SAN ANTONIO – UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor announced Monday that he has named Tyrone Nix as the Roadrunners' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Nix's addition completes UTSA's staff of 10 full-time assistant coaches, as he joins Barry Lunney Jr. (associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Nick Graham (cornerbacks), Julian Griffin (running backs), Jess Loepp (safeties/recruiting coordinator), Matt Mattox (run game coordinator/offensive line), Tommy Perry (special teams coordinator), Will Stein (passing game coordinator/wide receivers), Kurt Traylor (tight ends) and Rod Wright (defensive line).
A 25-year coaching veteran, Nix has more than a dozen years of experience coaching in Conference USA. He comes to San Antonio after spending the 2019 season as the outside linebackers coach at Mississippi. His position group combined to produce 19 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries.
That campaign was Nix's second stint with the Ole Miss program after working on the Rebels' staff from 2008-11 as the defensive coordinator.
In 2018, Nix was the safeties coach at Virginia Tech, where he helped the Hokies to a pair of wins versus Top-25 opponents and an appearance in the Military Bowl.
Nix spent the 2017 campaign as a defensive analyst at Texas A&M, helping the Aggies to seven wins and a trip to the Belk Bowl.
A native of the Attalla, Ala., Nix spent five seasons on the staff at Middle Tennessee, working as co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 2012-14 and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 2015-16. He tutored a pair of NFL Draft choices for the Blue Raiders in defensive tackle Jimmy Staten and Kevin Byard, a first-team All-Pro safety for the Tennessee Titans.
Nix's Middle Tennessee defenses consistently ranked in the nation's top 25 in terms of forcing takeaways. The Blue Raiders tied for fifth in that department among FBS squads with 33 turnovers forced in 2013, a figure that ranked higher than all Power Five squads except for Arizona State and Oklahoma State, who also had 33.
Prior to his tenure at Middle Tennessee, Nix was the defensive coordinator under Houston Nutt at Ole Miss (2008-11). In 2008, his unit ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense (86.5 ypg), led by All-America DT Peria Jerry, who was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and future All-SEC DT Jerrell Powe. The 2009 campaign saw the Rebels post 92 tackles for loss and 34.0 sacks, totals that ranked first and second in the SEC, respectively. Nix's defenses helped lead Ole Miss to consecutive Cotton Bowl appearances in 2009 and 2010. He added the title of assistant head coach to his responsibilities for the 2010-11 seasons.
A collegiate linebacker at Southern Miss, he embarked on his coaching career at his alma mater as defensive tackles coach in 1995, beginning a decade-long run with the Golden Eagles that also saw him coach outside linebackers (1996-99) and defensive backs (2000). In 2001, he was elevated to defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach, a position he held through the 2004 season. From 2001-03, Southern Miss ranked in the top 15 in the nation in both scoring defense and pass efficiency defense each season.
In his 10-year tenure at Southern Miss, he mentored 12 All-Conference USA selections, four C-USA Defensive Players of the Year and six All-America selections, while also being named a finalist for Broyles Award in 2003.
Southern Miss also won four C-USA titles and made seven bowl appearances during his time in Hattiesburg. His many notable pupils coached in Hattiesburg included a pair of NFL Pro Bowl performers in CB Patrick Surtain and LB Adalius Thomas.
Nix's initial stint in the SEC began in 2005 at South Carolina when he was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under head coach Steve Spurrier. He was promoted to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach prior to the 2006 campaign and South Carolina's defense surrendered a mere 18.7 points per game that season, an improvement of 4.5 fewer points per game allowed than the previous year despite returning just one starter to his defense. In 2007, the Gamecocks led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense, allowing just 168.8 yards per game. A pair of his players, All-America cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Ko Simpson, were selected in the NFL Draft.
Nix was a four-year letterman at linebacker for Southern Miss from 1990-93. He completed his bachelor's degree in 1995.
Nix and his wife, Toya, have two children – a son, Ty and a daughter, Tiah.
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