By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football head coach Mike Sanford has announced the addition of two coaches to his staff – former Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. and Kansas special teams coordinator Gary Hyman – as well as two promotions for Jami DeBerry and Shannon Jackson.
Crum Jr. will be in charge of the cornerbacks and nickelbacks, and Hyman will resume his role he had in 2015 with the Jayhawks in charge of ISU's special teams and tight ends.
A former standout linebacker at Notre Dame through several great seasons from 2005-08, Crum Jr. spent the 2015 season as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Notre Dame – alongside Coach Sanford's son, Irish offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. Prior to 2015, Crum spent three years at Kansas as a member of former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis' staff in varying roles. In 2012, he first served as a defensive graduate assistant before becoming the assistant director of operations in 2013 and director of high school relations in 2014.
Crum Jr. was a standout linebacker for the Irish from 2005-08, playing 50 games during a string of great Notre Dame seasons that included two BCS bowl games – during which he started 42 consecutive games. He registered 306 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and eight sacks, while also recording nine pass breakups and seven forced fumbles. Crum Jr.'s 306 career tackles rank 11th in Notre Dame history.
"Maurice is an outstanding young coach who brings great defensive knowledge and background to our staff,” Sanford said. “He was given a great deal of responsibility with the Notre Dame defensive backfield last year, as he assisted defensive backs coach Todd Lyght. He is well prepared and ready to be an outstanding coach in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He, his wife and his family will be a great addition to Sycamore Football."
Hyman comes to Terre Haute from Kansas, where he spent the 2015 season in the same capacity for the Jayhawks as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Hyman arrived in Lawrence after spending the 2014 season at Texas A&M where he served as the quality control coach for special teams.
Hyman was a standout receiver at Humboldt State from 1994-96. He earned his bachelor's degree from Humboldt State in 2000 and completed work on a master's from Cal State Stanislaus in 2004.
"Gary has a great background from being the full-time special teams coordinator in the Big 12 last year at Kansas, along with his experience working with special teams at Texas A&M,” Sanford said. “He will also compliment our offensive staff with his experience coaching tight ends last year at Kansas and coaching of receivers in his past."
In addition to his two new coaches, Coach Sanford has announced that defensive coaches Jami DeBerry and Shannon Jackson have received promotions.
DeBerry, previously the special teams coordinator and safeties coach, will now be the pass defense coordinator and will remain working specifically with the defensive backs.
"Jami DeBerry's previous coaching experience and his understanding of the evolution that has taken place in our defense over the last three years makes this assignment a great benefit to our overall football program,” Sanford said. “He is well-prepared for this and I am looking forward to his positive impact.”
Jackson, a former Sycamore All-American, will remain in charge of the defensive line but will now also be DeBerry's opposite as the run defense coordinator.
“Shannon Jackson is not only a great Sycamore but I have grown to respect his outstanding knowledge of defensive football overall, especially the front seven and the coordination in stopping the run,” Sanford said. “Shannon's and Jami's input through these new roles will complement the already strong leadership of associate head coach and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral as they work in concert to continue to develop the Sycamore defense into a top-flight unit."
Spring practice begins Tues., March 29, and the annual Spring Game will be held at Memorial Stadium on Fri., April 29 at 4 p.m. The following day (Sat., April 30), Indiana State Football will hold its annual golf outing at Hulman Links Golf Course.
2016 Sycamore Football Coaching Staff
Mike Sanford – Head Coach
Brian Cabral – Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Brian Sheppard – Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Gary Hyman – Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends
Jami DeBerry – Pass Defense Coordinator, Defensive Backs
Shannon Jackson – Run Defense Coordinator, Defensive Line
Vince Natali – Run Game Coordinator, Offensive Line
Kriss Proctor – Recruiting Coordinator, Wide Receivers
Aaron Archie – Linebackers
Maurice Crum Jr. – Cornerbacks and Nickelbacks
Jayden Everett – Running Backs
Andrew Foster, Jr. – Director of Operations
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
