Courtesy of Albany State Athletics
Jeremy Atwell enters year one at ASU and will serve as Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebackers.
Prior to arriving in Albany, Atwell spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico Highlands University. In the 2021 season Atwell directed a unit that was 4thnationally in interceptions by and 14thnationally in turnovers gained. Before joining the staff at New Mexico Highlands, he spent 6 seasons in the high school ranks.
In his second stint with the program, Atwell spent three seasons as assistant head coach, five as defensive coordinator, and eight overall with the Nicholls State football staff. During his tenure at Nicholls, he coached two NFL draft picks, three FCS All Americans, and five first-team all-conference selections. In 2012, under Atwell’s tutelage, linebacker Jordan Piper emerged as one of the top tackler’s in the NCAA, racking up a Southland best 9.7 per game. At UCA, Piper tied the single-game program record of 23 tackles, which was set in 1977. In 2006, Atwell was a part of defense that ranked 19th nationally in total defense and in 2007 led the Southland Conference in interceptions.
Atwell, who spent four years as the defensive coordinator at Thibodaux High School, first joined the Nicholls staff as an assistant coach in 2001.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Atwell wrapped up a distinguished playing career at Southeast Missouri State in 1999 as he was named first-team All-Ohio Valley as a linebacker, leading the OVC in both tackles and tackles for a loss.
Atwell arrived in Cape Girardeau in January of 1998 after spending two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in his home state. At NEO, Atwell earned second-team all-conference accolades as a linebacker after making the move from strong safety his freshman season.
After winding up his playing career, Atwell spent a year working with the SEMO program as a student coach where he assisted with coaching the Redhawks secondary.
Atwell and his wife, the former Cindy Adams, have two sons, Christian and Cameron, and a daughter, Callie.
