Jeff Sawyer enters his first season at Coahoma Community College. He arrives at Clarksdale with a ton of coaching experience. This is his third year of college football coaching. He was linebackers coach for Mississippi Valley State University. He also has 14-years of coaching on the high school level. Sawyer was the Associate Head Coach/Linebacker/Running Back at St. Helena College and Career Academy; helping them to the semifinals of the Louisiana State Playoffs.
While at St. Helena, Sawyer developed two juniors into All-State linebackers while helping the team go undefeated in District play en route to becoming 2016 District Champions. St Helena’s defense finished in the top four in the state for class 2A.
Prior to St Helena, Sawyer was a high school Principal/Assistant Principal for five-years, 2010-16, helping shape students into young productive citizens. Jeff is also a retired UPS supervisor of 10 years.
Sawyer coached at Desire Street Academy in Baton Rouge right after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, helping reshape young men after the devastating storm destroyed everything they had. Sawyer’s motivation was to help the young student-athletes out of underprivileged situation to improve their overall quality of life through football. Jeff was the defensive coordinator for two years and took over as the head coach the following two years.
During Jeff’s tenure at Desire Street Academy, the team made the playoffs every year and advanced to the semifinals of the Louisiana state playoffs class 1A in 2008, losing to the eventual state champs South Plaquemine. Desire Street Academy signed 10 players to Division I scholarships (three SEC) and three went on to successful NFL careers.
Sawyer began his coaching career at Carver High in Memphis in 1998. Sawyer led the team to two consecutive playoff seasons, advancing to the quarterfinals in his second year of coaching and becoming undefeated District Champs (6-0) in 1999. Sawyer was also Coach of the Year in 1999. Prior to the success, Carver had no more than two wins in the last 10 years.
In 2000, Coach Sawyer advanced on to Hamilton High, where he signed four players into the Southeastern Conference and many others to college scholarships in his four years at the school.
Prior to Sawyer’s coaching career, he played Canadian League Football for four years after staring at Memphis State. He started playing in Vancouver for British Columbia Lions in 1993. The following year, 1994, Sawyer played for the Las Vegas Posse becoming the only player to be named “CFL Player of the Week,” for his week 13 performance against Saskatchewan: 4.5 sacks, 4 tackles, 1 for loss and 1 pass breakup.
Sawyer played for the San Antonio Texans in 1995 before going back to B.C. Lions in 1996.
He stepped away from football in 1997 to help care for his older sister, Linda Sawyer, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33 and later passed in August. She was the Head Trainer at Tennessee State University.
Sawyer was a four year starter at Memphis State, from 1989 to 1992. He was named to the 2nd Team All-Independent All American in 1991 by Sporting News Street & Smith Magazine. He played in the 1993 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Sawyer was also a Three-Time Defensive Player of the Week throughout his four year college career. Exiting high school, Jeff was All-District, All-City, 3rd Team All-State, Parade USA Honorable Mention All-American. He was highly recruited and offered scholarships by over seven SEC Schools and many Division I schools before signing with Memphis State.
Jeff has 3 daughters: Dr. Zamone Sawyer, age 24, a dentist, Kennedy Sawyer, age 13 and Kelsey Sawyer, age 11.
