Four defensive coaches from Kennesaw State’s football team left for positions at new schools last week, as confirmed by their prospective programs.
The Naval Academy confirmed on Saturday, Jan. 12, that they acquired the services of three KSU football coaches, and Elon University confirmed one.
Longtime KSU defensive coordinator Brian Newberry is leaving for a position for Navy and is the highest positioned coach to vacate his spot with the Owls.
Newberry led KSU’s defense to be the best overall in the Big South Conference last season and second-best in the nation, yielding an average of 263 total yards per game.
Additionally, the Owls were the top scoring defense in the conference, giving up just 15 points per game and forcing 21 turnovers during the season.
All-Big South selections Dante Blackmon and Taylor Henkle found their footing under Newberry, as Blackmon became the first KSU player to be invited to a training camp with an NFL team.
“I am super excited to have Brian Newberry join our program,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “He brings an edge and style of defense that will get us back to where we belong.”
Linebackers coach P.J. Volker is also leaving Kennesaw for a position in Annapolis, Maryland at the Naval Academy. Volker worked with standout players at KSU such as Bryson Armstrong, Anthony Gore, Jr. and Izzy Sam, who were instrumental in holding up a strong rush defense.
While Armstrong won the Jerry Rice Award as the best freshman in the FCS in 2017, Gore Jr. led the Owls in tackles and sacks in 2018. Sam finished fourth in the conference in tackles during his senior season.
Defensive ends coach Keith Downing is the third coach leaving KSU for Navy. Conference stars Desmond Johnson Jr. and Tonarius Portress thrived under Downing, as they helped improve the defensive line each season.
The two defensive ends earned All-Conference honors, as Portress had 13 tackles for loss in 2016 while Johnson, Jr. recorded six sacks that same year.
Lastly, defensive backs coach Chris Bland recently left KSU to return to his alma mater, Elon University. In addition to coaching Blackmon and Henkle, Bland helped progress Jace White, Derrick Farrow and Dorian Walker’s productive careers.
Replacements for the vacant positions have not been confirmed at this time.
