assistant coaches Wally Ake Assistant Coach - Defensive Cooridinator Veteran collegiate coach Wally Ake is in his first year as a coach with the Missouri Southern football team and will serve as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. Ake comes to Southern after a year as the defensive coordinator at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. He had previously coached Liberty’s secondary and linebackers from 2009-11. In 2011, the Flames were among the defensive leaders in the Big South Conference in numerous categories. Liberty had the top scoring defense in the league (22.0) and ranked first in pass defense efficiency (119.7). The program ranked second in total defense (343.3), tied for second in interceptions (12), returning two for touchdowns, third in rush defense (144.4) and pass defense (198.9), also tying for third in fumbles recovered (9). The Flames had a pair of players who ranked tied for third in interceptions in the league in Kevin Fogg and Walt Aikens. Aikens, a defensive back, also led the conference with three forced fumbles. A veteran of 33 years as a collegiate coach at 10 different institutions and 41 years overall, Ake came to Liberty from Army. While at Army he served as secondary coach for the Black Knights for five years (2004-08). Prior to his days at Army, Ake worked for three years at Western Michigan (2001-03), as a defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. Prior to his time at WMU, Ake was the defensive coordinator for Maryland (1997-2000). While overseeing the Maryland defenders, Ake saw the Terrapins rank as the No. 12 most improved defense in 1998, No. 13 in scoring defense and No. 14 in improved passing defense. Nine of his Maryland players went on to NFL careers. Ake’s first defensive coordinator position came at Rice, where he oversaw the Owls for three seasons (1994-96). Rice ranked No. 25 nationally in four different defensive categories in 1994, as the Owls shared the Southwestern Conference title. Prior to that, Ake coached the linebackers at Clemson for four years (1990-03), the defensive line at Arkansas for six years (1984-89) and for three years at Air Force (1981-83). He had his first stint at Arkansas working with the tight ends in 1980. Prior to his time with the Razorbacks he started his collegiate career working with the linebackers at his alma mater, William & Mary, in 1979. Prior to his days in the collegiate levels, Ake coached high school football at Falls Church High School in Virginia. He and his wife, Chris, have one son, Aaron. Aaron and his wife, Wendy, have three children Vlad, Dmitri and Mila. Rashad Watson Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs Rashad Watson is in his second season as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern after serving two seasons coaching the defense at Benedict College. Watson will be responsible for coaching the defensive backs at Southern. While at Benedict, the secondary at Benedict led all of Division II in interceptions at the end of the regular season. Free safety Marquez Gibson led the team with six while being selected first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Previously, Watson came to Benedict by way of Nicholls State University. He coached the defensive backs at Nicholls having two players selected to the All-Conference Teams. He also held the positions of NFL liaison, making way for Antonio Robinson’s free agent selection and Robinson later earned a Super Bowl ring while be a part of the Green Bay Packers. Watson spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with Morehouse College, specializing with the secondary and assisting with special teams. During his time there, his unit produced the SIAC’s 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Jeffrey Cargile, and three All-Conference selections. Prior to his stint with Morehouse College, Watson spent five years coaching on the prep level in Alabama. He spent 2004-05 with Anniston High, coaching both the offensive and defensive backfields, and then moved on to Midfield High where he served as the school’s defensive coordinator. Watson held that post until 2007. Watson played on the collegiate level at Alabama A&M from 1997-2001, and was a four-year letter winner, earning a starting role as a redshirt freshman. The Bulldogs’ 2000 defensive unit put together one of the best season’s in school history, finishing eighth nationally in total defense. The 2000 unit still holds the NCAA record for least amount of rushing yards allowed in a season (39.7 yards/ game). Watson is married to the former Katrina Woods of Greensboro, Ala. The couple have two sons, Amari and Aiden. Byron Anderson Assistant Coach - Asst. Defensive Backs Byron Anderson is in his second year as an assistant coach with the Missouri Southern football team. He will be responsible for assisting with the defensive backs. Anderson comes to Southern after a season with Division I Arkansas-Pine Bluff. There he assisted the head coach with day-to-day operations and scheduled and organized the defensive practice schedule. He was also responsible for breaking down defensive passing game for the team’s opponents. Prior to UAPB, Anderson served as both an assistant track and football coach for six years at Ruston (La.) High School. He also was an Adult Literacy and GED Instructor each year, as well. Prior to Ruston, Anderson was the head football coach and athletic director at Ringgold (La.) High School for three years. While there he was responsible for not only the administration of the football team, but each of Ringgold’s sports. While there, he helped lead the team to the playoffs each season and was the District Coach of the Year in 2004. He got his start in teaching at Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School where he served as a special education instructor for two years. Anderson played collegiately at Grambling State, graduating in 2002 with a degree in criminal justice. He was a member of three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships and helped the team to the National Black College Football Championship in both 2000 and 2001. 2013 MSSU FOOTBALL @mososports missourisouthernlions mssulions.com 49
2012 Mssu Football Media Guide
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