & fi eld coachILLIAN, Karen ............................. 325-8675 assistant track & fi eld coachSCHMIDT, Al............................... 325-2892 head track & fi eld coachSCRIVENER, Michelle ................ 325-2892 administrative secretaryTHOMAS, Kurt ........................... 325-2892 assistant track & fi eld coach

TRAINING / SPORTS MEDBACHUS, Kelly ........................... 325-0648 assistant athletic trainerJOHNSON, Scott ....................... 325-4108 assistant athletic trainerLAYTON, Jennifer ...................... 325-3215 assistant athletic trainerLOGAN, Jay ............................... 325-2877 associate athletic trainerMcLENDON, Mary ..................... 325-0657 associate athletic trainerMOCK, Paul ................................ 325-1548 head athletic trainerRAY, Tammy ................................ 325-2165 athlete insurance coordinatorSMITH, Steve .............................. 325-2869 assistant athletic trainer

VOLLEYBALLCOTHRAN, Chris ........................ 325-2722 assistant volleyball coachFORMAN, Jozsef ........................ 325-2722 assistant volleyball coachSEALS, Tina ................................ 325-2722 head volleyball coach