MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head football coach announced Sunday the hiring of Tracy Buckhannon as assistant coach, completing his staff prior to the start of spring practice.

Buckhannon, who has 15 years of experience coaching at the high-school level, replaces Freddie Roach.  In his role with the Jaguar defense he will work with inside linebackers.

"Tracy knows our system inside and out, he has worked with [USA assistant] Coach [Travis] Pearson," said Jones.  "He was as good as anybody I've ever interviewed on the board, he really understands X's and O's.  The way he interacts with people, players are going to trust him; you have to have a relationship with these kids, he understands that and will be great in recruiting because of that.

"Tracy is just a down-to-earth individual, he's going to be a great fit for us."

For the last three seasons, Buckhannon has been an assistant coach at Colquitt County (Ga.) High including serving as the team's defensive coordinator the last two years.  Last fall, he helped the Packers win the state AAAAAA championship while finishing with a 14-0 mark, while in his first season as a coordinator they advanced to the semifinals of the state playoffs before falling to the eventual champion.  Buckhannon first started at CCHS in 2012 as a defensive assistant working with safeties.

He was the defensive coordinator at Elmore County (Ala.) H.S. the previous seven years, helping the Panthers qualify for the state 4A playoffs on five occasions during that stretch.  His efforts help ECHS advance to the quarterfinals in 2006, beginning a three-year stretch in which the team posted a 28-9 (75.7%) record capped by an 7-0 mark en route to the region title during the 2008 campaign; the '07 squad allowed less than 14 points a game, and the following fall Buckhannon was selected the Alabama Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year.

Buckhannon first was a member of the ECHS staff from 1995-96, serving as a volunteer assistant in charge of both the offensive and defensive scout teams.  He was a full-time assistant at the school from 2001-03, working with Packer linebackers as well as with current Jaguar defensive coordinator Travis Pearson.

A five-year letterwinner at Elmore County High from 1987-91 — where he was part of a Packer squad that claimed the state 4A championship his first season with the varsity, also earning all-county honors as a junior — Buckhannon would go on to earn his bachelor's degree from Auburn.

With the hiring of Buckhannon, Mike Adams' responsibilities will shift as he will now work with USA's defensive ends/outside linebackers.

Buckhannon will be on the field when the Jaguars begin spring practice Monday.

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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