SHSU promotes Sherrod to defensive coordinator
(STATS) - Brad Sherrod has shared defensive coordinator duties the past two seasons at Sam Houston State. For this upcoming campaign, the Bearkats will have him going solo.
Sherrod was officially announced as the program's lone defensive coordinator Tuesday, and coach K.C. Keeler made two other changes to his staff.
Sam Houston moved Rodrique Wright to defensive line coach and hired Troy Douglas as its secondary coach.
Sherrod was the Bearkats' linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator with Mike Collins, who left in January to become the DC at Louisiana-Monroe for former McNeese State coach Matt Viator.
Sherrod was also Keeler's assistant head coach at Delaware from 2010-2012, helping lead the Blue Hens to the FCS title game in his first season.
"He is one of the best coaches around and is an outstanding person," Keeler said in a statement. "He is a strong leader. He oversees the leadership development program for our players. He is putting together a strong defensive coaching staff that will focus on fundamentals and playing clean."
Wright has also been with Sam Houston for the past two seasons as a defensive ends coach and has mentored All-American P.J. Hall. The Bearkats have gone a combined 22-9 in those campaigns and reached the FCS semifinals for the fourth time in five years in this past one.
Wright is taking over for Phil Petitte, who left after last season's 11-4 finish.
Douglas is a 27-year coaching veteran who oversaw the defensive backs at Pittsburgh last season. He has seen 16 former players make the NFL, with Tracy Porter and Nate Allen among the most notable.
Douglas replaces Patrick Toney, who returned to Southeastern Louisiana.