The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program has hired a former player as its defensive line coach, with Nick Davison replacing Landius Wilkerson, who left recently for a similar position at Football Bowl Subdivision member South Alabama.
In last week's report on Wilkerson leaving the Mocs after one year on coach Rusty Wright's staff, the Times Free Press noted that sources had indicated Wright had Davison - a native of Calhoun, Georgia, who starred for the Yellow Jackets in high school - in mind to fill the vacancy.
Davison played two seasons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before transferring to UTC in 2010 and spending two seasons in the program, one as a player and one as a student assistant after he was injured. He spent the past six seasons on staff at Tennessee State.
"I am excited to be home in Chattanooga," Davison said in UTC's release announcing the move Friday. "I'm looking forward to working with a great group of coaches and a great group of young men. The future looks extremely bright for the Mocs football program. I can't wait to get to work."
He'll have a quick transition as he joins Wright and defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. The Mocs start preseason workouts next week for an eight-game Southern Conference season, which starts Feb. 20 with a home game against Virginia Military Institute.
He inherits a quality group, led by junior end Devonnsha Maxwell, who has 12.5 career sacks. Junior tackle Christian Smith and freshman end John Prince were credited with four tackles (one for loss) apiece in a 13-10 loss at FBS member Western Kentucky on Oct. 24, the Mocs' lone football game of 2020.
Davison coached five All-Ohio Valley Conference selections while at Tennessee State, including Anthony Bass, the league's defensive player of the year in 2013. Now he is the fifth former UTC player on staff, joining Wright, tight ends coach Jacob Huesman, outside linebackers coach Jordan Tippit and director of football operations Kadeem Wise.
"We are excited to bring Nick back to Chattanooga," Wright said in UTC's release. "Our paths did not cross here while he was playing, but I have gotten to know him through coaching. After talking to Coach Ward, we felt like he would be a good fit for our staff and capable of coaching our very talented defensive line."
The Mocs still have an opening for an offensive line coach after Chris Malone resigned last week.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.