Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Josh Lawson enters his eighth season on the Mulerider football staff and is in his fifth season as Defensive Coordinator. In addition to his duties as DC, Lawson will also serve as the defensive backs coach for the second year.
 
This past season, Lawson’s defense was young with just three starters being seniors while five starters were sophomores or younger. Despite the youth, the defensive unit was talented and showed moments of dominance and brilliance.
 
In stopping the running game, the Muleriders’ defense held their opponents under 120 yards rushing four times and in three of those games, SAU held their opponent under 50 yards. The highlight of the run defense in 2015 was a -26 yard dominating performance on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma.
 
In pass coverage a year ago, the Muleriders had three games in which they held the opposition under 100 yards passing with a season-best, 21-yard limit held against Oklahoma Baptist.
 
Lawson’s first year as the Defensive Coordinator was in 2012. That year SAU went 8-3 and appeared in the Heart of Texas Bowl against McMurray. One of the reasons for the Muleriders’ breakout year was Lawson engineering a significant turnaround in the Muleriders’ defensive efforts from the year prior. In that, his defensive unit improved upon its 2011 national rankings by 50 or more spots in Pass Efficiency Defense (+50; 57th in D-II), Tackles for Loss (+71; 49th in D-II), Total Defense (+74; 57th in D-II), Scoring Defense (+102; 33rd in D-II), and Rushing Defense (+120; 6th D-II).   
 
The following year in 2013, Lawson’s defense continued to improve upon its national statistic ranking from the year prior in Pass Efficiency Defense (+23; 34th), Tackles for Loss (+9; 40th), and Total Defense (+3; 54th).
 
Prior to being named as the Defensive Coordinator, Lawson spent four seasons as the linebackers coach. Still serving as the linebackers coach as the DC, Lawson will transition to being the secondary coach in 2015. Lawson has also served as the Special Teams Coordinator, travel coordinator, and financial aid coordinator since arriving in Magnolia. His primary recruiting responsibilities will be Dallas, East Texas, and National Junior Colleges.
 
Lawson first arrived at SAU in 2009 after serving two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. During his time at UAB, Lawson worked with the linebackers and coached first team All-Conference USA member Joe Henderson.
 
Beginning in 2001, Lawson served two years as a student assistant at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa before coaching as a graduate assistant the next two seasons. While in Tuscaloosa, he assisted in recruiting two top 20 classes as ranked by Rivals.com. Lawson was also part of the Crimson Tide’s 2001 Independence Bowl and 2005 Music City Bowl games.
 
From Alabama, Lawson went to Jasper, Ala., and was co-offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and receivers coach in 2005 at Walker High School. Lawson then served as an assistant coach in 2006 at Idaho State University, working with the defensive line.
 
A native of Berry, Ala., Lawson received his B.S.E in secondary education in 2003 and his M.A. in sport management in 2004, both from the University of Alabama. Lawson is married to the former Meredith Jones and the couple has two dogs, Lola and Rambo.
 
Notable Muleriders Coached:

2015:	Quan Warren: All-GAC First-Team Cornerback
	Calvin Lyons: All-GAC Second-Team Defensive Tackles
	Elgin Moore: All-GAC Second-Team Safety
	Davondrick Lison: All-GAC Honorable Mention Defensive End; D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Second-Team; Don Hansen All-Super Region 3 Third-Team; Led NCAA Division II in Forced Fumbles (7)
2014:	A.J. Steele: All-GAC Second-Team Linebacker
	Nolan Duncan: All-GAC Honorable Mention Defensive Line
	Luke Lansdell: All-GAC Honorable Mention Linebacker
	DeMario Thomas: All-GAC Honorable Mention Defensive Back
2013:	Tate Mustin: All-GAC First-Team Linebacker, Don Hansen All-Super Region III Third-Team, Limhamn Griffins (Professional League in Sweden)
	Mark Spaight: All-GAC First-Team Linebacker
	Quan Warren: All-GAC Second-Team Cornerback
2012:	Don Unamba: All-America First-Team/All-GAC First-Team Cornerback, played for Winnipeg Bombers (CFL) in 2014
2011:	A.J. Steele: Honorable Mention ALL GAC Linebacker
	Travarus Brown: Honorable Mention ALL GAC Return Specialist
2010:	Rafael Thomas: First Team ALL GSC Return Specialist
2009:	Zach Massingill: Second Team ALL GSC Punter