Savannah State’s first-year football coach Earnest Wilson III announced his coaching staff for the upcoming season.
Wilson replaced Steve Davenport, who was fired April 17. Wilson was hired June 7.
Wilson, who was the offensive coordinator at Hampton, will coordinate the Tigers’ offense. Returning coach Corey Barlow will coordinate the SSU defense.
David Roberson is also back as an outside linebackers coach. He will also be the team’s recruiting coordinator.
Inside linebackers/special team coach Michael Wallace, associate head coach/offensive line Willard Scissum, running backs coach Mister Askew, defensive line/assistant recruiting coordinator Jonas Jackson, quarterbacks coach Lawrence Livingston and wide receivers coach Chris Buckner were announced as additions to the staff Thursday.
Wallace was an All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer under Tigers coach Bill Davis in 1988 and ’89 and was a four-year starter.
Wallace, who was coaching at Benedict, also coached at Savannah State for 11 years. He worked his way up to defensive coordinator in 1995 and helped the Tigers’ secondary lead the nation in passing defense and pass efficiency defense. In 1996, SSU led the nation by forcing 45 turnovers.
Scissum, who played on the offensive line for Bear Bryant at Alabama, played professionally for four seasons — in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and the Washington Redskins and in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampede and British Columbia Lions.
Scissum had been coaching since 1998, most recently coming from Alabama State.
Askew, who coached at Central State last season, was a fullback at Elizabeth City State and has coached at the high school, college and professional levels.
Jackson, who played at Eastern Michigan, has been coaching since 2006. He accumulated a 12-10 record while spending two years as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan before moving to linebackers coach at Assumption College last season.
Livingston began his coaching career at his alma mater, Weber State, and has been with major programs at the University of Arizona, Texas A&M and Washington State. He comes to SSU from Albany State after two years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Morgan State.
Buckner, a four-year letterman at New Mexico State, was on Jackson State’s staff for three years.
Wilson will attend the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s Football Press Luncheon today in Norfolk, Va. SSU opens the football season Aug. 31 against Georgia Southern.