https://niuhuskies.com/news/2023/3/10/fo...white.aspx
Benedetto will be sole D coordinator. I assume he will have safeties too.
Hammock Completes Coaching Staff with Eubanks, White
New Assistant Coaches to Work with Cornerbacks, Tight Ends
March 10
DeKALB, Ill. – Darius Eubanks, who has spent the last six seasons as a college coach after a four-year NFL career, and Cory White, whose coaching experience includes stints as an offensive coordinator, offensive line and tight ends coach at multiple levels of college football, have joined the Northern Illinois University football staff as assistant coaches, NIU head coach Thomas Hammock announced Friday.
Eubanks comes to NIU after spending the 2022 season as defensive backs coach at Liberty and was the safeties coach at Georgia State in 2021. A four-year starter and two-time All-Southern Conference linebacker at Georgia Southern, he spent four seasons on the rosters of three different NFL teams. At NIU, Eubanks will coach the cornerbacks.
"We're really excited about Darius," Hammock said. "First of all, his experience as a player, having the ability to play in the NFL tells you the type of work ethic and the commitment he has. His jump into coaching has been impressive. He's a developer of men, he's a teacher, he's a leader and he's somebody that's going to be an excellent role model for our student athletes. I think he's an excellent fit for our staff and will do a great job with our corners."
In 2022, Eubanks was part of the Liberty staff that led the Flames to an 8-5 record, including an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. At Georgia State in 2021, the Panthers posted an 8-5 record that included a 51-20 win over Ball State in the Camellia Bowl. Eubanks coached a pair of All-Sun Belt defensive backs at GSU, and the Panthers intercepted 10 passes, helping them rank 30th nationally in turnovers forced.
"I'm very appreciative of Coach Hammock for giving me the opportunity to come here and be a part of the Huskie program." Eubanks said. "There is a great family feel here and the adjustment so far has been smooth. I had familiarity with [NIU defensive coordinator] Coach [Nick] Benedetto from Samford, so it made my decision more comfortable to come here and be a Huskie; I'm looking forward to the 2023 season."
A native of Thomson, Georgia, Eubanks spent the 2018-2020 campaigns at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where he coached the safeties in 2018 and 2019, then served as defensive backs coach and assistant special teams coordinator in 2020. Under Eubanks' tutelage, Chris Edmonds earned All-America and All-Southern Conference honors and ranked second nationally in interceptions.
He began his coaching career as the defensive line graduate assistant at Arkansas in 2017 after a four-year NFL career, beginning as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. He was on the rosters of the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers between 2013-16, spending two seasons with the Browns.
White brings 15 years of collegiate coaching experience on the offensive side of the ball, including five total seasons at the University of San Diego where he returned to serve as offensive coordinator and running backs coach in 2022 after coaching tight ends and offensive line for the Toreros in 2018 and '19, respectively. He coached the offensive line at New Mexico State in 2020 and '21.
"Cory came highly recommended, and I was thoroughly impressed during the interview process," Hammock said. "He's been an offensive line coach and a tight ends coach, he has experience as a coordinator and he's an excellent teacher. He has run a style of offense with the personnel groupings similar to what we use. His input is going to enhance our offensive staff and make us more dynamic, especially in how we implement the tight ends in our offense."
White's 2022 Torero offense averaged 29 points and 356 yards per game with two offensive players earning All Pioneer Football League honors. The 2022 season marked White's third stint at USD as he previously worked at the NCAA FCS school from 2012-13 and in 2018-19 with the Toreros winning league championships all four seasons. Two of his players garnered All-America honors, including tight end Dalton Kincaid, with seven Toreros named all-conference over those four campaigns.
As offensive line coach at New Mexico State in 2020 and 2021, White saw one of his players selected in the second round of the Canadian Football League Draft and play in the NFLPA postseason bowl. He had previously worked at NMSU in 2015 as the director of football operations.
White served as Humboldt State's offensive line coach in 2016 and 2017 where he coached one of the top offensive lines in Division II, one that included four-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year Alex Cappa. Cappa earned All-America honors in each of White's two seasons and represented the Lumberjacks at the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl. White's offensive line garnered seven All-GNAC awards during the 2016-17 seasons, and led the way for Ja'Quan Gardner who rushed for 2,622 yards and 39 touchdowns over a two-year span.
"I'm really excited to come back to coach at the FBS level here at NIU," White said. "With my background in working with a similar offensive system that has used the tight end quite a bit, I think I can contribute to the success of this offense. Just being here for a few days it's very evident how hard everyone here works, and how big of a season this program is ready to have."
White began his coaching career with stops at Chapman (2008-12), San Diego Mesa (2006-07) and Whittier (2004-06) and returned to Chapman as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator in 2014, helping lead the program to its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, NCAA playoff appearance and a final Division III ranking of 17th in the nation.
With the addition of Eubanks and White, Hammock's 2023 coaching staff is in place with the Huskies set to open spring football practices on Wednesday, March 22. Wesley Beschorner, who will coach the NIU running backs and serve as passing game coordinator, and Adam Breske, NIU's new linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, were introduced on January 31.
In addition to the newcomers, Hammock announced that offensive line coach Daryl Agpalsa will be the run game coordinator and defensive line coach Jordan Gigli will be the defensive run game coordinator. After working as co-defensive coordinator last year, Benedetto is the Huskies' sole defensive coordinator in 2023.
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Football coaching staff is complete
