chattanooga MOCS

Start Date: June 2021
 
Prior Experience

• Brainerd High School, Head Coach, 2017-20
• Whites Creek High School, Head Coach, 2015-16
• Brainerd, Assistant Coach, 2010-14
• Red Bank High School, Assistant Coach, 2009

 
All-Americans
2023: Jay Person (1st team)
2022: Jay Person (1st team)
 
Buck Buchanan Award
2023: Jay Person (Finalist-12th)
2022: Jay Person (Finalist-T8th)
 
SoCon Defensive Player of the Year
2023: Jay Person
2022: Jay Person
 
All-Conference Selections
2024: Leroy Harris III (Fr.)
2023: Jay Person (1st); Ben Brewton (1st)
2022: Jay Person (1st); Ben Brewton (2nd)
2021: Jay Person (2nd)

NFL Players
2024: Jay Person (New England)
 
NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship
2022: Carolina Panthers
 
Coaching Highlights

• 2024: Leroy Harris III's 75-yard scoop and score at Western Carolina was the longest by a Moc since Montrell Pardue’s 99 yarder in the 2016 FCS Playoff win over Weber State & the longest in a regular season game.
• 2023: Jay Person led the league in sacks with 9.5.
• 2023: 36 sacks ranks second all-time (2016: 38).
• 2022: Coached Person and DE Ben Brewton to the top of the SoCon sack list with Person tying for the lead with DT Devonnsha Maxwell with 8.0 and Brewton 0.5 behind them
• Person had a career-best 17.5 TFLs; most at Chattanooga since Dale Warren’s 19.0 in 2016. Person had 34.5 TFLs & 17.5 sacks working with Coach Ward. 
• The 2022 defense tied 2014 for the second-most sacks (35.0) in school history behind the record 38.0 in 2016
• 2022 defense led the SoCon in Total Defense (320.5), Rushing (108.0), Sacks (35) & Opponent First Downs (185)
• Aided in 2021 defense holding opponents to less than 200 yards total offense in five games for just third time in program history – 1982 (6), 2014 (5)
• Edge Jay Person led the SoCon in forced fumbles (3) in 2021
• 2018 & 2020 TSSAA Class AAA Playoffs (Brainerd)
• Four All-State performers at Brainerd
• 19 of his prep players earned football scholarships
• 2015 Region Coach of the Year at Whites Creek
• 2015 Whites Creek team won three games snapping the state’s longest losing streak at 29

 
Personal
Wife: Donisia
Children: Tyliyah, Kohl
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.

• Younger brother E’Jay is boys basketball coach at Tyner Academy in Chattanooga

 
Collegiate Career
Alma Mater: Chattanooga ‘05
Sports Played: Football

• Played 18 games over two seasons at WR for the Mocs
• Career UTC stats: 52 receptions, 745 yards, 5 TDs
• Transferred from ETSU when it disbanded its program

 
Prep Career
Alma Mater: Brainerd
Sports Played: Football, Basketball & Track

• 2000 Scrappy Moore Chattanooga Male Athlete of the Year
• QB who rushed and passed for more than 1,000 yards each as a senior
• 59 career TDs (46 pass/13 rush)
• 2-time All-State
• All-America in track
• Won age 15-16 National Championship in 400m hurdles
• State Champ in 300m hurdles during career
• All-City in basketball