CHARLESTON, S.C. – With the spring offseason schedule officially concluded, The Citadel football head coach Maurice Drayton released the full slate of additions -- two full-time assistant coaches plus another pair within quality control -- as well as a slew of updated positions and titles for the program's coaching staff prior to entering the summer months ahead of the 2025 campaign.

In regards to new additions, Drayton tabbed FBS veteran Phill Guard to take over the offensive line as well as former Bulldogs' defensive quality control coach Jason Simmons Jr. for the open role leading the safeties. As for quality control, former The Citadel linebacker Giovanni Ricciardi joins as a defensive assistant while Brock Carroll, a four-year starter on the offensive line at Grove City College, slots in as the offensive assistant.

Guard, a native of Geneva, N.Y., previously spent time with Syracuse, Rutgers, Georgia Southern, St. Lawrence, Mount Union and Albright College. He served as an offensive quality control coach with the Orange as well as an offensive graduate assistant for the Scarlet Knights, primarily working with the offensive line. He has been part of six bowl appearances overall (Holiday, Boca Raton, Camellia, Cure, New Orleans & Gator), earning a trio of victories along the way.

A three-year starter for Syracuse and one-year contributor at New Mexico State, Simmons Jr. concluded his career with 47 appearances, 35 starts, 189 total tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, a recovered fumble, four interceptions, one touchdown and 17 pass break-ups between both programs. Son of current Washington Commanders Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Jason Simmons, he initially joined The Citadel in Spring 2024 as a defensive assistant, eventually earning elevation to the full-time role with the safeties prior to opening offseason training this year.

Meanwhile, a variety of current staff members received notable title adjustments or internal promotions, including:
-- Andy Clawson, a staple at The Citadel since the 1970s, earned recognition as General Manager Emeritus
-- Danny Lewis, an Assistant Head Coach as well as the Tight Ends position coach, takes over General Manager duties as well
-- Lamar Owens, who served as Co-Offensive Coordinator this past season as well as the Wide Receivers coach, takes over as solo Offensive Coordinator entering 2025
-- Raleigh Jackson, the program's Defensive Coordinator, will handle Bandits as opposed to Linebackers on the position front
-- Tony Coaxum, who acts primarily as Special Teams Coordinator, received a bump to Associate Head Coach as well
-- Similarly, Everette Sands, the program's Recruiting Coordinator and Running Backs position coach, tacked on Assistant Head Coach for External Affairs duties as well
-- Jackson Eskierka, who handles the Quarterbacks position group, added Pass Game Coordinator to his repertoire
-- Along a similar thread, Roberto Pinilla, the position coach for the Bulldogs' Defensive Line, picked up responsibilities as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator as well
-- Zane Vance, who stepped in last year to coach the Bandits, switched position groups with DC Raleigh Jackson and now handles Linebackers; he also garnered Game Management duties as well
-- Jo Jackson, the Cornerbacks position coach last season, expanded his responsibilities for 2025 to the entire Secondary
-- Greg Dixon, a Defensive Assistant, shifted from Defensive Line to Bandits while adding duties with Player Personnel
-- Barry Casterlin, a former Offensive Assistant, took over a new role as Offensive Analyst while also picking up Player Personnel responsibilities
-- Finally, Rett Russell, who found his stride last year within Football Operations, officially cemented a new title as Director of Football Operations & Player Personnel





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