MONTICELLO – University of Arkansas at Monticello head football coach Hud Jackson has finalized his coaching staff with the hiring of four full-time assistant coaches and one graduate assistant.
Matt Middleton – Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Keith Scott – Defensive Coordinator/Community Outreach Coordinator
Scott Brezee – Offensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Academic Liaison
Marcus Hill – Defensive Line Coach/Pro Scout Liaison
Marcellus Speaks – Graduate Assistant/Strength and Condition Coordinator
“I am very excited to bring these five talented men to UAM,” said Jackson. “They are all passionate guys with high character and integrity that love the game of football… They will all be great role models for our student-athletes.”
Middleton is returning to UAM after a two-year separation, in which he was away from football in the 2009 season and the co-offensive coordinator at Central Arkansas in 2010.
“I am extremely excited about being back in the Monticello community along with Hud Jackson, which is by far, the best hire that could possibly be made here,” said Middleton. “We are looking forward to a bright future for UAM.”
In 2008, Middleton served as UAM’s offensive coordinator, and led UAM to the top of most offensive stat categories in the Gulf South Conference.
Middleton’s offense averaged 499.3 yards of total offense per game in 2008, which led the GSC and ranked third in the NCAA Division II. The Boll Weevils also led the GSC with an average of 244.1 rushing yards per game.
UAM finished the season 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC, the second most successful season for UAM in the decade. Also in 2008, UAM climbed into the AFCA Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2000 with a No. 23 ranking prior to the November 1 loss at then-ranked No. 6 North Alabama.
UAM broke 16 school records in the 2008 campaign, including total offense yards in a season (5,492).
“This was a very important hire,” said Jackson. “I am very excited to have Matt on staff with me here at UAM… He is a great person who has a ton of football knowledge, especially on the offensive side of the ball.”
Prior to his first stint at UAM, Middleton was the head football coach and athletics director at Cenla Christian High School in 2007, the head coach at Caldwell Parish High School from 2005-06, the wide receivers coach at Grand Valley State (Mich.) in 2004, the wide receivers coach at Evangel Christian High School from 2003-04, and a undergraduate/graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech University from 2001-02.
The 32-year-old West Monroe, La. native is a 2001 graduate of Louisiana Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. He has two sons, Luke (9) and Caden (6).
Scott also comes from UCA, where he was the assistant defensive backs coach for the 2010 season.
“I feel like this is one of the best jobs in the new conference,” said Scott. “I can’t thank Coach Jackson enough for giving me the opportunity to be a coordinator again, and I know we are putting together the pieces to make this a premier program.”
Prior to his one-year stint at UCA, the 29-year-old was an assistant coach at Mississippi Valley State from 2007-09, and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2009 season.
Scott entered the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant, coaching the defensive ends at Prairie View A&M from 2005-06.
The Pine Bluff native graduated from hometown UAPB with a bachelor’s degree in parks and community recreation in 2005. He earned a master’s degree in education administration in 2006 from Prairie View A&M.
“Keith has great work ethic and knowledge of the game,” said Jackson. “He did a great job at UCA this past season and I am confident he will continue that into his position here at UAM… His defense will be fundamentally sound and aggressive to the football.”
Brezee is the final addition from UCA. He served the last five seasons at UCA coaching the offensive line and tight ends, as well as serving as the offensive quality control coordinator. In addition to his coaching duties, Brezee was also a clinical instructor of health sciences at UCA for the last six years.
“I am very excited to work at such a great place with a great man in Coach Jackson,” said Brezee. “I’m also excited to be able to work at a place where there is great community support for the program, and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
The 31-year-old Richmond, Calif. native made the long trip to the state of Arkansas in 1997 with an academic scholarship to attend UCA and for a chance to play college football, which he did for four years with the Bears. He was a four-time member of the Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll, and graduated from the university with a pair of degrees - a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and physical education in 2001 and master’s degree in health sciences in 2003.
Brezee entered the coaching ranks in 2003 as a defensive line coach at Little Rock’s McClellan High School, before going back to UCA as an instructor in 2004.
Brezee and his wife, Jennifer (Daniel), were married July 10, 2010.
“I am excited to be able to give Scott this opportunity,” said Jackson. “He is an intelligent person, who teaches and coaches in a very technical way… He will also be able to instill a sense of pride in our players and the importance of doing things the right way… I am also excited about what he brings for the academic side of our program... He understands what our faculty goes through on a daily basis, and the importance of building great relationships with them.”
Hill comes back to UAM after a five-year semi-professional playing career and two other coaching stops. Hill was a four-year lettermen for the Boll Weevils from 1999-2002.
“I feel very fortunate to be coming back to UAM,” said Hill. “It’s always great to come back to your alma mater, especially when it’s a place that is home to me… It means a lot to me to be able to restore and continue the great tradition that is already in place.”
The 29-year-old Pine Bluff, Ark. native spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Jackson State University, where he was in charge of coaching the offensive line and tight ends.
After graduating from UAM in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Hill played semi-professional football for the Arkansas Rhinos from 2004-08, and then entered the coaching profession as a graduate assistant at Gulf South Conference member Arkansas Tech, where he coached the defensive line. He later moved from the defensive side of the ball to coach offensive line and tight ends for the Wonder Boys.
In 2008, Hill earned a master’s degree in information systems from the University of Phoenix.
“Marcus really won me over in his interview,” said Jackson. “He is very intense and exciting, and he will be a great leader for our players… He is a people-person, and has already established relationships in key recruiting areas that will be very beneficial for our program.”
Speaks joins the staff after a successful playing career at Jackson State University. He was a two-year letterwinner at JSU and a two-year All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honoree, including being named the 2008 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Also in 2008, the Jackson, Miss. native was selected to the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision All-America team after tallying 122 tackles, five sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles.
Jackson has also retained Tony Stallworth to serve on staff as a quality control coordinator. Stallworth, a three-year letterman for UAM from 2005-07, was a student assistant coach under the previous administration.
Immediate results of the staff’s work will be seen publicly next Wednesday, February 2, which is National Signing Day.
