The Mules football team hired six new coaches to their staff. All the coaches appeared at the spring football game on April 15. Head coach Josh Lamberson hired Greg Jones, Hayden Hawk, Stephen Franklin, Justin Bane, Adrian Duncan and Chace Gadapee. The spring football game helps the coaches see the strengths and weaknesses of the football team. 

  Jones will be serving as the defensive coordinator. Before arriving at the University of Central Missouri, Jones was a defensive analyst for the University of Oregon Ducks. He was an assistant for the safeties coach and recruited players from Florida, Iowa, Texas and Missouri. 

  Hawk will be serving as the tight ends coach and recruiter coordinator. He graduated in 2014 from UCM. During his time at UCM, Hawk was the quarterback for the Mules. He was named the All-MIAA quarterback. Hawk came from Henderson State University as an offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022. At Henderson State, Hawk helped lead his team 26-8.   

  “We’ve all come together, we all have various different backgrounds, experiences in different systems, and different beliefs,” Hawk said. “It was a really good opportunity to come back to coach with Lambo, who I played for.”

  Franklin will be the new special team coordinator, linebackers coach and diversity and inclusion coordinator. Franklin is coming from Bethel University in Minnesota. He was the linebackers coach and special teams coach. In the two seasons with the Royals, the team went 18-6 and helped three players earn all-conference linebackers. 

  Bane will be the passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach. He comes from Texas where he owned and operated training facilities. Bane has helped train and mentor professional athletes in football and baseball. 

  Sophomore Nyle Pascasciou worked as a support staff in fall 2022 and saw the changes within the coaching staff. Next season, Pascasciou will be on the team as a running back. 

  “In my opinion, I don’t think we’ll have too many challenges because we’ve already created a good connection and it’s just improving as we go along,” Pascasciou said. “ One challenge would be being able to trust one another.”

  Junior Kendall Scott transferred to UCM this semester from the College of DuPage which is a junior college in Illinois and the staff is brand new to him. 

  “It’s not just new for me as being a transfer but it’s also new for every player out there returning and us transfer guys,” Scott said. “We’re trying to build a new system. The things that we were doing previously just weren’t working anymore.”

  Gadapee will be the assistant offensive lineman coach. He is coming from Bethel University in Minnesota.

  Ryan Anderson, Media Relations Manager, helps with the UCM athletic press releases. Anderson has worked at UCM since Aug 2021. Anderson didn’t go to the spring game but said the practices are going good. 

  “I support the football program with the new hires,” Anderson said.