MIAMI (Feb. 5, 2021) – Head Coach Butch Davis announced on Friday the hiring of four coaches to his 2021 defensive staff.
Everett Withers will be named an assistant head coach, while taking over the defensive coordinator duties and overseeing the safeties. Deke Adams will oversee the defensive line unit and serve as run game coordinator, while Randall McCray will coach the linebackers and Brandon Harris returns to FIU to coach the cornerbacks.
“We’re very excited to announce the hiring of Coach Withers, Coach Adams, Coach McCray and Coach Harris to our defensive staff,” Davis said. “This is a very veteran group and three of the coaches have been a defensive coordinator at some point during their careers. These coaches have an exceptional wealth of experience, recruit very well and add great chemistry to our staff. We look forward to the impact these coaches will have on our players and football program this spring.”
Withers, who was a defensive analyst with the Texas Longhorns last season, reunites with Coach Davis after the two were together at North Carolina. Withers has served as a head coach at UNC, Texas State and FCS powerhouse James Madison, while also making additional prominent stops as an assistant coach with Louisville, Minnesota and Ohio State in the college ranks. In the NFL, Withers has coached with the Saints, Titans and most recently in 2019 with the Giants.
Adams, who coached eventual No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney at South Carolina, will make his way to FIU and oversee the defensive line unit. Adams has made stops at North Carolina, East Carolina, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Mississippi State and most recently Ole Miss. Overall, the 20-plus year coaching veteran has played a key role in the development of six NFL draft selections since 2013, including two first-round picks.
McCray comes to FIU after making a recent stop with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. McCray’s most recent college coaching experience came at Texas State under Withers as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, before making stops in his near 30-year career at Clemson, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Middle Tennessee and Gardner-Webb to name a few. McCray played collegiately at Appalachian State as a linebacker and running back.
Harris, who served as a graduate assistant at FIU in 2019, returns to Miami after spending the past season as a defensive analyst at Florida State. Harris was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and spent six seasons in the league after a highly decorated college career at the University of Miami. Harris is the younger brother of current FIU offensive coordinator, Tim Harris, Jr.
Additionally, Harrison Green will not return to the coaching staff next season.
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