University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Deke Adams Joins Football Staff as an Assistant Coach
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 6, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss announced Friday the addition of former Golden Eagle player Deke Adams as assistant football coach pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Institutes of Higher Learning.
Adams replaces Art Kaufman, who left last month to take a similar position at North Carolina, and will coach the defensive line.
"We are pleased to have Deke join our staff," Southern Miss football coach Larry Fedora said. "He is a former standout Golden Eagle player who has developed into an outstanding football coach and we look forward to him working with our defensive line." Adams comes to Southern Miss after spending last year as linebackers coach and coordinator of player development at Louisiana-Monroe. Prior to his stint ULM, he worked for two seasons at North Carolina A&T.
During his first season at North Carolina A&T, Adams stepped into the role of defensive coordinator two games into the season on a interim basis. Adams handled himself in a situation where he led a defense made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, then was given the job on a permanent basis following that first season. Adams coached the defensive line during his first year in 2006 and the linebackers in 2007.
Adams spent four years at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas before his stint at North Carolina A&T. In 2005, he served as Ouachita Baptist's defensive coordinator. He was also responsible for coaching the defensive line. His duties also included recruiting the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas areas.
Adams started his coaching career in 1997 when he accepted a position as the defensive line coach at Jacksonville State.
After spending one season at Jacksonville State, Adams coached at Pearl River Community College where he performed a variety of duties. He first served as the linebackers coach and a few months later, was named co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
In 2001, Adams became the defensive coordinator and continued his duties as recruiting coordinator. He worked at Pearl River until 2002 when he accepted the position at Ouachita Baptist.
Adams was a four-year member of the Southern Miss Dean's List during his time as a student and three-time letterwinner for the Golden Eagle "Nasty Bunch" defense at Southern Miss from 1991-94. During his career at linebacker, Adams tallied 76 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception for 15 yards.
He is married to the former Alexis Hall, a member of the 1,000-point club and four-year letter winner for the Southern Miss women's basketball team from 1988-1991. The couple has two boys, Jaylen and Jordyn.
