Morris Announces Defensive Staff Hires
12/20/2024 8:52:00 AM | Football
Mean Green add four coaches to defensive staff room
DENTON – UNT head football coach Eric Morris has announced the hiring of four coaches to the staff on the defensive side of the football.
The Mean Green have added Reggie Johnson (Inside Linebackers), Greg Richmond (Defensive Ends), Julian Wilson (Defensive Backs) and Ike Eguae (Defensive Tackles) to the staff.
"We are extremely excited to add these guys to our defensive staff," head coach Eric Morris said. "They bring a ton of knowledge, experience and passion to our coaching room. I can't wait to work with all of them as we look to continue to compete for championships here at North Texas."
All four coaches join the UNT staff after spending the 2024 season at Sam Houston working under new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity.
In addition, current Interim Defensive Coordinator Brian Odom will return for a second season. He will now coach outside linebackers and nickels.
A 25-year veteran, Johnson joins the UNT staff after coaching linebackers at Sam Houston in 2024, helping the Bearkats finish the season 19th in FBS in total defense. Johnson's resume includes coaching in 11 bowl games, including trips to the 2005 Gator Bowl, the 2006 Orange Bowl, the 2010 Sugar Bowl and the 2011 Cotton Bowl.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State, helping the Bears to the 2021 MVFC Championship and their first appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 30 years.
Richmond also comes to UNT with a wealth of experience with nearly 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. At Sam Houston in 2024, Richmond helped the Bearkats finish 16th in FBS in fumbles forced and second in Conference USA in sacks.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston, Richmond was the defensive line coach at Oklahoma State from 2018-22, producing a pair of First Team All-Big 12 defensive linemen and helping OSU rank among the national leaders in tackles for loss three straight seasons.
Wilson joins the staff as the defensive backs coach after serving in the same role with the Bearkats in 2024. Under his watch, Sam Houston finished the regular season ranked as the No. 10 passing defense in FBS and led C-USA with 12 interceptions on the year.
Wilson was the defensive backs coach at Abilene Christian in 2022-23 and served as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech from 2020-21. Wilson was also a dynamic defensive back himself, spending three seasons (2015-17) in the NFL with the Chiefs, Ravens and Vikings after a stellar collegiate playing career at Oklahoma from 2011-14.
Eguae has been the defensive line coach for Sam Houston each of the last two seasons and will coach defensive tackles for the Mean Green. He has helped the Bearkats finish second in C-USA in rushing defense each of the past two seasons.
An 18-year coaching veteran, Eguae also had prior stops at Stephen F. Austin, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Coffeyville CC. In his one year at SFA, Eguae coached a pair of FCS All-Americans on the defensive line and helped the Lumberjacks earn a spot in the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2013.
The Mean Green have added Reggie Johnson (Inside Linebackers), Greg Richmond (Defensive Ends), Julian Wilson (Defensive Backs) and Ike Eguae (Defensive Tackles) to the staff.
"We are extremely excited to add these guys to our defensive staff," head coach Eric Morris said. "They bring a ton of knowledge, experience and passion to our coaching room. I can't wait to work with all of them as we look to continue to compete for championships here at North Texas."
All four coaches join the UNT staff after spending the 2024 season at Sam Houston working under new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity.
In addition, current Interim Defensive Coordinator Brian Odom will return for a second season. He will now coach outside linebackers and nickels.
A 25-year veteran, Johnson joins the UNT staff after coaching linebackers at Sam Houston in 2024, helping the Bearkats finish the season 19th in FBS in total defense. Johnson's resume includes coaching in 11 bowl games, including trips to the 2005 Gator Bowl, the 2006 Orange Bowl, the 2010 Sugar Bowl and the 2011 Cotton Bowl.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State, helping the Bears to the 2021 MVFC Championship and their first appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 30 years.
Richmond also comes to UNT with a wealth of experience with nearly 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. At Sam Houston in 2024, Richmond helped the Bearkats finish 16th in FBS in fumbles forced and second in Conference USA in sacks.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston, Richmond was the defensive line coach at Oklahoma State from 2018-22, producing a pair of First Team All-Big 12 defensive linemen and helping OSU rank among the national leaders in tackles for loss three straight seasons.
Wilson joins the staff as the defensive backs coach after serving in the same role with the Bearkats in 2024. Under his watch, Sam Houston finished the regular season ranked as the No. 10 passing defense in FBS and led C-USA with 12 interceptions on the year.
Wilson was the defensive backs coach at Abilene Christian in 2022-23 and served as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech from 2020-21. Wilson was also a dynamic defensive back himself, spending three seasons (2015-17) in the NFL with the Chiefs, Ravens and Vikings after a stellar collegiate playing career at Oklahoma from 2011-14.
Eguae has been the defensive line coach for Sam Houston each of the last two seasons and will coach defensive tackles for the Mean Green. He has helped the Bearkats finish second in C-USA in rushing defense each of the past two seasons.
An 18-year coaching veteran, Eguae also had prior stops at Stephen F. Austin, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Coffeyville CC. In his one year at SFA, Eguae coached a pair of FCS All-Americans on the defensive line and helped the Lumberjacks earn a spot in the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2013.
-- GMG --
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