Major changes are afoot in Memphis football! With Charles Huff officially taking the reins as the new head coach, the defensive staff is quickly being assembled, and it's shaping up to be quite the team.
Sources reveal that Jason Semore, a familiar face who has served as Huff's defensive coordinator at both Marshall and Southern Miss, will be joining him in Memphis. Adam Rittenberg has also confirmed this move.
Semore's track record speaks volumes. He spent two seasons as Huff's defensive coordinator at Marshall, before following him to Southern Miss. Before Marshall, he was the linebackers coach at Georgia Tech for a season, after being promoted from a defensive analyst role.
During the 2024 regular season at Marshall, Semore's aggressive defense played a key role in the Thundering Herd's Sun Belt Conference title run. They excelled, ranking among the nation's best in crucial areas like third-down conversions (11th), sacks (22nd), and tackles for loss (TFLs, 22nd). They also made their presence known with 20 turnovers gained, ranking 34th nationally.
This season at Southern Miss, Semore's defensive unit made an immediate impact, helping the team achieve 7 wins after managing only four in the two seasons prior to their arrival.
But here's where it gets exciting: Sources also indicate that Dominique Bowman, a FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year Finalist, is also leaving the Southern Miss staff after a standout season.
This season, Bowman's unit led the nation in interceptions, snagging an impressive 21 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. This places them in elite company, tied for first nationally with Notre Dame.
Bowman joined Huff and Semore at Southern Miss after a stint at Temple, where he coached the corners in 2023 before taking on the safeties in 2024, overseeing the entire defensive backfield.
Before Temple, Bowman was part of the Arkansas coaching staff in 2022, working with the team's corners under Barry Odom. In 2021, he coached at Marshall, where his unit ranked among the top 30 in college football and second in Conference USA, allowing just over 200 yards per game.
The Memphis job marks a homecoming for Bowman, a native of the city. He began his coaching career in Memphis high schools, culminating in a successful run at Cordova HS (TN), where he led one of the state's top defenses. As a player, Bowman was a two-time All-Conference defensive back at Lambuth University, where he played under Hugh Freeze.
What do you think of these new additions to the Memphis coaching staff? Do you believe they will bring the success the program is hoping for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
