Staff Highlight Series: Associate Head Coach-Defense/Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator Luke Jaicks

Posted: Oct 12, 2020

BREVARD, N.C. - Throughout the Fall, the Brevard College Department of Athletics will be highlighting its staff members in a tri-weekly Staff Highlight Series, giving members of the Athletic Administration and Coaching Staff the opportunity to introduce themselves to the BC community through a series of questions and biographical elements.

Next up in BC's Staff Highlight Series is Brevard College Football Associate Head Coach-Defense/Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator Luke Jaicks, a former football student-athlete at Southern Utah University and Scottsdale College, and graduate of Maharishi International University.

bctornados.com: What has been your favorite professional memory?

Coach Jaicks: Winning the 2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl!

bctornados.com: What makes Brevard College a special place?

Coach Jaicks: The people and the surrounding nature.

bctornados.com: Who has been the biggest influence in your professional career?

Coach Jaicks: Brevard College Head Football Coach Bill Khayat.

bctornados.com: What is some advice you would give to young people looking to get into the profession?

Coach Jaicks: Doing what you love is more valuable than making money.

Coach Jaicks in his collegiate playing days

Luke Jaicks joined the Brevard College football coaching staff in 2017 as the Tornados special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach. In 2019, Jaicks was promoted to Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach. In Jaicks' first year at the helm of the Tornado defense, he helped lead the unit to several program, conference, and national accolades en route to an 8-2 season and a victory in the 2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. Jaicks' defense led the USA South and set a new program-record by allowing just 13.3 points-per-game. The Tornados set program records and led the conference in turnovers (25) and interceptions (21) - while BC's 19 interceptions in the regular season ranked tied-for-third in all of NCAA DIII football. Moreover, Brevard allowed the third-fewest rushing yards-per-game in the regular season and scored four touchdowns on defense, which was tied for the lead in the USA South. During the regular season, BC's defense did not surrender a touchdown to the opposition in four of its nine games.

Jaicks helped the Tornados receive many individual defensive accolades through the 2019 campaign as well. Three Tornado defenders - Dante Anderson, Steffon Canady, and Louis Williams III - earned USA South All-Conference plaudits, while the Tornados also garnered three USA Athlete of the Week awards (Joc Pledger, Tae Sullivan, and Rook Tate) and three D3Football.com National Team of the Week selections (Jerome Bass, Quentin Jackson, and Tate) during the course of the 2019 season. BC's Anderson and Canady received nominations for the prestigious Cliff Harris Award - an award honoring the nation's best small college defensive player - while the pair also earned All-ECAC First Team honors following the conclusion of postseason play. Canady capped off a bountiful award season for the BC defense by being named the 2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl Most Valuable Player following his performance in Brevard's 42-28 victory over Carnegie Mellon University.

Under Jaicks' guidance, the Tornado secondary ranked first in the conference in lowest passing yards allowed per game in the 2018 season, while sophomore cornerback Quentin Jackson received USA South All-Conference First Team and Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Tornados claimed the number-one kickoff return player in the conference, as Tre Charles averaged 25.3 yards-per-return (new school record). Punter/Wide Receiver Ralph Roman III garnered USA South Football All-Conference Second Team honors after averaging the second-best net punting yardage rating in the conference.

In the 2017 season, BC's special teams unit broke school records for most single-season blocked punts, highest kickoff return average, highest individual kickoff return average (Xavier Brown), most field goals made in a season, and the second-highest field goal average in NCAA-era history.

Prior to arriving at Brevard, Jaicks coached the LB's and DB's at Scottsdale College. In 2016, the group was responsible for 11 of the 14 turnovers recorded that year. The Scottsdale defense finished first overall in the conference and first in pass defense. The secondary finished sixth statistically in the country in pass defense. Jaicks oversaw four DB All-Conference players in 2015.

In 2014 Jaicks coached at Southwestern Oklahoma State (Division II) where his CB Kevin Joseph was All-Conference, second-team All-Region, and finished sixth nationally in pass breakups.

Jaicks arrived at Brevard from Scottsdale College and Southwestern Oklahoma State where he coached DBs and linebackers. He helped Scottsdale to a 10-1 record and a Western States Football League Championship in 2013. The Artichokes finished the season ranked third in NJCAA play, after defeating Dodge City Community College in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Following that success, three defensive backs signed with NCAA Division I institutions.).

As a player in high school, Jaicks was a Second Team All-State selection (DB) and First Team All-Region (WR) selection (2005). Jaicks went on to sign with Southern Utah before concluding his collegiate playing career at Scottsdale College. He recorded 23 tackles, six interceptions and five pass breakups for Scottsdale as he earned all-conference honors.

A native of Mesa, AZ, Jaicks holds a bachelor's degree in eastern psychology from the Maharishi University of Management.

Brevard College Football Associate Head Coach-Defense/Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator Luke Jaicks

AT A GLANCE:

A two-way player in high school, 2nd Team All-State Defensive Back
Had 23 tackles, six interceptions, and five pass breakups for the Scottsdale College, ranking in the top-five nationally for interceptions
Primary Recruiting: Florida, upper South Carolina, Georgia
Secondary Recruiting: Juco's, Arizona, California, Europe
Two way player in High school 2nd team all-state DB, 1st All-Conference WR

CAREER BACKGROUND:

2005-06 Southern Utah University Defensive Back
2007-08 Scottsdale College Defensive Back
2014 Southwestern Oklahoma State Cornerbacks
2013-15 Scottsdale College Defensive Backs
2016 Scottsdale College Linebackers
2017-18 Brevard College Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2019-2020 Brevard College Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2020-Present Brevard College Associate Head Coach-Defense/Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator

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-BC-