Friday, January 26, 2007

PC Football Names Defensive Staff

CLINTON, S.C. – New Presbyterian College football coach Bobby Bentley along with PC Director of Athletics Dr. William B. “Bee’ Carlton recently announced the naming of the 2007 PC Football defensive staff.

Julius Dixon will serve as the defensive coordinator. Phil Magdic will be Presbyterian’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach, while Reuben Wright will coach the defensive line. Deke Herrin will serve as a defensive assistant.

Dixon comes to PC from Furman where he was an assistant coach for 14 years after a stellar playing career for the Paladins.

The 2006 campaign marked Dixon’s fifth season as defensive ends coach at Furman. During his tenure with the Paladin defensive ends, he was instrumental in the development of All-America and two-time All-Southern Conference performer Roy Ravenell, who helped Furman to 10-3 and 11-3 seasons in 2004 and 2005 that included a pair of NCAA I-AA playoff appearances.

As defensive backs coach Dixon directed the play of consensus All-America free safety John Keith, a fourth round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers who helped Furman post a 9-3 record and claim a Southern Conference championship in 1999.

In 2000 Furman’s secondary, which featured a pair of all-conference performers, played a key role in the Paladins recording their second consecutive 9-3 campaign. In 2001 Dixon’s unit included three all-conference performers who helped Furman go 12-3 and finish as NCAA I-AA national runner-up.

A native of Toccoa, Ga., Dixon came to Furman in 1985 and began an outstanding football career as a cornerback. He was one of only four true freshman to letter on a 1985 squad that defeated N.C. State, 42-20, on the way to a 12-2 record, league championship, and NCAA I-AA national runner-up finish.

In 1987 he moved into the lineup and, as a senior in 1988, he earned first team all-conference honors. More importantly, though, he served as captain of a squad that compiled a 13-2 record, league title, and NCAA I-AA national championship with the nation’s top scoring defense (9.5 ppg). In his four seasons the Paladins registered an outstanding 40-10-2 record.

Magdic makes his way to Presbyterian College after a very successful head coaching stint at Darlington High School.

During his tenure at Darlington, Magdic was twice named region coach of the year, garnering the Region 6-AAA coach of the year accolade in 2003 and the Region 5-AAA coach of the year honor in 2006.

The Athletic Director at the high school as well, Magdic came into a rebuilding project. He quickly turned the program around, going 24-22 in his four years.

Darlington concluded the 2006 season at 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the South Carolina AAA playoffs.

Magdic made his way to Darlington after a successful three-year run as Bentley’s defensive coordinator at Byrnes from 2000-02. He was a part of Byrnes’ first state championship in 2002.

This will not be Magdic’s first foray into the college ranks as he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Waynesburg College.

Wright joins the Blue Hose football program from the high school ranks where he experienced a great deal of success as a defensive coordinator. He was most recently Jeff Scott’s defensive coordinator at Blythewood High School.

Wright was Blythewood’s defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach during the Bengals’ inaugural season of 2006, helping them to finish the year at 14-1 overall and claim the 2006 South Carolina AAA state title.

Wright’s defense, which featured all-state performer and University of Georgia commit Charles White, held opponents to just 14.7 points-per-game in 2006.

Wright came to Blythewood after a bevy of successful coaching stops in the high school ranks in the Palmetto state, including a stint as the defensive coordinator at Seneca High School. He was also an assistant coach at Greer High School for seven years where he helped the 1994 team to an undefeated 15-0 season and the AAA state championship.

Wright is no stranger to PC as he played football in the South Atlantic Conference for Catawba College where he was the captain of the 1993 team. He is a 1994 graduate of the institution.

Herrin spent the 2006 season on Rick Stockstill's staff as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee State University.

The Blue Raiders finished the season with the Sun Belt Conference championship and played in the Motor City Bowl in December of 2006.

Herrin spent the previous six years as a construction superintendent for Southern Homes in South Carolina.

Herrin was a walk-on wide receiver at Western Carolina in 1994 before earning a scholarship in 1995. After two seasons with the Catamounts, Herrin transferred to Clemson.

Herrin earned his degree in sports management from Clemson in 1999.

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