Colorado State University Athletics
Football
Bryant, Jamie
Jamie Bryant
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties
- Email:
- jamie.bryant@colostate.edu
- Phone:
- 970-491-6131
Jamie Bryant is in his second season as Colorado State’s special teams coordinator and safeties coach in 2017. Bryant was hired by head coach Mike Bobo on Feb. 16, 2016, bringing nearly two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Fort Collins.
Bryant’s impact on the Rams’ special teams in 2016 was significant. CSU ranked 10th in FBS in net punting (40.64), and improved by 48 spots in kickoff return coverage, reducing opponents’ returns from an average of 22.65 in 2015 to 19.63 to finish in the top-third in the country. The Rams did not allow a blocked kick or punt for the season, and punter Hayden Hunt earned first-team All-MW honors.
Bryant also guided the Rams’ safeties to play a pivotal role for a Rams’ defense that posted six halves of shutout football, including the Rams’ first shutout game since 1997, holding Fresno State scoreless on Nov. 5. Sophomore safety Braylin Scott had an interception in three consecutive games early in the season, and true freshman Jamal Hicks—implemented into the lineup late in the year—made a key interception at San Diego State that helped the Rams keep momentum en route to a resounding 63-31 defeat of the MW champion Aztecs.
Bryant spent the 2015 season at Delaware State, coaching All-MEAC selections Gabriel Sherrod and Malik Harris. Sherrod led all FCS players with 25.0 tackles for loss. Prior to his season as the Hornets’ defensive coordinator and safeties coach, he served as a coordinator for two seasons (2013-14) at Youngstown State.
As defensive coordinator in 2014, the Penguins’ line racked up 27 sacks and had two all-conference performers, highlighted by first-team defensive end Derek Rivers. YSU’s top two linebackers combined for 188 tackles, while the secondary had nine interceptions and 33 passes defended. The defense surrendered 30 or more points just twice in 2014, the fewest since 2007. The Penguins allowed fewer yards and points than the prior season, and the biggest improvement was seen on third-down situations, when they stopped the opposition on 61 percent of opportunities. In 2013, Bryant served as YSU’s special teams coordinator and assistant linebackers coach. YSU punter Nick Liste and kickoff return specialist Andre Stubbs were first-team All-Missouri Valley selections. Liste was the team’s first all-conference punter since 2006, while Stubbs was the first return specialist to be recognized since 2001.
Bryant was previously an assistant coach for two seasons at Houston (2011-12). He was the Cougars’ defensive coordinator in 2012 and the linebackers coach in 2011. Bryant helped Houston to a 13-1 record in 2011, the best season in school history at the time. UH had four linebackers with more than 100 tackles, led by Marcus McGraw’s 141. The starting linebackers posted 62.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks and 10 interceptions that season.
From 2002-10 Bryant coached the secondary at Vanderbilt, and during that time spent one season as the Commodores’ special teams coordinator and two as defensive coordinator. During his nine seasons in Nashville, he helped lead Vandy to its first postseason appearance in 26 seasons when the Commodores participated in the 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Vanderbilt defeated Boston College, 16-14, with a late field goal to earn its first bowl victory in 53 years. Bryant tutored Vanderbilt’s first-ever All-America defensive back in D.J. Moore, and also produced All-SEC defensive backs in three consecutive years – Moore in 2008, Myron Lewis in 2009 and Casey Hayward in 2010. Hayward led the SEC in passes defended and ranked second for interceptions. Moore and Lewis went on to become NFL Draft picks, with Moore selected in the fourth round in 2009 and Lewis in the third round a year later.
Bryant was a defensive graduate assistant at North Carolina during the 2001 season, his first with a BCS program. That year, an aggressive defense helped the Tar Heels win seven of their final nine regular-season games, including impressive routs of ACC foes Florida State and Clemson, before defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
In 2000, Bryant spent a season at the FCS level working as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Saint Francis (Pa.). He entered the collegiate coaching ranks in 1997 as outside linebackers coach at Clarion. He spent three seasons (1997-99) with the Golden Eagles, and his duties evolved to secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1998 and 1999. Before embarking on his extensive collegiate career, Bryant spent five seasons at three separate high schools in Ohio. He was the head coach at East Clinton High School for three seasons, and served as an assistant coach at Anderson and Hayes, for a single season apiece.
