Everett Todd is entering his first season on the bluff and will serve as the team's special teams coordinator / defensive ends coach. Todd joins the SU staff after spending last season at Texas Southern as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Prior to TSU he spent eight seasons at Grambling State as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. During his time at GSU he helped the Tigers win a pair of SWAC Championships (2016, '17) while also winning three consecutive SWAC West titles (2015-17) and a 2016 Celebration Bowl.
In 2018, Todd’s defense ranked among one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Tigers were tops in defensive touchdowns, fumbles recovered, passes intercepted, turnovers gained, turnover margin and blocked kicks. In addition to the many team accolades, Todd had four players earn postseason honors, including De’Arius Christmas, who was selected the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. Christmas and Joseph McWilliams garnered SWAC First-Team honors, while Anfernee Mullins and Percy Cargo, Jr. were named to the second team.
Christmas also earned major honors inside the classroom as he was one of 13 finalists for the National Football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy.
Each season under Todd, Grambling’s defense was ranked in the top two nationally in team tackles for loss. Todd’s defense put together another season of immaculate defense in 2017. The Tigers led the SWAC in eight different defensive categories, including turnovers gained (33) and interceptions (18) and was ranked in the top four nationally in six of those categories. Grambling was second in the FCS in team tackles for loss (113) and turnover margin (+20).
In 2017, the Tigers’ defense had five players receive all-conference honors, including linebacker and SWAC Defensive Player of the Year De’Arius Christmas. This marked the second consecutive season for the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year to come from Grambling.
The Tigers were named the HBCU National champion after winning the 2016 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl when they defeated North Carolina Central 10-9. The Tigers also went undefeated in league play, winning the Western division, and defeating Alcorn State University in the conference championship game.
The 2016 Tiger defense led the nation in the FCS in four defensive categories (sacks, tackles for loss, red-zone defense and fumble recoveries), while finishing in the top five nationally in nine total categories. Additionally, the Tiger defense led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 12 of 15 defensive statistical categories, while finishing second in the remaining three.
Six defensive players earned all-conference honors in 2016. Blain Winston and Samuel Reese were name all-conference defensive linemen, while nose guard Donovan McCray was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. McCray, Guy Stallworth, Arkez Cooper and Jameel Jackson were named to various All-American teams.
The 2015 defense shared the lead in the SWAC in yards per carry allowed at 3.8 yards. The Tigers led the SWAC and the FCS nationally in turnovers gained with 32. They led the SWAC and finished third nationally in tackles for loss with 114. Additionally, the Tigers led the SWAC in red-zone defense while finishing 10th nationally. The defense also finished second in the SWAC and sixth nationally with 3.16 sacks per game. Jamison Goins, Michael Jolivet and Arkez Cooper were named to the all-conference team while Guy Stallworth was named to the All-SWAC and the Black College All-American teams.
In 2014, the defense led the nation and the SWAC in sacks with 3.75 per game. The Tiger defense was the national and conference leader in tackles for loss with 10.1 per game. The Tiger defense also ranked fourth nationally in fumbles recovered and 19th nationally in turnovers gained. Linebacker Steve Orisakwe led the SWAC in tackles for loss (22.5), sacks (8.5) and fumbles recovered (three) for the 2014 season. His teammate Aaron Breed Jr. was second in the conference in tackles for loss, third in sacks and sixth overall in tackles. Safety Tyree Hollins led the conference in interceptions.
Todd joined the Grambling football coaching staff after serving as the defensive line coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe for the previous five seasons. ULM posted the NCAA’s second best defensive turnaround from 2008 to 2009 as it improved by 97.7 yards of total defense between the two seasons.
ULM finished 20th in the NCAA against the run, just one season after ranking 112th. The defense allowed 102.6 fewer yards per game on the ground in 2009 compared to 2008. The Warhawks also ranked 41st in sacks (a 67-spot improvement from 2008) and 44th in total defense (a 65-spot improvement from 2008). In 2011, the defense led the Sun Belt Conference in total and rushing defense, finishing in the top 25 nationally in both categories at 21st and 8th, respectively.
In 2009, Todd coached All-Sunbelt Conference pick and Amite, La. Native Aaron Morgan, who spent four seasons on NFL rosters at Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Todd also tutored ULM defensive end and Shreveport native Troy Evans Jr., defensive end Ken Dorsey, a New Orleans native, and nose guard Gerrand Johnson from Rayville. All were selected to several SBC all-conference lists
Todd joined the Warhawks staff after seven seasons at New Mexico where he coached the defensive line (2007 -2008), served as special teams’ coordinator (2004-2005), and coached the cornerbacks (2002-2003). He also served as a compliance and operations specialists in 2006 and was New Mexico’s recruiting coordinator in 2004-2005. Todd also helped the Lobos to five bowl games during his time in Albuquerque, NM.
Todd joined the New Mexico staff in 2002 after spending four seasons as head coach and defensive coordinator at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. He compiled a 22-17 record for the Buccaneers, including a 9-2 mark and the Mineral Water Bowl title in 1999 when Blinn finished ninth in the final junior college national rankings. Prior to Blinn, Todd was the defensive line coach at Texas State from 1992- 1996, defensive tackles coach at Tulane in 1991, defensive line coach at Angelo State University in 1990 and defensive line coach at Lamar from 1986-1989. Todd also served as an NFL intern with the Chicago Bears in the summer of 1994.
Todd is a 1984 graduate of Rice University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in managerial studies and sports management. He was a four-year football letterman for the Owls from 1979-1983, playing defensive end the last three seasons. In 1984, the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League drafted Todd.
Todd received his master’s degree in physical education from Lamar University in 1990. He and his wife, Donna Kay, have two daughters, Emily and Evelyn.
