Hokie ClubCOACHING HIGHLIGHTS
• Veteran defensive coach and former collegiate linebacker enters his initial season as Tech’s safeties coach.
• Owning over 25 years of college football experience as a coach and a player, his impressive resume includes stints as a defensive coordinator at both Ole Miss and South Carolina.
• Joins the Hokies after spending the 2017 season as a defensive analyst at Texas A&M on Kevin Sumlin’s staff.
• Prior to his arrival at Texas A&M, spent five seasons at Middle Tennessee State, working as co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 2012-14 and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 2015-16.
• The Blue Raiders made dramatic improvements in a number of key categories in Nix’s initial season in 2012, most notably tying for third in the nation with 16 fumble recoveries.
• Nix’s defenses at MTSU consistently ranked in the nation’s top 25 in terms of forcing takeaways, tying for fifth in that department among FBS squads with 33 turnovers forced in 2013, a figure was higher than all Power Five squads except for Arizona State and Oklahoma State, who also had 33.
• Served as defensive coordinator under Houston Nutt at Ole Miss (2008-11) on a staff that also included current Tech assistant James Shibest.
• His defenses helped lead Ole Miss to consecutive Cotton Bowl appearances in 2009 and 2010 as he added the title of assistant head coach to his responsibilities for the 2010-11 seasons.
• Ole Miss posted 92.0 TFL and 34.0 sacks in 2009, ranking first and second in the SEC, respectively.
• In 2008, the Rebels ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense (86.5 ypg), led by All-America DT Peria Jerry and future All-SEC DT Jerrell Powe.
• Enjoyed his initial stint as an SEC defensive coordinator in serving in that role and also coaching linebackers for head coach Steve Spurrier at South Carolina (2005-07).
• S Ko Simpson earned All-America accolades under his tutelage, while CB Jonathan Joseph developed into first-round NFL Draft pick.
• In 2007, the Gamecocks led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense, allowing just 168.8 ypg.
• Promoted to assistant head coach in 2006 as South Carolina’s defense surrendered a mere 18.7 ppg., an improvement of 4.5 ppg fewer than 2005 despite returning just one starter from the previous season.
• Embarked on his coaching career at his alma mater as defensive tackles coach at his alma mater in 1995, beginning a decade-long run that also saw him coach outside linebackers (1996-99) and defensive backs (2000).
• Was elevated to defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach, a position he held from 2001-04.
• From 2001-03, Southern Miss ranked in the top 15 in the nation in both scoring defense and pass efficiency defense each season.
• Named a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2003.
• Mentored 12 All-Conference USA selections, four Conference USA Defensive Players of the Year and six All-America selections at his alma mater.
• Southern Miss won four Conference USA titles and earned seven bowl berths during his tenure.
• His many notable pupils coached in Hattiesburg included a pair of future NFL Pro Bowl performers in CB Patrick Surtain and LB Adalius Thomas.
PROMINENT NFL PUPILS
CB Fred Bennett D4-2007 – Houston
49 NFL games (17 starts) from 2007-10
LB Jasper Brinkley D5-2009 – Minnesota
94 NFL games (42 starts) from 2009-15
S Kevin Byard D3-2016 – Tennessee
All-Pro, Pro Bowl selection with eight-INT season in 2017
LB Jasper Brinkley D5-2009 – Minnesota
94 NFL games (42 starts) from 2009-15
DE Greg Hardy D6-2010 – Carolina
One Pro Bowl, Panthers (2010-14), Cowboys (2015)
DT Peria Jerry D1-2009 – Atlanta
First-team All-America pick; Falcons (2009-13)
CB Jonathan Joseph D1-2006 – Cincinnati
Two-time Pro Bowler; Bengals (2006-10), Texans (2011-18)
S Kendrick Lewis D5-2010 – Kansas City
Chiefs (2010-13); Texans (2014), Ravens (2015-16)
DL Cliff Matthews D7-2010 – Atlanta
35 NFL games with Falcons (2012-16)
CB Captain Munnerlyn D7-2009 – Carolina
Panthers (2009-13, ‘17-18); Vikings (2014-16)
DT Jerrell Powe D6-2011 – Kansas City
Chiefs (2011-13), Texans (2014)
S Jamarca Sanford D7-2009 – Minnesota
95 NFL games (46 starts) from 2009-15
S Ko Simpson D4-2007 – Buffalo
41 NFL games with Bills (2006-08) and Lions (2009).
LB T.J. Slaughter D3-2000 – Jacksonville
78 NFL games (32 starts) from 2000-06.
DT Jimmy Staten D4-2014 – Seattle
Super Bowl XLVIII champion with Seahawks
CB Patrick Surtain D2-1998 – Miami
Three-time Pro Bowler; Dolphins (1998-04), Chiefs (2005-08)
CB Cassius Vaughn FA-2010 – Denver
69 career NFL games (23 starts) from 2010-15
S Chad WIlliams D6-2002 – Baltimore
79 career NFL games with Ravens (2002-05), 49ers (2006)