Southern Miss fills defensive coordinator role with FCS call-up from Eastern Illinois
Southern Miss has filled its other coordinator opening.
The Golden Eagles have announced Clay Bignell as the program’s newest defensive coordinator. Bignell is the third DC at USM in as many years and the announcement comes four days after head coach Will Hall tabbed Chip Long as offensive coordinator.
Bignell arrives after serving in the same role at FCS Eastern Illinois this past season. The Panthers are sixth nationally in forced turnovers and No. 18 in scoring defense in his first year in a coordinator role. Bignell’s defense helped lead EIU to its best record since 2013.
Prior to EIU, Bignell served as a senior analyst on the 2018 Notre Dame team that reached the College Football Playoffs.
The former All-Big Sky linebacker from Montana State has a background working with the position, assisting or coaching the group at Montana State, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and East Carolina.
“Clay is a proven play caller with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Hall said in the school’s release. “He has learned under some of the best defensive minds in college football. Throughout this process, it was obvious that he is a great teacher with a deep passion for his players.”
Bignell replaces Dan O’Brien, who was let go after one season that saw USM finish last in the Sun Belt in scoring defense. Bignell’s hiring comes four days after Hall filled the offensive coordinator role with Chip Long.
Hall acted as the coordinator of the offense for the first two-plus seasons of his tenure, but handed over game-planning and play-calling duties to Gregg and quarterbacks coach Jordy Joseph midway through his third season in 2023.
Long arrives having most recently served as a quality control specialist at Louisville. The 18-year coaching veteran has served as offensive coordinator at ND, Tulane and Georgia Tech.
His offense helped guide the Fighting Irish to the 2018 College Football Playoff with Ian Book at quarterback. Long was a finalist for the Broyles Award that year given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Long and Hall were teammates at North Alabama from 2002-2003.
Hall is entering his third full offseason ahead of his fourth year at USM with a 13-24 record.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 2:24 PM.
