coaching staff Jeff Hanson
Aquinas High School in Georgia with brother Matt, who serves as the head coach. Personal: Bachelor’s degree in 2008 in kinesiology with a sports management emphasis and a minor in business at JMU.
Defensive Line Born: Sept. 19, 1949 Year At JMU: First Graduate of: Richmond (Bachelor’s 1971, Master’s 1973) Hometown: Beloit, Wisc. At JMU: Joined the JMU staff during the 2013 spring drills and works with the Dukes’ defensive line… Brings 39 years of collegiate football coaching experience, 28 of which were at fellow Colonial Athletic Association-school Richmond... Primary Recruiting Area: Richmond, Va., and Texas. Before JMU: Previously was the University of Virginia defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator... Spent three years at UVa, including bringing in talented young players to Virginia and earning the school top-30 rankings in recruiting for 2011 and 2012... Prior to his hiring, the Cavs struggled defensively surrendering 173.8 yards rushing per game during the 2009 season. However, two years later in 2011 the team improved to number three in total defense and number five in defending the run in the ACC, while only giving up 139.5 rushing yards per game... Before his time at UVa, Hanson coached at six different schools including Richmond (‘71-’79, ‘89-’06, and ‘08’09), VMI (‘07), West Texas State (‘87-’88), Southwest Texas State (‘83-’86), Lamar (‘82’83) and Marshall (‘80-’81). While working with the Richmond Spiders, he helped the team to a 2008 FCS National Championship and one year later, a share of the 2009 CAA title... During the 2008 season, Hanson guided Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan to possibly the best season ever by a pair of defensive ends in Richmond history, as the tandem combined for 17.5 of the teams 36 sacks and both earned All-CAA honors for their efforts... Played linebacker for Richmond and was part of the 1968 Tangerine Bowl Championship team... Remained with the Spiders as a graduate assistant, coaching the freshmen defensive lineman from 1971-73 while completing his degree in physical education and his master of education. Personal: Received his undergraduate degree in physical education and his master’s degree in in education administration… Married to DeDe and the couple have three daughters, Laurie, Kristin and Katie and son-in-law Jeff Lee. Grandchildren: Matthew Silva, Emily Silva, Laurie Silva, Braeden Lee, Tegan Lee.
Tony LeZotte
Clayton Matthews Wide Receivers, Kickers Born: Feb. 2, 1982 Year At JMU: Eighth Graduate of: JMU (Bachelor’s 2006) Hometown: Harrisonburg, Va. At JMU: Is coaching the team’s wide receivers and kickers for a sixth season after working previously as a student assistant coach on the Dukes’ staff – mostly with the kickers – during the previous two seasons… Primary Recruiting Area: Virginia’s Loudoun, Fauquier, and Warren counties, Southwest and Central Virginia… in 2007 Dave Stannard was Second-Team All-CAA as a placekicker, L.C. Baker was Third-Team All-CAA as a receiver and punt returner, and Jason Pritchard was Third-Team All-CAA as a punter… Baker was Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 and punter Jason Pritchard and placekicker David Rabil third team in 2006… was a scholarship performer in the JMU football program before injuries shortened his playing career… played for the Dukes as a quarterback, wide receiver, punter and placekicker… made starts at quarterback as a true freshman in 2001 and at wide receiver in 2002… completed 24 of 53 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns in 2001… in 2002 had a 10-yard reception, left opponents inside their 20-yard line after seven of his 12 punts and kicked two extra points. Before JMU: Scholastic football standout in Georgia before playing in Virginia during his senior season… quarterback and kicker on Oconee County’s Georgia state championship team in 1999… played in 2000 at Spotswood High School. Personal: Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a sports management and business concentration… son of JMU head coach Mickey Matthews.
Dominique White Defensive Line Assistant
Secondary Born: Jan. 18, 1985 Year At JMU: Third Graduate of: JMU (Bachelor’s 2008) Hometown: Augusta, Ga. At JMU: Joined the JMU staff in 2011... Was a four-year letterwinner for the Dukes... ranks sixth on JMU’s all-time tackles list with 416 in his career, good for first among defensive backs... also recorded seven career interceptions, including one returned 100 yards for a touchdown, and 25 pass deflections... His 144 tackles in 2004 were the most on the team and helped propel the Dukes to a National Championship, earning him Atlantic-10 and CollegeSportsReport.com Freshman of the Year honors... Was named to the Walter Camp Foundation’s AllAmerica First Team twice... Was the league’s first four-time All-America and four-time First Team All-League player... Only the second player in JMU history to be elected as a team captain for three years... Named All-ECAC twice, Defensive Player of the Year three times (Roanoke Times in 2004, Atlantic 10 in 2004 and CAA in 2007), and was named to a combined five All-America teams in 2004 and 2007. Before JMU: Played in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes in 2008... has spent the last three years coaching offensive and defensive backs at
Born: June 13, 1987 Year At JMU: Second Graduate of: JMU (Bachelor’s 2010) Hometown: Hampton, Va. At JMU: In his first year as an assistant coach with the defensive line after serving the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years as the Director of Player Relations for the football program... Was a four-year letterwinner for the Dukes and part of the 2008 CAA Championship team that was ranked No. 1 for the majority of the season and advanced to the semifinals... Also helped the Dukes to a playoff berth in 2007... Had a total of 21 tackles in his career at Madison Personal: Received his bachelor’s degree from JMU in kinesiology with a sports management concentration.
2013 JMU Football Program - 17