https://ucasports.com/news/2018/12/22/football-williams-promoted-to-defensive-coordinator.aspxWILLIAMS PROMOTED TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
CONWAY, Ark. _ University of Central Arkansas football head coach Nathan Brown announced a pair of changes in his coaching staff on Saturday, with two coaches leaving the staff and two being promoted to new positions.
Defensive coordinator Max Thurmond is leaving to become linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at FBS UNC Charlotte. Mark Sheridan, UCA's outside linebackers/bandits coach this past year, is going back to his alma mater Albion College as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Brown has elevated safeties and nickel backs coach Chad Williams to defensive coordinator and promoted graduate assistant Jacob Sisk to full-time status as the Bears' outside linebackers and bandits coach.
"First of all I would like to thank Max and Mark for all they did for the University of Central Arkansas and our football program,' said Brown. "They helped develop and make our players better not only on the field but off the field and in the classroom as well.
"Both of them had great opportunities to grow their coaching careers at their next destination. Mark is returning to where he graduated college to coach their linebackers and coordinate their defense. He is basically getting a chance to go home to coach football. Max is leaving for an up-and-coming FBS program with a head coach he had worked for previously in Will Healey. He and Gresha also get an opportunity to get closer to their family as well as grow in this profession. We are indebted to both men for their time here.'
Williams, a Southern Miss graduate and former All-Conference USA player for the Golden Eagles, has been a coordinator at two previous coaching stops, Valdosta State and Savannah State, along with stints at Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee and West Georgia.
"I am excited to announce a couple promotions within our program,' said Brown. "It is always nice to have assistant coaches you can promote within your program. We have hired great coaches here that are going to continue to impress our Bear family. First off I am promoting our safeties/nickel coach Chad Williams to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Chad has coordinated at the NCAA FCS level before he got here at Savannah State. He also coordinated at D-2 powerhouse Valdosta State for a couple years and had the opportunity to interview for their head coaching vacancy in 2016.
"Chad has a wealth of experience and really impressed me all year in his preparation and knowledge of defense. I think he can take us to another level and continue to push us to the top. Chad know what it looks like at the highest level.
He played for eight years in the NFL and was a part of some of the best defenses in NFL history when he played for the Baltimore Ravens in the early 2000's.'
Sisk, from Colleyville, Texas, played safety/linebacker for the Bears for four years, finishing his playing career in 2017 and moving into coaching this past season.
"I am also excited to announce the promotion of Jacob Sisk to outside linebackers & bandits coach. He has been a stable in our program as a player and coach for the last five years. Jacob is truly a bright young defensive coach that Coach Williams felt we needed to find a way to keep.
"I am exited to watch Jacob grow as a young coach and continue to develop our great defensive play we are accustomed to having. Jacob knows the UCA way and is a graduate of our school. This place means the world to him and he is excited for this next step in his career.'
Brown will have one more hire to make on his second staff as head coach.
"We have one more spot we are looking to fill on defense and that is a safeties coach,' he said. "We have met with several highly qualified candidates and I look to fill that position sooner rather than later. The response has been tremendous. There are a lot of great coaches who want to be a part of this great athletic department and university.'