— By Bill Cornwell
Marshall’s opening for a defensive coordinator is no more.
Georgia Tech safeties coach and special teams coordinator Jason Semore will run the Herd defense according to various reports from The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, The Athletic and On3.com.
Semore replaces Lance Guidry, who recently left after two seasons. Earlier this week, Guidry became the defensive coordinator at Miami after he was originally set to work at Tulane when leaving Huntington.
Semore was the Yellow Jackets’ linebackers coach last season. He is credited for helping the development and NFL Draft stock of GT linebackers Charlie Thomas and Ayinde Eley, both second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference picks.
In 2021, Semore was the defensive coordinator at Valdosta State and helped lead the Blazers to the NCAA Division II final.
Semore was the defensive coordinator at the Colorado School of Mines in 2014 and Montana in 2016 and 2017. He’s also had coaching stops at Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Temple.
Semore will lead a Marshall defense that Guidry helped guide to a special 2022 season in which it ranked No. 6 nationally in scoring defense, No. 8 in total defense No. 5 in rush defense.
The Herd defense was bolstered by the announced returns of cornerback Micah Abraham, defensive end Owen Porter and linebacker Eli Neal for a final season.
Semore is a native of Ganado, Arizona and a 2005 graduate of Adams State.
The move likely stabilizes the MU coaching staff for next season after Huff announced last week that Bill Legg as the Herd’s offensive line coach and veteran assistant Billy Gonzales was named tight ends coach.