Thursday, July 25, 2013

Wilson Announces SSU Football Coaching Staff

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  First-year Savannah State head football coach Earnest Wilson III has announced his coaching staff for the 2013 season.

Wilson, who replaces Steve Davenport, will be his own offensive coordinator.

The returning coaches are Corey Barlow and David Roberson. Barlow will serve as the defensive coordinator and will also coach the defensive backs. Roberson will work with the outside linebackers and will act as recruiting coordinator.

Among the new assistants is former SSU player and coach Michael Wallace (inside linebackers and special teams). The other new assistants are Willard Scissum (associate head coach/offensive line), who comes to SSU from Alabama State; Mister Askew (running backs) who spent last season at Central State; Jonas Jackson (defensive line and assistant recruiting coordinator), a former assistant at Assumption; Lawrence Livingston  (quarterbacks) who comes to SSU from Albany State and Chris Buckner (wide receivers), who comes to SSU from Jackson State.

Wallace, a Clyo, Georgia native, comes to SSU from Benedict where he coached the defensive backs. Wallace was a four-year starter in the secondary while at SSU, playing for the legendary William “Bill” Davis. Wallace was an All-SIAC performer during the 1988 and 1989 seasons and was a member of the SSU squad that finished with a 8-1 record in 1989. Entering his 24th year in the collegiate ranks, Wallace has also coached at Lane, Stillman, Clark Atlanta and Morris Brown. The 1991 SSU graduate started his coaching career in 1990 at Savannah State that lasted until 2001. As a defensive coordinator in 1995, Wallace lead the Savannah State Tigers to a No. 1 ranking in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. In 1996, it was No. 1 in the nation in take-a-ways with 45. On the offensive side of the ball, Wallace's team never finished lower than fourth in total offense before SSU left the SIAC in 2000.



Scissum coached one year at Alabama State and spent three years as an assistant at Alcorn State. Scissum, who was  four-year starter at Alabama under Paul “Bear” Bryant, coached the offense line for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder and Ft. Valley State (2007). He spent six seasons at Morehouse College; first as offensive line coach (1998-2000) and later as head coach (2002-05), sandwiched around a brief stint as co-offensive coordinator at Morris Brown (2001) . The Huntsville, Alabama native played professionally for four seasons (1985-88), playing in both the National Football League (Denver Broncos and the Washington Redskins) and Canadian Football Leagues (Calgary Stampede and British Columbia Lions).

Askew comes to SSU from Central State where he was the Marauders wide receivers coach last season. Prior to CSU, Askew was the head coach for the Dayton Silverbacks (2011-12), a professional indoor football team, and the wide receivers coach at Kenyon College (2010).  In the 2008-09 season, the Cincinnati, Ohio native served as the assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Mifflin High School.  Askew was the running backs coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Bethany College (2004-2007).  In 2005, Askew was the running back for the professional indoor football team the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. During the 2003-04 season, he was the running backs coach for Benedict College. He also served as the running backs coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at St. Augustine's College. In 2000, the former Elizabeth City State fullback was the running backs and linebacker's coach for the Carolina Rhino's in the Arena Football League.

Jackson was a linebacker coach at Assumption College before landing at Savannah State. Before that he spent two years as head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. In two seasons at Wesleyan, Jackson finished with a 12-10 record. He has the most wins in the first two seasons of any coach in Wesleyan history  since the Bobcats joined the WVIAC in 1924. Jackson had been on the football staff since 2009. He was promoted to head coach during the summer of 2011. Prior to be named the head coach Jackson was the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. Jackson spent one season as the defensive line coach at Illinois State. During the 2006-07 seasons Jackson was the defensive coordinator at LaSalle University. Jackson spent two seasons coaching the defensive line at Temple University. Jackson spent a year in France as the Head Coach of the Elancourt Templiers. Prior to his trip overseas the Boston native was the offensive skill coach at Arizona Western College. Jackson was a two-year letter winner at Eastern Michigan where he was a two-way player at tight end and on the defensive line.

Livinston was the offensive line coach at Albany State (GA). Before that, he worked at Morgan State University, where he served two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Prior to his stint at Morgan State, Livingston coached the offensive line at Delaware State University for two seasons, and was assistant head coach and offensive line coach at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2004 until 2008. The Dover, Delaware native served as the head coach and offensive coordinator at Earlham College in 2003. Livingston also coached with the University of Wyoming, the University of Arizona, and helped the Texas A&M University Aggies to the Big 12 conference championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance. He coached at Washington State University, which won the Pac 10 championship and a Rose Bowl appearance during his tenure. Livingston began his coaching career as an assistant offensive line coach as his alma mater, Weber State College. He also coached at the U.S. Military Academy in 1988.

Buckner was a member of the Jackson State football staff for three seasons. He started out as a graduate assistant, working with the wide receivers but was promoted to a  full-time member of the coaching staff as the receivers coach. Buckner was a four year letterman (2006-09) at New Mexico State, where he started as a wide receiver. The Arlington, Texas native earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State in 2009. He is currently working on a graduate degree in Industrial Technology.

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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