Lamb Names Mike Adams as Defensive Coordinator

MACON, Ga. – Head football coach Bobby Lamb announced Thursday the hiring of Mike Adams as Mercer University's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.

Adams joins the Bears program after spending the last three seasons as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Charleston Southern. He brings 12 years of Division I coaching experience with him to Macon, most notably with South Carolina State, South Alabama and the Bucs.

"What drew me to Mike was how much experience and success he has had on the defensive side of the ball," Lamb said. "I'm excited to add a guy like Mike to our staff who has done it at a high level at both the FCS and FBS levels. His defensive philosophy and leadership has generated some of the best statistical defensive units in the FCS in the last decade."

Adams was instrumental in Charleston Southern ranking fourth and 22nd among FCS teams in passing yards allowed (139.4 yards per game) and total defense (324.7 yards allowed per game), respectively, in 2018. Charleston Southern ranked among the FCS top-25 in total defense all three years that Adams was on staff, including seventh in 2016.

At South Alabama, Adams coached the Jaguars' linebackers (2014) and safeties (2015-16), and helped them reach the 2014 Camellia Bowl. He mentored a senior trio of Maleki Harris, Davin Hawkins and Desmond LaVelle, who set career-high tackle totals in their final seasons.

Adams arrived at South Carolina State in 2006 as a defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator before being promoted to defensive coordinator two seasons later. Adams was a FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year finalist in 2013, guiding a unit that led the nation in total defense (235.7 yards per game), rush defense (79.6 yards per game), passing efficiency defense (92.13), sacks (62) and tackles for loss (10.5 per game).

South Carolina State also led the nation in total defense, rush defense and passing defense in 2010. In nine seasons with Adams on staff, the Bulldogs went 64-30 overall and 52-12 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), earning at least a share of four conference titles while reaching the FCS Playoffs four times.

Eight South Carolina State players who played under Adams reached the National Football League, including Phillip Adams, Rafael Bush, Dominique Ellis, Jakar Hamilton, Kimario McFadden, Marshall McFadden, Joe Thomas and Christian Thompson.

Adams earned his start as a student assistant linebackers coach at his alma mater, Ball State, in 1986-87. His first full-time role was with NAIA-level St. Joseph's College (Ind.) as the running backs and wide receivers coach (1998) and defensive backs coach (1999-00). Adams also spent five seasons (2001-05) with NCAA Division II-level West Georgia, where he coached tight ends (2001) and defensive backs and special teams (2002-05).

Adams earned a degree in sport administration from Ball State in 1998. He is married to the former Natasha Taylor. The couple has a son, Nataysuan, and a daughter, Sasha.

About Adams
College: Ball State, 1998
High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Wife: Natasha
Son: Nataysuan
Daughter: Sasha

Adams' Coaching Experience

Year	Team	Position
2016-18	Charleston Southern	Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator
2014-16	South Alabama	Linebackers/Safeties
2006-14	South Carolina State	Defensive Coordinator/LBs/DBs/Special Teams
2001-05	West Georgia	Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coordinator
1998-00	St. Joseph's College	Running Backs/Receivers/Defensive Backs
1997-98	Ball State	Linebacker Student Assistant

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Mercer University Athletics

Lamb Names Mike Adams as Defensive Coordinator

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