A three-year letterwinner at Ohio Wesleyan, Bryant earned a degree in economics management in 1993. He and his wife, Elisa, are the parents of three sons, Luke, Jake and Josh.
Bryant’s impact on the Rams’ special teams in 2016 was significant. CSU ranked 10th in FBS in net punting (40.64), and improved by 48 spots in kickoff return coverage, reducing opponents’ returns from an average of 22.65 in 2015 to 19.63 to finish in the top-third in the country. The Rams did not allow a blocked kick or punt for the season, and punter Hayden Hunt earned first-team All-MW honors.
Bryant also guided the Rams’ safeties to play a pivotal role for a Rams’ defense that posted six halves of shutout football, including the Rams’ first shutout game since 1997, holding Fresno State scoreless on Nov. 5. Sophomore safety Braylin Scott had an interception in three consecutive games early in the season, and true freshman Jamal Hicks—implemented into the lineup late in the year—made a key interception at San Diego State that helped the Rams keep momentum en route to a resounding 63-31 defeat of the MW champion Aztecs.
Bryant spent the 2015 season at Delaware State, coaching All-MEAC selections Gabriel Sherrod and Malik Harris. Sherrod led all FCS players with 25.0 tackles for loss. Prior to his season as the Hornets’ defensive coordinator and safeties coach, he served as a coordinator for two seasons (2013-14) at Youngstown State.
As defensive coordinator in 2014, the Penguins’ line racked up 27 sacks and had two all-conference performers, highlighted by first-team defensive end Derek Rivers. YSU’s top two linebackers combined for 188 tackles, while the secondary had nine interceptions and 33 passes defended. The defense surrendered 30 or more points just twice in 2014, the fewest since 2007. The Penguins allowed fewer yards and points than the prior season, and the biggest improvement was seen on third-down situations, when they stopped the opposition on 61 percent of opportunities. In 2013, Bryant served as YSU’s special teams coordinator and assistant linebackers coach. YSU punter Nick Liste and kickoff return specialist Andre Stubbs were first-team All-Missouri Valley selections. Liste was the team’s first all-conference punter since 2006, while Stubbs was the first return specialist to be recognized since 2001.
Bryant was previously an assistant coach for two seasons at Houston (2011-12). He was the Cougars’ defensive coordinator in 2012 and the linebackers coach in 2011. Bryant helped Houston to a 13-1 record in 2011, the best season in school history at the time. UH had four linebackers with more than 100 tackles, led by Marcus McGraw’s 141. The starting linebackers posted 62.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks and 10 interceptions that season.
From 2002-10 Bryant coached the secondary at Vanderbilt, and during that time spent one season as the Commodores’ special teams coordinator and two as defensive coordinator. During his nine seasons in Nashville, he helped lead Vandy to its first postseason appearance in 26 seasons when the Commodores participated in the 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Vanderbilt defeated Boston College, 16-14, with a late field goal to earn its first bowl victory in 53 years. Bryant tutored Vanderbilt’s first-ever All-America defensive back in D.J. Moore, and also produced All-SEC defensive backs in three consecutive years – Moore in 2008, Myron Lewis in 2009 and Casey Hayward in 2010. Hayward led the SEC in passes defended and ranked second for interceptions. Moore and Lewis went on to become NFL Draft picks, with Moore selected in the fourth round in 2009 and Lewis in the third round a year later.
Bryant was a defensive graduate assistant at North Carolina during the 2001 season, his first with a BCS program. That year, an aggressive defense helped the Tar Heels win seven of their final nine regular-season games, including impressive routs of ACC foes Florida State and Clemson, before defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
In 2000, Bryant spent a season at the FCS level working as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Saint Francis (Pa.). He entered the collegiate coaching ranks in 1997 as outside linebackers coach at Clarion. He spent three seasons (1997-99) with the Golden Eagles, and his duties evolved to secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1998 and 1999. Before embarking on his extensive collegiate career, Bryant spent five seasons at three separate high schools in Ohio. He was the head coach at East Clinton High School for three seasons, and served as an assistant coach at Anderson and Hayes, for a single season apiece.
A three-year letterwinner at Ohio Wesleyan, Bryant earned a degree in economics management in 1993. He and his wife, Elisa, are the parents of three sons, Luke, Jake and Josh.
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