VALDOSTA, Ga. – Newly hired Valdosta State head football coach, Tremaine Jackson, announced his coaching staff on Tuesday.
 
Jackson, who was announced as the 11^th head coach at Valdosta State in program history on Jan. 6, 2022, spent the last two seasons as head coach at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colo.  Coming with Jackson from Colorado Mesa are five coaches, including defensive coordinator Brandon Anderson, offensive line coach Mike Barela, defensive backs coach Taylor Richards, defensive line/assistant head coach Trent Earley and tight ends/recruiting coordinator Jackson Hadley.  
 
In addition to the coaches from Colorado Mesa, Jackson added the services of Rick Bowie as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks from the University of Houston and Brandon Johnson-Ferrell as the wide receivers coach from the University of Sioux Falls.  
 
Former Blazer standout offensive lineman and current graduate student Jeremy King will move to running backs coach this season and Rob McElhaney will move from equipment manager to assistant defensive/special teams.  Marty McGhin continues as Director of Football Operations for the Blazers.  VSU graduate Ruth Mensah continues on staff as does Angie Colbert who serves as the football administrative assistant.  
 
Trent Earley – Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line
Earley joined the Mavericks in 2020 as the defensive line coach for Jackson.  Earley helped lead CMU to a 10-3 record in two seasons.  Prior to CMU, Earley served as defensive analyst at the University of South Florida in 2019, after joining the staff as the defensive graduate assistant working with the defensive line in 2017.  
 
Before USF, Earley served as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas under linebacker coach Jean-Mary from 2015 to 2017. Earley assisted coach Jean-Mary with All-American and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Malik Jefferson, and second team All-Big 12 performer Pete Jinkens.  In the spring of 2015, Earley assisted North Texas as a special teams analyst. In fall 2014, Earley worked at Northwestern State as a linebacker defensive graduate assistant, where he coached Marion Chapman, a first team all-conference linebacker. In 2013, Earley worked as an outside linebacker coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist. 
 
Earley played collegiately as a linebacker at Texas Southern, where the Tigers boasted a top-10 nationally ranked defense, and at Southern Arkansas. After finishing a successful football playing career, Earley worked for the Muleriders working with the defensive line and linebackers helping the team to a 9-2 record in 2012, while also working towards his degree. 
 
In his time as a Mulerider, Earley played for David Reeves, and Jeff Byrd, successful Division I football coaches. He graduated with a bachelors degree in sports management from Southern Arkansas. Earley graduated with a master's degree in physical education, teacher education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. 
 
Brandon Andersen – Defensive Coordinator
Andersen spent two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Mavericks under Jackson.  He helped lead CMU to an 8-2 record this past season, including a thrilling 26-21 victory over then-No. 3-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 23, 2021, for Homecoming.  It was the Mavericks' first victory over a top five opponent since they became a NCAA Division II institution in 1994. 
 
In 2021, the Mavericks finished 13^th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game, while the team finished tenth nationally in total defense at 258.2 yards allowed per game.  Andersen's defense was 33^rd nationally in rushing defense at 110.1 yards allowed on the ground per game, while the team was 11^th nationally in passing yards allowed at just 148.1 per contest.  CMU allowed just 168 first downs for the season for 16^th nationally and finished 35^th nationally in sacks at 2.8 per game.  
 
Individually, CMU safety Damar'ren Mitchell earned AP Division II All-America Second Team honors, finishing with a team-high 73 tackles and registered three games of double-digit tackles. Mitchell also earned AFCA All-America honors as a second team selection.  Andersen's defense had Mitchell, along with defensive end Torren Calhoun earn First Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors, while cornerback Darrien Young and defensive tackle Brian Rattery were second team honorees.
 
Prior to CMU, Andersen spent three seasons with the Lions of Lindenwood as the team's linebacker coach. He coached a strong core of linebackers, as Lindenwood allowed the fewest yards since the 2013 season.  The Lions allowed just 385.3 yards per game, the best mark for the Lions in the last eight years.   Andersen played a strong role in the success of Drew Seers and CJ Bivens.  Seers was named third-team all-MIAA, while Bivens was named honorable-mention all-MIAA. 
 
In his first season at Lindenwood, Andersen oversaw a linebackers unit that returned no starters from the previous season. His linebackers played a key role in the team's defense allowing 27.2 points a game, 7.2 points fewer than the previous year. It was the first time since the 2012 season that Lindenwood allowed fewer than 30 points a game for the season. Lindenwood's linebackers helped the Lions improve across the board statistically, including allowing over 100 fewer yards per game. 
  
Andersen helped true freshman Drew Seers be named the team's Newcomer of the Year. Seers, CJ Bivens, and Nate Blanchard all ranked among the team's top-five tackles for the season. 
 
Prior to his time at Lindenwood, Andersen served as the linebackers coach for University of Sioux Falls from 2012-2016. He was also the recruiting coordinator for his final three seasons in Sioux Falls. 
  
