After nabbing Greg Jones away from in-state rival Tennessee Tech last week to oversee his defense, Austin Peay coach Jeff Faris now has the final piece of his defensive staff in place, several sources tell FootballScoop.
Faris is moving to hire Jireh Wilson as defensive backs coach for the Govs, FootballScoop has learned.
A Calhoun, Georgia, native, Wilson spent the 2024 season on Brian Bohannon's Kennesaw State Owls staff.
Wilson, sources told FootballScoop, also had been deeply involved in the head coaching search at North Greenville, the NCAA Division II program in South Carolina, where Wilson coached in two previous stints.
After a decorated playing career at Wofford that included All-Southern Conference honors and a trio of league titles, Wilson worked with both special teams and linebackers in his first run on staff at North Greenville.
Wilson spent a season on Tre Lamb's Gardner-Webb staff in 2022 and also served as North Greenville's defensive coordinator in 2023.
In his first year as a head coach, Faris helped Austin Peay to four wins; the Govs also had a one-point loss at nationally ranked Abilene Christian and fell in overtime to Eastern Kentucky, two programs that advanced into the FCS Playoffs.
The Govs are scheduled to open the 2025 season Aug. 30 at FBS program Middle Tennessee State University. A week after their trip to MTSU, the Govs head to SEC power and College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Georgia.
Austin Peay's first home game is Sept. 13 vs. Morehead State.