Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Head Coach Tony Gibson Finalizes 2025 Staff
1/10/2025 3:55:00 PM | Football
Herd’s new coaching staff brings experience, in-state connections to program
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football head coach Tony Gibson announced additions to his 2025 coaching staff on Friday.
Earlier this week, three coordinators – offensive coordinator Rod Smith, defensive coordinator Shannon Morrison and special teams coordinator Jackson White – were announced.
In addition to those leaders of each phase, Gibson announced several more additions that help make up his first staff leading the Herd.
"With each day, our program becomes more complete, which helps us get started in our first season here at Marshall," Gibson said. "I love the energy that this group possesses. There is a great combination of knowledge and success in football in the room, and these are all guys who know this state, Marshall University and its passion for football."
Smith, who will also coach the quarterbacks for the Herd, brings a familiar face with him from Jacksonville State – running backs coach and run game coordinator Rod McDowell. McDowell helped engineer the Gamecocks to the No. 3 rushing attack in FBS in each of the last two years while at Jacksonville State, which helped make Smith's offense one of the best in college football.
Taking over as offensive line coach will be Bob McClain, a West Virginia native who comes to Marshall after serving in the same role at California (Pa.). McClain has extensive experience working with Gibson, having served on some of the Rich Rodriguez staffs in the past from 2000-05.
A familiar face returns to the Marshall sidelines as tight ends coach with Gunter Brewer making his way back to Huntington after having served as wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator here from 1996-99. A four-decade coaching veteran, Brewer most recently was at Virginia Tech working in an off-field role. Prior to that, he served as wide receivers coach at Maryland (2022-23), Louisville (2019-21), the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles (2018) and North Carolina (2012-17).
Morrison's defensive staff will also have a familiar feel to it as he returns to lead the defense while boasting of fellow Herd Brother Ralph Street, who will continue in his role coaching the defensive line. Street has had big success in his tenure as the Herd's defensive line coach, most recently mentoring All-American Mike Green, who led the nation in five different statistical categories in 2024 and was selected to the Reese's Senior Bowl.
Marshall's new linebackers coach will be Jake Ellsworth, who served on Gibson's defensive staff at N.C. State since Jan. 20. Ellsworth served as a graduate assistant from 2020-22 before transitioning into the defensive director of quality control role in Jan. 2022. During his time in Raleigh, Ellsworth helped mentor Payton Wilson, who won the 2023 Butkus and Bednarik Award and was a Nagurski Award finalist. Wilson has gone on to success with the Pittsburgh Steelers in his first season.
The Herd's defensive backs coach will be Jarred Holley, who comes to Marshall from Abilene Christian where he coached safeties. Holley is no stranger to the Sun Belt, having coached at James Madison in 2023 where he coached a Freshman All-American and two All-Sun Belt honorees. The former Pitt standout also has coached at North Texas, UAlbany and Arizona State.
In addition to the on-field coaches, there have been several additions to the 2025 support staff as well. Those include:
-Â Â Â Â Â Dwight Galt, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
-Â Â Â Â Â Greg Allen, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
-Â Â Â Â Â Brock McKirgan, Football Chief of Staff
-Â Â Â Â Â TJ Lester, Director of Video/Game Operations
-Â Â Â Â Â Quint Cottingham, General Manager
-Â Â Â Â Â Nicole Walton, Executive Assistant to the Head Coach
Other football support staff members who were retained include Sydney Spears (Director of Recruiting), Mike Bartrum (Senior Analyst/Director of Player Development) and Mark Shaver (Defensive Quality Control).
There is one spot left to fill on the on-field coaching staff. Stay tuned to Marshall Football social media accounts for information.
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