Andersen played a big role in Sioux Falls' defensive success. In the span of three seasons, the Cougars sported a 32-5 record and advanced to three postseason appearances. The 2016 squad, which was ranked in the top-five nationally, won the NSIC Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 
  
In 2016, Andersen coached a linebacker core that earned First Team All NSIC, Second-Team All-NSIC and Honorable Mention All- Conference recognition. In all he has coached seven all-conference performers. 
  
Andersen was a four-year linebacker at Sioux Falls from 2008-2011. He was a two-year starter, and tallied 87 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and four sacks throughout his career. From 2008-2010, Andersen helped Sioux Falls to 34-1, advance to three NAIA National Championship games, and win two NAIA National Championships.  
 
He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Sioux Falls in 2011.
 
Rick Bowie – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Bowie comes to Titletown from the University of Houston where he has been an offensive graduate assistant there since February 2019 on former Blazer assistant coach Dana Holgorsen's staff.  This past season, Bowie helped lead Houston to a 12-2 record, an 8-0 mark in the American Conference and a 17-13 Birmingham Bowl victory over Auburn.  
 
Prior to Houston, Bowie spent one season with Holgorsen at West Virginia where he worked with the wide receivers under assistant coach Tyron Carrier.  He also aided in game planning, scout team preparation and on-campus recruiting.  
 
Bowie spent two seasons before WVU at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md., where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/tight ends coach and director of admissions and enrollment.  He received his coaching start as a football coaching intern at Florida International University in the summer of 2011, before becoming the tight ends and quarterbacks coach for four seasons at Gilman School in Baltimore. 
 
Taylor Richards – Defensive Backs 
Came to VSU as the defensive backs coach after working this past season with Jackson at Colorado Mesa.  Prior to CMU, Richards spent three-and-a-half years at Oregon State as a defensive graduate assistant.  He also had stints at Virginia Union (2016) and Rutgers (2017).  
 
Richards was a 38-game starter at safety at Purdue, and helped the Boilermakers win the 2011 Little Caesar's Bowl. For his career he made 168 tackles, 2 interceptions and also helped Purdue qualify for the Heart of Dallas Bowl. While at Purdue he played for current OSU defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar.  Richards graduated from Purdue in 2016 with a degree in health and safety education. 
 
While at Lake Mary High School in his hometown of Orlando, Fla., he was a 2010 All-Central Florida and All-Seminole County by the Orlando Sentinel. In addition, he was a 2011 Florida 6A All-State 1st Team member.
 
Mike Barela – Offensive Line
Mike Barela joins Valdosta State University in 2022 coaching the Offensive Line.   He is a 26-year veteran of coaching with prior stops at Colorado Mesa University, University of the Incarnate Word, Northeastern State (Ok), Southwest Baptist, Texas State University, University of North Texas, Sam Houston State University, and Morningside College. 
 
At Colorado Mesa in 2020 under first year Head Coach Tremaine Jackson, Barela took over the duties of coaching the offensive line after originally coaching the Tight Ends.
 
In 2021, he added the Co-Offensive Coordinator title and helped CMU to an 8-2 record and rank 19^th in Division II in total offense (452.3 ypg). In addition, CMU led the RMAC in total offense and rushing offense (194.8 ypg / 5.2 yds per attempt / 24 TDs), finished second in passing offense (257.5 ypg), and third in scoring offense (33.7 pts per game).
 
During the pandemic shortened 2020 season, the CMU run game averaged 241.7 yds per game in the 3 games played (5.1 yds per attempt).
 
2019 saw the CMU tight ends combine for 30 receptions and 419 yards with 3 TDs. This included RMAC All-Conference TE selection sophomore Dagan Rienks production of 23 catches, 306 yards, 3 TDs. Barela also coordinated the kick-off return unit. CMU finished the regular season ranked 3^rd nationally in Division II kick-off returns averaging 26.95 per return. Freshman Justin White finished #1 nationally in D2 kick-off returns averaging 38.1 yards (15 returns for 571 yds / 1 TD). 
 
In 2018, he inherited an experienced group of tight ends that helped an offense to rank nationally in total offense (485.2 yds), passing offense (275.4 yds, 21 TDs), and rushing offense (209.8 yds, 26 TDs). He also mentored TE Tanner Quick to RMAC All-Conference honors.
 
He spent 2015-2017 at the University of Incarnate Word coaching the tight ends in 2015 and 2017.  In 2016 he spent one year tutoring the team's nickelbacks on UIW's nationally ranked defense. 

