DURHAM, N.C. – After helping University of South Alabama wide receivers post multiple marks the last two years among the top five in the school's season record books, Jerry Mack was named head football coach at North Carolina Central at a press conference Thursday at the Alfonso Elder Student Center.

With the appointment Mack, 33, becomes the third-youngest head coach at the NCAA Division I level.

"I'm elated to be here, I think it's a great situation.  There's a lot of upside to this program and I am happy I was tabbed as the next head football coach," Mack said to AL.com following the press conference.  "Going through the transition at South Alabama, and learning each day from [USA head] coach [Joey] Jones about staying the course, I learned a lot of small details over the course of my two years."

During the 2013 campaign — one in which the Jaguars finished 6-6 overall, going 4-3 in the Sun Belt Conference — Mack helped junior-college transfer Shavarez Smith earn second-team all-league honors after he set school season records with 50 catches for 940 yards, adding six scores; that included a program game standard 194-yard performance in a win at Georgia State on Nov. 30.  Jeremé Jones added 40 receptions for 457 yards, Danny Woodson II caught 26 balls for 439 yards and four touchdowns, and Bryant Lavender recorded 23 catches, helping USA rank third in the conference in total offense in the fall.

In 2012, Mack's first season on the Jaguar coaching staff, Jones set school season records with 45 catches and seven touchdown receptions while posting 513 yards, with Corey Besteda adding 430 yards and Lavender 378.

Mack came to USA after one season as a wide receivers coach at Memphis.  He also has experience at the Division I level with stints at Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State, serving as UAPB's offensive coordinator during the 2010 campaign.  And, Mack has completed internships with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the National Football League.

A 2003 graduate of Arkansas State, he earned his master's degree from Delta State in '06.

"I'm real happy for Jerry and his family for him to be able to move into a head coaching job," Jag head coach Joey Jones told AL.com. "He'll do a tremendous job with that program.  He understands the game very well.  He'll be a great leader and I look for great things from him."

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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