Mike Adams - Football Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Mike Adams

Title:
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator / Safeties
Alma Mater:
Ball State, 1998
Office Phone:
(478) 301-4606
Email:
adams_mv@mercer.edu

Mike Adams enters his fourth season with the Bears in 2023 and third as the defensive pass game coordinator and the safeties coach.

In 2022, Adams continued to raise the bar with his leadership in the defensive pass game. The Mercer defense led the FCS in the regular season with 17 interceptions. Over a four-game span, Mercer had 12 interceptions. Of the 17 interceptions, Mercer returned two for a touchdown.

The Bears ranked fourth in the SoCon in pass defense and led the conference in pass defense efficiency. Opposing quarterbacks averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt against the Mercer defense, the lowest average in the SoCon. Three players in the secondary, including safety Lance Wise were named All-SoCon in the 2022 season.

In 2021, safety Lance Wise was recognized as a member of the 2021 Hero Sports FCS All American team, was named to the 2021 Phil Steel All SoCon Team and earned SoCon post-season honors.

In 2020-2021, Adams coordinated a plan of attack to stop the air raid of opposing offenses and successfully did so, putting togehter the fourth-best passing defense in the Southern Conference (192.5 yards per game). In his duties as safeties coach, he mentored Lance Wise, an All-SoCon selection and HERO Sports All-American. Wise finished second on the team with 86 tackles (43 solo, 43 assisted). He had three games with at least 10 stops and posted a career-high 20 tackles in the fall finale against Abilene Christian, coming up just one shy of the program record set by Sidney Otiwu on Nov. 2, 2019. Wise ended his sophomore campaign tied for 14^th in the SoCon with 7.8 tackles per contest. He made four tackles for a loss for a total of 10 yards. The Marietta, Ga., native broke up eight passes and had one interception for a SoCon-best nine passes defended.

In 2019, Adams was the defensive coordinator and the inside linebackers coach for the Bears. He coached Sidney Otiwu, a Second Team All-SoCon Coaches’ selection, who led the Bears with 93 tackles. Otiwu turned in one of the more impressive defensive performances all season against Samford – recording a school-record 21 tackles in the contest and earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Adams joined the Bears program after spending 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.

Adams was instrumental in Charleston Southern ranking fourth among FCS teams in passing yards allowed (139.4 yards per game) and 22^nd in total defense (324.7 yards allowed per game) 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 the 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 an 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 D2-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. They reside in Macon, Ga.

Collegiate Coaching Experience

2019-Pres. - Mercer University
- Defensive Coordinator (19)/Defensive Pass game Coordinator & Safeties (20)
2016-18 – Charleston Southern
- Safeties and Special Team 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