Jason McManus is entering his fourth season at Chattanooga and will coach the running backs in 2009. He has also coached the receivers during this tenure at UTC.
Under McManus’ guidance, the receiving tandem of Blue Cooper and Clint Woods ranked among the top 10 in the Southern Conference in receptions per game and receiving yards per game in 2007.
In 2006, the starting receiver duo of Emanuel Hassell and Michael Johnson combined to catch 101 passes for 1,099 yards. Hassell became the school’s all-time leading pass catcher, and Johnson tied for the league lead with eight touchdown catches. Hassell has gone on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League.
UTC demonstrated improvements in the passing game from 2005 to 2006. The Mocs improved their passing yards per game average from 147.5 yards to 162.5 and their number of receiving touchdowns from six to 12.
McManus spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for Head Coach Frankie Debusk.
While with the Pioneers, McManus coached All-America defensive backs Ra’ Shun Judge and Octavius Love. Judge earned All-America honors in 2004, while Love was a 2005 All-America selection. In 2005, Love led all NCAA Division II players in punt return average and set numerous school records as a kick and punt returner. Also under McManus’ guidance, Tusculum punter Cory Newton earned All-America accolades, setting school records for career punting average and longest punt (78 yards).
Prior to his arrival at Tusculum, McManus worked for one year at Sewanee. He served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator in 2003 and put together the highest-rated pass defense in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, giving up only 149 yards per game. He helped Sewanee go from eighth to first in pass defense and from eighth to second best in total defense. In 2003, the Tigers ranked second among league teams and 53rd in NCAA Division III in total defense (302.6 yards).
The Newton, N.C., native earned his master’s degree in Physical Education from Middle Tennessee in 2001. While in Murfreesboro, McManus worked as a graduate assistant coach for the Blue Raiders, assisting with the wide receivers, secondary and special teams. During his tenure at Middle Tennessee, McManus developed the reputation as an outstanding young coach and recruiter and was responsible for signing several of MTSU’s top recruits during his time with the Blue Raiders.
He was also a member of the 2001 MTSU coaching staff which claimed the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship.
McManus graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2000 with a degree in Physical Education. He was a two-year football letterwinner for the Bulldogs then worked as a student assistant coach in the spring of 2000.