Coaching the tight ends in 2015, the Cardinals finished 6-5 in just their second year as a NCAA FCS and Southland Conference member.  Barela helped to develop 1^st Team All-Conference TE Cole Wick (30 receptions, 364 yds/2 TDs). Wick would eventually sign with the NFL Detroit Lions. He returned to coaching the tight ends in 2017 and added the title of Run Game Coordinator. In 2017, the tight ends combined for 36 catches for 321 yards and 7 TD's. Also, he coordinated the kick-off return unit for the Cardinal special teams in 2017. The kick-off return unit featured a kick returner who led D-1 FCS with 3 TD's on 23 returns in 8 games averaging 29.78 yards per return. 
 
From 2012-13, he served as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator at NCAA D-II Northeastern State (OK). In his final season at NSU, Barela was named a finalist for the 2013 AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
In 2013, returning two starters to the offensive line, and despite injuries to key personnel; the offense was able to average 157.5 rushing yards per game with 17 rushing TD's. Barela tutored three MIAA all-conference offensive linemen and a 2013 Capital One Division II Academic All-American (Ross Dvorak). 

The 2012 season was Northeastern State's first in the MIAA, and Barela helped mold an offensive line that featured five new starters. He helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher (NSU's first since 2003), two MIAA all-conference offensive linemen, and an All-American (Michael Bowie – a 7^th round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks). The offensive line allowed 11 sacks in 338 pass attempts for the entire year. During Barela's tenure, NSU rushed for 3,490 yds and scored 34 TDs on the ground.
 
In 2011, his lone season at Southwest Baptist, Barela helped the Bearcats to their third consecutive winning season. The offensive line helped SBU's spread offense average 154.8 rushing yards per game with 20 rushing TD's.
 
From 2007-10, Barela served as the tight ends coach at Texas State University. During his tenure at Texas State, he was part of a staff that helped establish numerous school records, including a conference championship (2008). In 2009, the offense ranked #7 nationally in passing (289 ypg) and 12th in scoring offense (32 points per game). 2008 saw the offense finish #7 nationally in scoring (36 points per game), and #8 in total offense (453.2 ypg). In addition, Tight End John Gilley earned All-Southland Conference honors. In 2007 for the first time in school history, the offense produced a 1,000 yd rusher, 1,000 yd receiver, and 2,000 yd passer in the same year.  
 
From 2002-06, Barela served as the Director of Football Operations at North Texas. While a member of Darrell Dickey's Mean Green staff, Barela was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the football program. UNT won three straight Sun Belt Conference Championships during Barela's five seasons.
 
In 2000 and '01, Barela coached the tight ends for Coach Ron Randleman at Sam Houston State. Barela coached First-Team All-America tight end Keith Heinrich during his two seasons at Sam Houston State. Heinrich would go on to be the sixth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft. During his two seasons with Sam Houston State, the Bearkats had a combined 17-7 record including a 10-3 record in 2001 with a shared Southland Conference championship.
 
Barela's coaching experience also includes time at then NCAA D-II Morningside College (1999) where he was the offensive line coach. He helped produce two North Central all-conference offensive linemen.
 
He was a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater North Texas from 1996-98, working with the offensive line and tight ends after he completed his career at North Texas playing linebacker and special teams. 
 
Barela is married to wife Lauren and are the proud parents of sons Reece (9) and Hudson (7).
 
Brandon Johnson-Farrell – Wide Receivers
He spent six seasons at USF as wide receivers coach, special teams coordinator and USF's NFL liaison.  During his time at USF, the Cougars qualified for the playoffs three times and his receiving groups have been among the best in the NSIC. A year ago, he had two receivers to rank in the league's top 10 in catches or yardage. In 2018, Michael Maxwell and Nate Johnson (2018, 2019) were named All-NSIC performers under Johnson-Farrell's guidance.
 
A native of Odenton, Md., Johnson-Farrell was a coach on the 2016 NSIC champions team, in which he mentored receivers including all-league performers Josh Angulo, Brady Rose and Kyle Groeneweg. The Cougars won the NSIC with a perfect 11-0 league mark and finished 12-1 with a berth in the NCAA DII "Sweet 16" while earning a No. 8 ranking in the final AFCA Poll.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in human development in 2012 from the University of Rhode Island.  There, he started 11 games as a senior at wide receiver, accumulating 44 catches and 567 receiving yards with four TDs. He also totaled 27 kickoff returns for 653 yards and 12 punt returns for 91 yards. He became the sixth player in school history to reach 4,000 all-purpose yards and moved into fourth place on the school's all-time receiving list with 162 catches. He was a 2012 all-conference selection at wide receiver and also a 2012 First Team All-new England performer.  He had 400 receiving yards as a junior.  As a freshman, he caught at least one pass in every game and led the Rams with 1,478 all-purpose yards, in which he ranked third in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). During his freshman season, he was chosen as the CAA Football Rookie-of-the-Week. At the end of the season, he was selected CAA Football Third Team All-Conference.
 
Jackson Hadley – Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator
Hadley spent two seasons at CMU with Jackson as tight ends coach.  During the 2019 season, he was the offensive analyst at Samford.  Hadley attended the University of Tennessee where he was a football student assistant.