Bradford hired as defensive coordinator

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings finally has filled his coordinator positions with Tuesday's hiring of defensive coordinator Damon Bradford.

Bradford spent the past four seasons as linebackers coach at Tennessee Tech, which like Southeast is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator for one season at Tennessee-Martin, another OVC member.

"We're excited to be able to hire coach Bradford," Billings said. "He comes from Tennessee Tech, where they always have one of the top defenses in the OVC, and he has a defensive philosophy that matches ours at Southeast.

"I think the fact that he has been in the league for the last five years will be a real advantage."

Bradford was an NAIA All-American player at Lambuth University in his hometown of Jackson, Tenn., where he received his bachelor's degree in 1990. He received a master's degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy.

Bradford began his coaching career at Lambuth, where he spent seven years, including the last three as defensive coordinator. Bradford then spent one season as an assistant at Mars Hill and one season at Tennessee-Martin before moving to Tennessee Tech.

Bradford, 35, replaces Shannon Morrison, who left Southeast to become the defensive coordinator at Lehigh. Bradford is the second new hire in nine days for Southeast, joining offensive coordinator Rob Likens.

Likens, whose hiring was announced last week, was the wide receivers coach at Division I-A Temple the past six seasons and he also spent time at Division II power North Alabama.

"I feel like we were very fortunate to be able to hire coach Likens, who was a Division I-A assistant," Billings said. "He understands our offense and he has had great success as a wide receivers coach. He knows how to run the football and he was a part of several national championship teams when he coached at North Alabama."

Southeast will begin spring practice on March 27. The annual spring game scheduled for April 24.

Southeast Missouri was 5-7 overall last season but posted a 5-3 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.