Rich Rodriguez has announced the addition of Brandon Napoleon to his Jacksonville State staff to coach safeties beginning with the 2024 season.
Napoleon comes to the Gamecocks from Rhode Island, where he served as the Rams’ defensive backs coach in 2023. His unit at URI was led by cornerback Syeed Gibbs, who was named the 2023 CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and an FCS Freshman All-American by numerous outlets, and All-CAA safety Brent Jackson.
He joined the Rams’ staff from Sacred Heart, where he was the cornerbacks coach in 2022 and was on a staff that boasted the fourth-best pass defense in FCS. His unit included All-NEC corner Arsheen Jiles, who led the conference in pass break-ups.
Prior to Sacred Heart, Napoleon was a graduate assistant at Buffalo and also served stints at Kutztown University, Geneva College, Midwestern State and Susquehanna.
During his time at Susquehanna, Napoloen coached two-time All-American Daniel Shelton and led the River Hawks to a 10-1 record and a Centennial-MAC Bowl win in 2019.
A native of Rahway, N.J., where he was played in the U.S. Marines All-American Bowl, Napoleon signed with West Virginia and played for the Mountaineers before finishing his career at Kansas Wesleyan. He earned his degree in communications from Kansas Wesleyan in 2018.
