Jireh Wilson was named the new defensive assistant coach at Kennesaw State on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Wilson arrives at Kennesaw State after spending the 2023 season as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at North Greenville University.
“Jireh is a young coach who has a bright future in college football,” said Bohannon. “Our players will love his energy and the way he carries himself. His previous experience as a defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator will make him an asset to our staff as we move to the FBS.”
At NGU, Wilson led a defensive unit that allowed 24.9 points per game in 2023 which was 11.92 points better than the previous season. His defense also improved the average passing yards allowed per game by 73.1 which was an improvement of over 100 spots in the national rankings. He also decreased the rushing yards allowed per game by 38.8 in his one season as defensive coordinator.
Wilson’s recruiting responsibilities at North Greenville included Columbia, S.C. and northwest Georgia along with surrounding areas. He will be responsible for the southwest counties of metro Atlanta along with areas of central Florida for Kennesaw State.
Prior to joining the Crusaders, Wilson was the defensive assistant coach and co-special teams coordinator at Gardner-Webb in 2022. Under his guidance, the Runnin’ Bulldog defense ranked fourth in passes intercepted (16), sixth in turnover gained (25) and 22nd in third down defense.
While at Gardner-Webb, Wilson coached First Team All-Big South cornerback Raequan Ousley who finished fourth in the nation in passes defended (20) and added a pair of interceptions on the season. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished the year with the program’s first winning season since 2013 and earned the 2022 Big South Championship with one victory in the FCS Playoffs.
Wilson received his first coaching position at North Greenville as a graduate assistant in 2020 before being elevated to the Crusader’s outside linebacker coach in 2021. During this time, he coached two All-Gulf South Conference selections in Myles Prosser and Nick Jones.
In 2021 as NGU’s special teams liaison, the punt unit finished second in the country in net punting with 39.12 average yards per punt. The return unit tied for 14th in the nation with three blocked kicks with one resulting in a safety.
The Calhoun, Ga. native had an excellent playing career at Wofford College. Wilson won three Southern Conference Championships and was a 2019 First-Team All-SoCon selection at linebacker. He was also a two-time Southern Conference Honor Roll member and was named a team captain as a junior and a senior.
Wilson graduated with a bachelor's of science in biology. He played varsity football at Calhoun High School in north Georgia and led the team to a 15-0 record and state championship as a junior.
Wilson and his wife, Alie, were married on March 8, 2024. They reside in Smyrna, Ga.
