TrentE

Trent Earley

  • Title
    Assistant Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebacker / Strength & Conditioning Liaison
  • Email
    tearley@valdosta.edu
  • Phone
    (229) 333-5852
Earley begins his third season at VSU after spending two season at Colorado Mesa University for current-VSU head coach Tremaine 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.  

During his time in Titletown, he has made strong improvement in the special teams as the team went from 102nd nationally in punting in 2022 to fourth nationally in 2023, while VSU checked in at 26th nationally in kickoff returns in 2023, while the team was 44th in 2022.  Kicker Estin Thiele went from outside the top ten nationally in points responsible for in 2022, to inside the top ten in 2023.  Punter Noah Botsford was unranked nationally in punting in 2022 and finished fifth nationally in 2023 to lead the GSC.  Earley's defense made great strides in 2023 as six of the top ten tacklers on the on team came from the linebacker room, while the team improved in points allowed per game in 2023, rushing yards allowed per game, red zone defense and yards allowed per play last season.
 
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.