Continuing the theme of defensive coordinators becoming first-time head coaches, Georgia Southern has turned to Colorado State defensive coordinator Tyson Summers as its next head coach, the program announced Sunday.
Summers spent this season on Mike Bobo‘s staff in Fort Collins, but prior to that he spent his entire career in the Southeast. A Presbyterian graduate, Summers deposited stints at Central Florida, UAB, Georgia Southern (as safeties coach in 2006), Georgia, Troy and his alma mater. He got his start in the coaching ranks as an assistant at Tift County High School in Georgia in 2002.
Tyson Summers Named Next Head Coach of Georgia Southern Football!
— Georgia Southern Athletics (@GSAthletics) December 20, 2015
LINK: https://t.co/lPh5iXURqO pic.twitter.com/QFMXCcEnh9
Summers would take over for Willie Fritz, who left after a 17-7 two-year stint to become the head coach at Tulane. The Eagles have a tradition of winning while running the football; they’ve claimed six FCS national championships and took the Sun Belt championship in their maiden voyage in FBS last fall.
In a statement, Summers said he will continue with the program’s triple-option attack.
“Besides the day I married my wife and the days my children were born, this is right up there as one of the most exciting moments in my life,” Summers said. “This is home for my wife, Beth, and I and we’re excited to be able to get to Statesboro and carry on the proud traditions of both Georgia Southern University and the Eagle football program. I’m looking forward to building off the offense that is in place and continuing to progress with the defense. I’m just exceptionally excited to be a Georgia Southern Eagle!”
Georgia Southern will close out its 2015 season opposite Bowling Green in the GoDaddy Bowl Wednesday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), while Colorado State is set to face Nevada in the Arizona Bowl next Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, Campus Insiders).
Georgia Southern’s hiring of Summers makes him the Cinderella of this ball, as the Eagles were the last FBS school to fill their head coaching vacancy. For now.
