MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced Tuesday the hiring of Colin Hitschler as an assistant coach.

For the last two seasons, he has served as the Jaguars' director of operations.  Hitschler has been with the USA football staff for three years after working as a graduate assistant during the 2014 campaign.

"Colin is a tremendous football coach, he is very analytical in what he does," said Jones.  "I feel that he will be very helpful in game planning with [defensive coordinator] Kane [Wommack] and that he offers a lot of insight into game and practice plans.  We felt like Colin is a great fit, Kane was 100 percent in support of hiring him."

"I want to thank Coach Jones for the opportunity — it's a big step in my career to move into the role of a full-time assistant coach — and the student-athletes in the program for believing in me," Hitschler said.  "We took a major step last year as the second-most improved scoring defense after the regular season and fifth-most improved after the bowl game, I'd like to be part of a staff that helps us take the next step and become an elite defense."

In his role as a GA with South's defense — which included working with nickelbacks, recruiting and monitoring academic performance — Hitschler was part of a staff that helped the Jaguars rank second in Sun Belt Conference in both takeaways and red zone defense while giving up fewer than 400 yards per game.  USA concluded the '14 season by making the program's first-ever postseason bowl appearance when it took part in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Hitschler served as a graduate assistant the year before at Arkansas State, working with the defensive line and helping the Red Wolves to a win over Ball State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on the way to an 8-5 finish.  In 2012, he coached defensive backs while serving as special teams and recruiting coordinator at Widener (Pa.), helping the Pride go 11-1 en route to the Middle Atlantic Conference championship and a berth in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs.  The previous year Hitschler was the defensive line coach and co-special teams coordinator at Salve Regina (R.I.), where was part of a staff that led the Seahawks to the East Coast Athletic Conference title and a 9-2 finish after winning the New England Bowl.

He has also worked with a pair of National Football League teams during his coaching career, serving as a player personnel assistant for Kansas City in 2010 while helping the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and the AFC West Division championship, and as a training camp assistant the previous year with the Philadelphia Eagles

Hitschler — who originally hails from Philadelphia — received a degree in communications and commerce from Pennsylvania in 2009, where he lettered as a member of the Quaker wrestling team.  He and his wife Rebecca were married in the summer of 2016.

USA participated in a postseason bowl for the second time in three seasons to conclude the '16 campaign after earning an invitation to the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.

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).

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