BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s football team announced several changes to its defensive coaching staff Wednesday.
Derrick Jackson, who has more than 20 years of college coaching experience, has been hired as the Falcons’ secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Steve Morrison and Sammy Lawanson were promoted to co-defensive coordinators.
The Falcons also named Julian Campenni an assistant head coach. He will continue with his duties of being the defensive run coordinator and defensive line coach.
Jackson spent the last four seasons as the associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator, and safeties coach at Northern Illinois. He has spent time at 10 different schools, including Purdue, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Michigan State, and Army.
“Derrick knows what it takes to win a championship in the league,” BGSU head coach Scot Loeffler said in a news release, “and he will provide an immediate impact on our secondary.”
Jackson replaced former defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Eric Lewis, who took over as the safeties coach and defensive passing game coordinator at Navy in early January.
“My family and I are ecstatic about the opportunity to join Coach Loeffler, his football staff, and the Bowling Green Football Family at a time where the program is in position to compete for MAC championships,” said Jackson, a Cincinnati native. “I’m looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my football coaching career at a place where you can impact and inspire student-athletes to be the best version of themselves on a daily basis.
“It feels awesome to be back in the state of Ohio, because it is truly home for me and my family. Exciting times are on the horizon for Bowling Green football. Proud to be a Falcon.”
Meanwhile, Morrison will continue to coach inside linebackers and will call the defense. Lawanson will continue to coach outside linebackers.
Morrison started his BGSU coaching career in 2019, while Lawanson joined the Falcons’ staff last year. Campenni joined Loeffler’s staff in 2018 as the defensive line coach before taking over as defensive run game coordinator last year.
First Published February 1, 2023, 5:27 p.m.
