Day, Hankins Join Thundering Herd

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Athletics announced the return of Luke Day as the Thundering Herd's head strength and conditioning coach and Jordon Hankins as football's safeties coach on Tuesday.

"We're happy to have Luke back and to welcome Jordon to our staff," said Marshall head coach Doc Holliday. "Both have proven to be successful in their respective fields and we're excited for them to part of the Marshall football family, moving forward."

Day returns to Marshall after he left at the conclusion of the 2018 season for a position at Colorado. In his first stint in Huntington, he served the Thundering Herd for three seasons after one year as an assistant on the Cincinnati Bengals' strength and conditioning staff.

Day is a native of Hamilton, Ohio, where he is significantly involved with inner-city ministry for the Hamilton Dream Center, assisting with the Bengals. Prior to his year with the Bengals, he spent two years as an assistant in strength and conditioning at UCF, following stints at USF (2012) and Cincinnati (2011-12). He also served as a summer volunteer in strength and conditioning with the New Orleans Saints in 2010.

Day graduated from Hamilton High School in 2006 and went to Morehead State, where he played defensive line for two years. He transferred "back home" to Miami (Ohio) and started working as a strength room intern and graduated with a degree in physical education.

His first job was designing, developing and implementing a weight room and strength program at Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati, and through that work he made connections to the University of Cincinnati, where he spent 14 months on the strength and conditioning staff.

Day and his wife, Trisha, have a son, Jay and a daughter, Norah.

"I'm extremely grateful and blessed to come back with this opportunity at Marshall," said Day. "I know these things don't just come back so it's very special to our family."

Hankins comes to Huntington from UT Martin, where he was on staff in five different capacities for 10 seasons, the last three as the Skyhawks' defensive coordinator.

He oversaw 20 players who earned Ohio Valley Conference postseason honors and guided the league's top scoring defense in 2019, allowing an average of 19.5 points per game and just 20 touchdowns in league play. UT Martin also paced the league in pass defense efficiency (111.0), red zone defense (73.0 percent), defensive touchdowns (three), sacks (25) and turnover margin (+5). On the national level, the Skyhawks ranked in the top-25 in blocked kicks (9^th), punt return defense (10^th), blocked punts (11^th), defensive touchdowns (11^th), fewest penalties per game (15^th), fewest penalties (19^th), pass defense efficiency (20^th) and interceptions (25^th).

During the 2018 season, UT Martin's defense proved to be one the stingiest in the league. The Skyhawks ranked 17th nationally in tackles for loss (7.6 per game), 26th in rushing defense (130.5 ypg) and 30th in first down defense (203). In conference play UT Martin ranked second in rushing defense, pass defense (202.1 ypg), total defense (332.4 ypg) and tackles for loss. Meanwhile, they ranked third in third-down conversion defense (35.5 percent), fourth down conversion defense (43.8 percent) and redzone defense (79.3 percent) while sitting fourth in scoring defense (29.0 ppg) and sacks (1.88 per game).

In his first year as defensive coordinator, the Skyhawks saw its defense ranked amongst the nation's leaders in several statistical categories. The Skyhawks finished the regular season ranked nationally in the top-10 in red zone defense (third, 60.6 percent), scoring defense (fourth, 14.3), third down conversion defense (fifth, 28.7 percent), total defense (sixth, 273.8 ypg), punt return defense (seventh, 3.59), first downs defense (eighth, 168 ypg), team passing efficiency defense (eighth, 104.3), fourth down conversion defense (eighth, 28.6 percent), kickoff returns (eighth, 24.33 ypr) and passing yards allowed (ninth, 159.9 ypg). Not only did the team's 14.3 points allowed per game rank fourth nationally, it set a new program record.

Before UT Martin, Hankins served as an assistant coach and the head strength and conditioning coach at Riverdale High School.

Hankins, who played linebacker from 2001-03, graduated from UT Martin in 2005. He finished his career with 31 solo tackles and 51 total tackles.

A native of Hohenwald, Tenn., Hankins prepped at Lewis County High School where he helped lead the team to three regional football championships. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards his senior year and was named a 1998 Mr. Football Finalist. He earned all-state honors in both football and baseball.

Hankins has both a bachelor's (2005) and master's degree (2012) in education from UT Martin. He also has a physical education endorsement. He is married to the former Christa Webb (a Skyhawk softball alum who also received her master's degree from UT Martin) and has three children, Colt, Case and Jolee Faye.

"It's an honor to join Coach Holliday and his staff," Hankins said. "The tradition here is unmatched. My family and I are excited about the opportunity as we join the Huntington community."

Marshall's Big Green Scholarship Foundation will hold its annual National Signing Day gathering Wednesday at Christopher's Eats in Barboursville at 5 p.m. where those in attendance will hear from Coach Holliday and the rest of the staff. Admission is $10 with food included. In addition, a cash bar will be made available. For more information, contact the Big Green at 304-696-4661.

Marshall University Athletics

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