MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced on Thursday the hiring of Kelvin Sigler as an assistant coach.

A native of Mobile, Sigler returns home after serving as an assistant at Northern Illinois the last three seasons.

"I'm real excited about having Kelvin as part of our staff," Jones explained.  "He brings a lot of expertise in the secondary and we were looking for a true cornerbacks coach to come here, and he's done an excellent job at Northern Illinois; we will involve him in all special team aspects as well.  There is no doubt he is going to have a big influence on student-athletes here, in Baldwin County and across the state, and he already has a lot of relationships with high school coaches in the state."

While with the Huskies, Sigler worked with cornerbacks as NIU posted a 31-11 (73.8%) overall record and a 21-3 (87.5%) mark in the Mid-American Conference, earned three consecutive postseason bowl berths and claimed the 2014 league championship.  Last fall, his unit contributed to the Huskies' conference-leading totals of 22 interceptions and 29 takeaways — both figures ranked among the top 10 in the nation — while his efforts helped Shawun Lurry, who led the country with nine interceptions, earn All-America recognition from five different organizations.

The previous season, Paris Logan was a first-team all-MAC selection under Sigler's guidance and multiple true freshmen aided as NIU recorded 14 interceptions during an 11-3 campaign that saw the program claim the conference championship game with a 51-17 win over Bowling Green.  In his first season with the program, the Huskies picked off 19 passes while going 12-2 with an 8-0 record in Mid-American action.

In 2012 Sigler was on the defensive staff at Alabama as the Crimson Tide finished 13-1 and won the BCS National Championship Game with a 42-14 defeat of Notre Dame.

As head coach at Blount High from 2008-11, he led the Leopards to four straight state 6A playoffs appearances highlighted by a 10-2 finish in 2011 after earning a first-round victory — it was the school's first 10-win season since the 1998 campaign.  BHS posted a 27-18 overall record during that span.

Sigler also has experience at two other high schools in the state after serving as defensive coordinator at Bob Jones HS from 2004-07 and as an assistant at Greensboro High the previous two years.  After going 3-7 his first season on the staff, BJHS bounced back to finish 7-5 and earn a win in the first round of the state 6A playoffs; the Patriots would go on to return to postseason action each of the next two falls as well.  His efforts also helped GHS make back-to-back state 4A playoff appearances.

Sigler lettered for four years at Alabama from 1995-98, helping the program to a 10-3 mark as a sophomore; the Tide played in the Southeastern Conference championship game that fall before going on to beat Michigan in the Outback Bowl.  He was also part of a squad that played in a bowl game his senior season, while Alabama went 8-3 his first year at the collegiate level.  During his career, Sigler intercepted six passes, led the team in tackles as a junior and was one of five permanent team captains his senior year.

Sigler will work with Jag cornerbacks beginning with the start of spring practice at the end of the month, with new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack handling USA's linebackers and Mike Adams in charge of safeties.  Brian Turner will remain the Jaguars' defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

A 2001 graduate of Alabama, he and his wife Gemini have four children: Yessman, Aubre, Kelvin Jr. and Kelsie.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—