Nicholls football promoted safety coach and special teams coordinator Steve Adams to defensive coordinator position.
Adams will take over the play-calling duties after former coordinator Jeremy Atwell took the Vandebilt Catholic High School head coach position. This will be the first time in Adams’s career that he takes on the role. He had experience as a co-defensive coordinator at Concord University.
“I love it here at Nicholls, my wife loves it here and we are really happy for the opportunity,” Adams said.
Head coach Charlie Stubbs interviewed Adams and pulled the trigger on making him the head man for the defense.
“One thing Coach Stubbs always says is, ‘He is going to look for promotions within.’ He tells the staff that every day ‘we are on a job interview,” Adams said.
Two weeks ago, Stubbs said that if they promoted someone from within that changes would be made within in the staff. Running back coach Chuck Hepola will take over duties as special teams coordinator. Receiver coach Justin Anderson and offensive line coach Matt Clark will split the duties as tight end coach. Clark has previous experience working as the tight end coach for Nicholls. Brandon Nowlin will take over the defensive line after coaching the tight ends last year.
Last season during fall camp, the defense switched from a 3-4 to a 3-3-5. After giving up 70 points, 8 rushing touchdowns and 456 rushing yards to University of Louisiana-Lafayette, they went back to their original 3-4 set.
With the defense struggling last year, especially against the run, Adams said he wants to “keep things simple.”
Cornerback coach Freddie Banks says he is excited about Adams’ promotion. Adams and Banks worked closely together last year due to their coaching roles with the defensive backfield.
“We have a good relationship,” Banks said. “We both believe in the same philosophy of keeping things simple so guys can play fast and make plays.”
During the spring, Adams wants to get the fundamentals covered first and foremost. He wants his guys to know exactly where they need to be, so they will focus on gap assignments and run fits. Adams believes gap discipline can improve the tackling and create more turnovers on the defensive side. Last year, the defense only managed 12 takeaways.
“When you get multiple hats at the point of attack, the first guy is trying to get a tackle and the second and third guy are trying to get the strip and cause a fumble,” Adams said.
The defense wants to make sure they are grading personnel properly, so they can have their best players out on the field. Adams emphasized the importance of scrimmages and practices. He believes it can help create positive competition among the players.
“It doesn’t matter how good of coaches we are or how good of coaches we think we are,” Adams said. “We aren’t the ones taking snaps on the field.”
The defense will lose two all-conference players in linebacker Chris Bermond and safety Siegan Vergenal. Adams preached about the leadership and toughness those two brought to the defense.
This year’s senior class includes cornerbacks Byron Cobb who finished last season with nine pass break ups and two interceptions while leading the team in solo tackles with 51 and Josh Dewey who had the interception to lock up the win over Western Michigan. Linebacker Davin Bovie is finished with second on the team in tackles with 78 despite missing four games.
Banks feels Cobb and Dewey can have an even greater impact this year because of experience.
“I feel like those guys will be even better and be able to build on what they did last year,” Banks said. “They will be able build on the coaching techniques and details from last year.”
Offseason training has helped bolster some of the younger guys. Adams has given the credit to strength and conditioning coach Greg Carrasquillo.
“They look better. They are bigger and stronger and in much better condition,” Adams said. “That will allow those guys to push themselves and their teammates even harder.”
Sophomore safety B.T. Sanders played in all 12 contests last year and started two of them. He finished the year with 44 tackles and one fumble recovery. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Lorden led last year’s team with three sacks and three fumble recoveries.
The defensive coaching staff has expressed their excitement for what can transpire with the changes to the coaching staff.