Photo by SFA Athletics
Stephen F. Austin Football
Defensive coordinator among four assistants out at SFA
UPDATE 12/5/2016: Matt Williamson has been announced as the new head coach at Missouri Western State University (DII).
A disappointing season full of injury and heartbreak ended last weekend on a high note as the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated Northwestern State to bring home Chief Caddo. Quickly turning the page, SFA released their 2017 football schedule yesterday.
Now, it appears at least four members of head coach Clint Conque’s staff will not be with the team when they kick off at SMU next September.
First reported by FootballScoop, The Sawmill has independently verified that defensive coordinator Matt Williamson, defensive tackles coach Chris Van Horn, defensive backs coach Mike Walton, and associate head coach (and receivers coach) Demo Odems are out at SFA. The moves have not been officially announced at this time and the circumstances surrounding each decision are not yet clear.
SFA’s defense gave up an average of 38 points per game, shaded north partly by the 69 and 63 given up to Texas Tech and Sam Houston State respectively. At times the unit played well though, largely keeping SFA in the game during an early season upset at McNeese.
SFA Athletics
Defensive Tackles coach Chris Van Horn speaks with players during an offseason practice.
Williamson has worked with Conque for nearly a decade, following him from Central Arkansas where he held the same position. The Bears’ defenses were a trademark of those UCA teams, three times leading the Southland Conference in scoring allowed.
Among the more surprising moves is the departure of Van Horn, whose defensive line helped the Lumberjacks place seventh nationally in sacks and 15th in tackles for loss in 2016.
The Sawmill has reached out to representatives of SFA athletics for comment. This story is developing and will be updated as new information is gathered.
A disappointing season full of injury and heartbreak ended last weekend on a high note as the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defeated Northwestern State to bring home Chief Caddo. Quickly turning the page, SFA released their 2017 football schedule yesterday.
Now, it appears at least four members of head coach Clint Conque’s staff will not be with the team when they kick off at SMU next September.
First reported by FootballScoop, The Sawmill has independently verified that defensive coordinator Matt Williamson, defensive tackles coach Chris Van Horn, defensive backs coach Mike Walton, and associate head coach (and receivers coach) Demo Odems are out at SFA. The moves have not been officially announced at this time and the circumstances surrounding each decision are not yet clear.
SFA’s defense gave up an average of 38 points per game, shaded north partly by the 69 and 63 given up to Texas Tech and Sam Houston State respectively. At times the unit played well though, largely keeping SFA in the game during an early season upset at McNeese.
SFA Athletics
Defensive Tackles coach Chris Van Horn speaks with players during an offseason practice.
Williamson has worked with Conque for nearly a decade, following him from Central Arkansas where he held the same position. The Bears’ defenses were a trademark of those UCA teams, three times leading the Southland Conference in scoring allowed.
Among the more surprising moves is the departure of Van Horn, whose defensive line helped the Lumberjacks place seventh nationally in sacks and 15th in tackles for loss in 2016.
The Sawmill has reached out to representatives of SFA athletics for comment. This story is developing and will be updated as new information is gathered.
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