APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) football team has added four assistant coaches for the 2018 season: Brandon Jackson, Rod Ojung, Fred Tate and Turner West.
Jackson, who will serve as the running backs coach for the Governors, comes to APSU after spending one season coaching receivers at Tusculum.
Jackson brings tremendous knowledge of the running back position as a six-year pro in the NFL. In four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and two with the Cleveland Browns, Jackson appeared in 54 games and rushed for 1,383 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 112 passes for 864 yards and two scores. He won a Super Bowl with Green Bay during the 2010 season.
Jackson starred collegiately for Nebraska, where he racked up 1,431 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“He’s young in the profession, but his experience playing in the National Football League and in college has been through the roof,” APSU football head coach Will Healy said. “I think he has tons of energy, our kids have related really well to him, they respect his playing career and they also understand what a bright, up-and-coming coaching star he is in this profession.”
Ojung will coach the cornerbacks for Austin Peay after serving as a defensive assistant for North Carolina the previous two seasons. Ojung’s prior coaching stops include Memphis, West Georgia, Lindsey Wilson College and his alma mater, Monmouth.
“Rod Ojung is an unbelievable football coach,” Healy said. “He has great knowledge, he relates really well to the players; he develops deep, genuine relationships with them, they respond to him. He’s energetic, he’s passionate.
“He comes highly recommended. I had more phone calls from big-name guys about Rod than I had for probably anyone else. I’ve been extremely impressed with what he’s brought to the table.”
Tate brings two decades of coaching experience to the table for Austin Peay State University, where he will coach a talented defensive line. He comes to Clarksville after spending one season as the co-defensive coordinator at UT Martin.
Prior to his stint with the Skyhawks, Tate spent three years as the defensive line coach for California. He has also spent time as the defensive line coach at FBS programs Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Marshall and Southern Miss.
He worked previously with Healy on the Chattanooga staff when Healy joined the Mocs’ staff in 2009.
“I felt very comfortable and confident in how he would fit with our staff and be able to develop the defensive linemen. He’s been a great fit.”
West will coach the linebackers for Austin Peay State University and brings unique experience to the Govs after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys. In his time with Dallas, West helped coach All-Pro selection and two-time Pro Bowler Sean Lee. His four years in Dallas also coincided with the steady rise of linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
Prior to working with the Cowboys, West spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee.
“Turner West has had experience you can’t pay for, being the assistant linebackers coach and seeing what it’s done like at the highest level I think automatically grabs your attention,” Healy said “He’s a great person, he works extremely hard, he’s a great recruiter, and I think our guys have related very well to him and respect what he does and how he does it.”
The Govs report for fall camp on August 2nd. They open the season on September 1st at 2:30pm at reigning SEC Champion and national runner-up Georgia on ESPN.
