Part of five national championships as a player and staff member at Alabama;
Scott completes Bulls’ primary coaching staff
TAMPA, JAN. 10, 2020 – USF head football coach Jeff Scott announced Friday the addition of Wes Neighbors to the Bulls’ staff as safeties coach, completing his first primary coaching staff with the Bulls.
Neighbors comes to USF after two successful seasons coaching safeties at FAU and will reunite with Bulls’ defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, having worked with Spencer at FAU last year as the Owls posted an 11-3 record, Conference USA Championship and Boca Raton Bowl victory.
“Wes had great success at FAU the last two seasons and brings tremendous experience as both a player and staff member on Alabama teams that won five national championships,” Scott said. “We are excited to welcome Wes to USF and complete a very strong primary staff that is hard at work completing our 2020 signing class and preparing for an exciting 2020 season.”
In 2019, the Owls set a program record with 21 interceptions and led the nation in total takeaways (33), interceptions (22) and turnover margin (+21). FAU improved more than 40 spots in 10 defensive national rankings, including total defense (88th allowing 427.4 ypg to 48th allowing 370.3 ypg) and scoring defense (92nd allowing 31.8 ppg, to 33rd allowing 22.3 ppg). Safeties Da’Von Brown, third on the team with 69 tackles, and Zyon Gilbert, two interceptions, 44 stops and a team high eight pass breakups, were key contributors.
In his first season at FAU (2018), Neighbors’ safety unit was led by senior Jalen Young, a Second Team All-C-USA selection that ended his career tied among all active FBS players with 13 interceptions and finished second on the team with 59 tackles.
Prior to FAU, Neighbors played and served on staffs at Alabama during a period in which the Crimson Tide won five national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2017). His Tide roots include his brother, Carson, who also served as a member of the strength and conditioning staff, and his grandfather, who was recruited to play for the Tide by Howard Schnellenberger when he served as the Tide’s offensive coordinator in the early 1960’s.
Neighbors began his coaching career as an Alabama student assistant (2011-12), concentrating his efforts with the special teams and running scout practice periods. The following year (2012-13), he assumed the role of off-field graduate assistant where he continued to work with special teams. In 2013-14, Neighbors moved to defensive intern where he worked with the outside linebackers, organized opponent data and led the scout team unit for a 2013 defense that was ranked No. 5 nationally.
He then served one year as a defensive graduate assistant (2014-15). In that role, he assisted the defensive coordinator, worked with the linebackers and helped to develop Butkus winner and All-American Reuben Foster and All-American Reggie Ragland.
In spring of 2015, he moved into a defensive analyst position. During his time as a staff member at Alabama, the Tide held no lower than a No. 3 national ranking (2015) and garnered the No. 2 spot in 2016 and 2017. Neighbors was a part of teams that played in the Peach and Cotton Bowls, won two SEC Championships and claimed the 2015 National Championship.
Neighbors played safety and was member of special teams units for the Crimson Tide from 2008-11. He was a member of two national championship teams, as the tide claimed BCS titles in 2009 and 2011.
He graduated from Alabama with honors, in 2011, earning a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration. He continued his education in Tuscaloosa earning a master’s of science degree in marketing in 2012. Neighbors was a member of the SEC Honor Roll from 2008-11 and was a Dean’s List member in 2008. He is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
2020 USF FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Jeff Scott Head Coach
Glenn Spencer Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Charlie Weis Jr. Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Da’Quan Bowers Defensive Line Coach
Daniel Da Prato Special Teams Coordinator
Xavier Dye Wide Receivers Coach
Joey King Tight Ends Coach
Allen Mogridge Offensive Line Coach
Jules Montinar Cornerbacks Coach
Wes Neighbors Safeties Coach
Pat White Running Backs
Trumain Carroll Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and is in its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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