Ole Miss has named Jon Sumrall its new linebackers coach, head coach Matt Luke announced Monday night.
With the hire, Luke will look to improve a defensive unit that struggled in 2017 largely in part due to its inability to tackle at the second level.
Sumrall, who served as assistant head coach, linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Troy University, helped to coach a defense that finished atop the Sun Belt conference in several categories and top 25 in the nation in total defense. In addition, he led a special teams unit that finished second in the nation, allowing just 27.721 yards per return.
Prior to his stint at Troy that included a road victory over LSU in 2017, Sumrall’s coaching career began as a defensive graduate assistant in 2005, continued with various defensive positions at the University of San Diego and includes two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Tulane University. In his second season with the Green Wave, Sumrall’s defense finished 22nd in total defense and 11th in red zone defense, and he was named a finalist for the FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
“Coach Sumrall became a defensive coordinator at a young age and has led turnarounds on that side of the ball everywhere he has been,” Luke said. “He is a relentless recruiter and gets the very best out of his players. His passion, energy and toughness make him a great fit for our staff, and we can’t wait to get him on campus.”
