Jeff Byrd begins his third season as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach for Southern Arkansas. Prior to coming to SAU, he spent two years as defensive coordinator at Northwest Mississippi College in Senatobia, Miss.

In 2004, his Northwest defense gave up only 212 yards of offense per game, including 105.2 rushing and 106.8 passing, and allowed 15.1 points per game, averaging four sacks. His 2003 defense ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense by yielding only 71.6 yards per game, 14th in total defense (237.2 ypg), and 27th in pass defense (165.6 ypg).

Byrd was co-offensive coordinator in 2002 at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. He helped lead the Lions to a 7-4 record for a second consecutive year while working with the offensive line. The Mars Hill offense was second in rushing, (179.8), fourth in scoring (24.1), and fifth in total offense (328.5) in the South Atlantic Conference. Byrd was the offensive line coach at Mars Hill from 2000 until his promotion in 2002.

Byrd was a graduate assistant at Delta State University in 2000, was the head coach, principal, and athletics director at Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Miss., in 1999, and served as a varsity assistant at Greenville (Washington), Miss., from 1994-98, serving as offensive coordinator in ‘98, and running game coordinator from ‘94-’97.

Byrd received his B.S.E. from the University of Southern Mississippi where he played center for the Golden Eagles in 1989 and was a member of the ‘89 Independence Bowl championship team. He was a three-year letterman in both baseball and football at Southaven (Miss.) High School, graduating in 1985.

He and his wife, Pam, have three children, Scott, Kris, and Mary Katelyn.