by Matt Cooke
The University of West Georgia has completed its football coaching staff with the hiring of six assistant coaches, head coach Will Hall announced Tuesday. The new staff is a young, energetic group that includes Gulf South Conference championship coaches, Division I coaching experience, NFL and Division I playing experience as well as a former Division II All-American.
"I just want to thank the administration for giving us the resources to hire such a tremendous staff," Will says. "All of these guys have tremendous track records as coaches, recruiters and men. They are all driven to make sure that we become what we should be, which is the premier football-playing school in America at the Division II level."
The coaching staff includes:
Desmond Lindsey: Assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator, wide receivers
Sam Gregg: Offensive coordinator
Scott Symons: Defensive coordinator, safeties
Chad Williams: Special teams coordinator, linebackers
Josh Aldridge: Defensive line
Cody Kennedy: Offensive line, guards and centers
Remaining on staff:
Matt O'Brien: Running backs, superbacks, assistant recruiting coordinator
T.C. Jay: Tight ends
Zach Green: Cornerbacks
Champ Kleeman: Defensive line
Desmond Lindsey was the first coach to join Will's staff in November, coming to UWG after six years at the University of West Alabama, where he served as wide receivers coach, recruiting coordinator and eventually assistant head coach. Desmond led the recruiting efforts at UWA to help produce a team in 2013 that led the Gulf South Conference in scoring offense (49.5), total offense (539.1), total defense (338.5), rushing offense (305.1), rushing defense (127.1), pass efficiency (182.9), first downs (288) and third down conversions (48.8).
Once in Livingston, he mentored All-GSC receivers Terry Allen, Randy Lowery, Gerald Worsham, Ken May, Chad Toocheck, Seth Roberts and Malik Lofton. Under Desmond, Gerald became the program's career leader in receptions and receiving yards. In the past two seasons, with the release of the All-Gulf South Conference team, Desmond signed 15 players who were named All-GSC.
In May of 2012, Desmond was selected to participate in the NFL/NCAA Football Academy in Dallas, Texas. The program was developed to provide 30 coaches from NCAA schools and 30 from NFL teams with the necessary tools and networking opportunities that will enhance their chances at success in the football coaching industry.
Sam Gregg comes to West Georgia as one of the longest-running coaches to share a sideline with Will, having spent eight seasons as Will's offensive line coach. In January of 2011, Sam was promoted to offensive coordinator at West Alabama, engineering an offense that, in 2013 alone, led the conference in scoring offense (49.5), total offense (539.1), rushing offense (305.1), pass efficiency (182.9), first downs (288) and third down conversions (48.8).
In addition in 2013, Sam's offense was one of the most prolific in the history of the Gulf South Conference. The Tigers tied the GSC record for yards per rush (6.5) and set the record for total yards gained per play (7.7). The yards per rush statistic was a record held by North Alabama since 1993 and the total yards was held by Valdosta State since the 2001 season.
In his first season as offensive coordinator at West Alabama, Sam guided the Tigers to eight All-Gulf South Conference award winners, including two offensive linemen. The Tigers were first in rushing offense in the Gulf South Conference that season, averaging 227.1 yards per game on the ground. His second year at the helm was a similar result, leading the GSC in rushing yards per game at 225.1. In that second season, his offense produced six All-GSC performers, including three on the offensive line.
Scott Symons joins the UWG coaching staff after spending one year as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas Tech, where he took a defense that finished last in the Great American Conference in 2012 and improved it to seventh out of 12 teams in 2013. Prior to 2012, he was the defensive quality control coach at Division I Arkansas State after spending three seasons on the staff at Harding University, with the last two as the co-defensive coordinator.
While he was at Harding, Scott guided two defensive backs to become Division II All-Americans and in 2011, the Bisons led the Great American Conference in total defense and sacks per game, while ranking second in the league in rushing defense and turnovers gained. Harding's defense was ranked 29th nationally in first down defense, allowing just 17.1 per game.
In the 2010 season, Scott tutored senior cornerback Eddie Russ, Jr., who signed a free agent contract with a Canadian Football League team following the season. Scott called the defense that saw its charges lead Division II in sacks per game and rank eighth in opponents' third-down conversion percentage. The defense was also second in the GSC in rushing and third in total defense.
Joining the UWG staff in 2014 to coach the linebackers is Chad Williams, who spent his playing years as a two-time All-Conference USA safety at Southern Mississippi before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 draft. He played for the Ravens from 2002-2005, then signed with San Francisco in 2006. Chad played in 79 career games with six starts, collecting 164 tackles nine interceptions, three touchdowns, seven sacks and 25 passes deflected.
Chad has spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant on the staff at two different Division I institutions, beginning with Jacksonville State in 2012 and moving to Middle Tennessee State last season. He began his coaching career at Wenonah High School in 2007 before becoming the linebacker and defensive line coach at SIAC power Morehouse.
Josh Aldridge brings an impressive resume to Carrollton after serving one year as the defensive line coach at Ouachita Baptist University in 2013. Josh was a four year starter and team captain for Harding University at the defensive end position from 2009-2012.
He ranks 3rd all-time in sacks, 3rd in tackles for loss and 2nd in blocked kicks at Harding and also led the Great American Conference in sacks in 2011. A two-time member of the All Great American Conference team in 2011 and 2012, Aldridge was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell trophy, which is awarded to the top senior scholar athlete in the nation. He originates from Jackson, Tennessee and is married to the former Jessica Heimrich of St. Louis, Missouri.
Cody Kennedy comes to Carrollton after spending two seasons as an offensive line graduate assistant at the University of West Alabama. During that time, he helped guide a unit that produced five All-Gulf South Conference lineman, leading the GSC in rushing in each of the years that Cody was on the staff.
Matt O'Brien will remain on the staff after spending the last three seasons with the Wolves. He coached Seth Hinsley to All-Conference status in 2012 and was instrumental in recruiting this year, as he recruited Gwinnett County. West Georgia was ranked by Gwinnett Gridiron Recruits as the No. 1 college to recruit within Gwinnett, one of the powerhouse counties in the state of Georgia.
