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Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders
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TJ Langley

Coach Langley, the Mulerider’s Associate Head Coach for Defense and Defensive Line Coach is entering season six in the Blue & Gold. He has established himself as one of the top defensive line coaches in the Great American Conference and the region. In 2025, his “Trench Mob” once again helped to lead a defensive attack known for putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They helped to force a league leading defense in interceptions while sacking the quarterback the second most per game in the conference. They also helped limit opposing offenses scoring, finishing with the 3rd best Scoring Defense in the GAC. The Muleriders also finished the 2025 season ranked in the Top 30 nationally in those categories as well.
 
Individual accolades have also become the norm in Magnolia for his units, coaching a 1st or 2nd Team all conference honoree in each of his 6 seasons in Magnolia. In 2025, that did not change with three 2nd Team All-GAC selections in defensive ends Hunter Hewitt and Casey Cobb, as well as defensive tackle Nathan Earle. Hewitt finished 2025 ranked 2nd best in the league in tackles for loss while Cobb, as well as OLB Kenneth Ellison tied for 8th in the league in sacks.
 
Langley’s 2024 “Trench Mob” was also a force to be reckoned with, leading the Great American Conference in sacks, which helped them rank top 15 nationally. His defensive line also helped to lead a defense that also finished 1st in the GAC in Defensive Touchdowns (2nd NCAA), 2nd in Tackles For Loss (16th NCAA) and 3rd in Total Defense and Scoring Defense
 
Coach Langley has made it a tradition for the Mulerider’s to have some of the top defensive lineman in the GAC each year, having had a GAC 1st or 2nd Team selection annually. The 2024 contributors were 1st Team selection DE Dawson Scott and 2nd Team selection’s DT Elvin Calhoun and DE/OLB Hunter Hewitt. A finalist for the GAC Defensive Player Of The Year, Scott was also named to the D2 Football Elite 100, was a 2nd Team AFCA All-American Team and Honorable Mention Don Hansen All-American Team selection. The Southern Arkansas University’s all-time career leader in sacks not only led the GAC in that category (4th NCAA), but his incredible season saw him also finish 2nd in the GAC in Tackles For Loss and Forced Fumbles (10th NCAA).
 
In 2023, Langley helped turn around a defense that led the program to a 10-win season, and a 2023 Live United Bowl Championship. The Muleriders were among the league leaders in multiple categories including, Defensive TD's (2nd), Fumbles Recovered (2nd), Interceptions (2nd), Scoring Defense (4th), Sacks By (4th) and Total Defense (4th).  Tutoring defensive linemen to All-Great American Conference status has become a consistent theme in Magnolia with Langley's total now at five in three seasons.  This includes 2023 selections DE Dawson Scott and DT Elvin Calhoun, 2022 selection DE Prince Udenze and 2021 picks DE David Walker and DT Demoni Boyd.
 
Langley navigated the Muleriders’ defensive line unit through the pandemic-canceled season of 2020, while his 2021 unit made up for lost time serving a Mulerider defense that finished second in the Great American Conference in sacks with 28 in 11 games totaling 199 yards. Langley’s front helped the SAU defense rank tied for fourth in yards allowed per rush at 4.3.
 
In his first year on the sideline (year two on staff), Langley tutored a pair of All-GAC honorees in David Walker and Demoni Boyd. Walker, a second-team selection, recorded 15.5 tackles for loss which included seven sacks, while Boyd, who earned honorable mention, logged 8.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 coming as sacks in addition to recording a pair of blocked kicks.
 
Hired in July of 2020, Langley arrived in Magnolia from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. While at NEO, Langley coached the Golden Norsemen defensive line and linebackers as part of a defensive unit that led Region XIV in pass yards allowed per game (162.9), ranked tied for second in points allowed per game (22.2) and posted the fourth-best rushing defense in the league (146.1) during the 2019 season.
 
Prior to his time at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Langley began his coaching career at Idabel High School (OK) where he spent four seasons as defensive coordinator under legendary head coach Dennis Parker (2x Texas High School Football Coach of the Year). With Langley at the helm of the Warriors' defense, HIS made four-consecutive trips to the state playoffs after posting a 1-9 record the year prior to Langley's arrival and in 2017 his defense ranked in the top 10 statewide in points allowed. Additionally, Langley served as the school's strength and conditioning coach during his time in Idabel and in his final three years he served as the head powerlifting coach.
 
As a collegiate student-athlete, Langley's football career began at Northeastern Oklahoma State in 2007 where he played tight end. He transferred to Arkansas Tech where he played both tight end and defensive end during his Wonder Boy career which culminated in him being inducted into the Arkansas Tech University T Club. As a senior, Langley recorded 23 tackles (17 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a team-leading nine quarterback pressures in his senior season which helped him earn an invitation to the inaugural Eastham Energy All-Star Game in Tempe, Arizona.
 
Following his collegiate career, Langley signed as an un-drafted free agent of the Buffalo Bills in 2011 before playing three seasons in the Arena Football League with the Jacksonville Sharks and Philadelphia Soul. While with the Philadelphia Soul in 2012, Langley competed in Arena Bowl XXV.
 
In 2016, Langley received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Recreation from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and in 2018 he received his Master of Science in Sports Administration with an emphasis on Strength and Conditioning from SOSU.
 
Langley and his wife, Sarah, have one son, Braylon, a strong 17 year old #CFWarrior who is fighting and winning his daily battle with cystic fibrosis and a 6 year old daughter Lilliana Marie.