SPRINGFIELD -- Jack Curtis will join the Missouri State staff as defensive coordinator, Bears new head football coach Casey Woods announced today.
 
Curtis, a former student-athlete at Springfield's Evangel University, has served the past three seasons (2023-25) as the defensive analyst at Auburn University. His three-and-a-half decades in college football coaching have yielded 13 postseason appearances.
 
"We are so fired up to introduce coach Jack Curtis as defensive coordinator of the Bears after spending two years on staff at Auburn," said Woods. "After graduating from Evangel University in town, his extensive career has included 22 years coordinating some of the nation's top defenses.  One of the finest teachers in college football, coach Curtis will bring an energetic and aggressive defense to Springfield. We welcome him and his wife Michelle, as well as their daughters, Carolina and Georganna, to the Bears Family! It takes Us ALL!  Join the Climb.  Go Bears!"
 
Curtis' defensive schemes helped his teams make excel at all levels of college football, including five FBS bowl games -- 1991 Liberty Bowl, 2005 New Orleans Bowl, 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl, 2018 AutoNation Cure Bowl, and 2020 Armed Forces Bowl).
 
The 2025 Auburn squad finished No. 4 in the SEC in rushing defense and No. 6 in total defense. Overall, Auburn's defense allowed its lowest yards per carry (2.86) and rushing yards per game (99.3) since 2003, and the fewest yards overall allowed (329.2) since 2017. In 2024, Auburn ranked 6th in the SEC in rushing defense, recording 28 sacks and 68 tackles for loss.
  
During his time at Tulane (2016-20), Curtis coached 12 players who were named to The American Athletic Conference all-conference team, four of which were selected in the NFL Draft with one All-American in cornerback Parry Nickerson (2017). Tulane racked up 41 sacks in 2018, which led The American and ranked 8th nationally. The Green Wave ranked 15th in the country in red zone defense in 2017 with 13 interceptions, while the 2016 Tulane defense logged 15 fumble recoveries.
 
He spent 2011-15 at Georgia Southern where he coached five All-Americans and five NFL players while helping the Eagles win Southern Conference championships in 2011 and 2012, as well as a Sun Belt crown in 2014. In his last season in Statesboro, the Eagles led the Sun Belt in rushing defense (130.9), and ranked 24th nationally in total defense (338.1) with 27 takeaways and 17 interceptions.
 
Also noteworthy was a season as defensive coordinator at Central Missouri in 2010. The Mules posted a program-best 11 wins and finished the season with a No. 5 poll ranking, the best in school history.
 
He also has coaching tenures at Evangel (1987), Henderson State (1988), Mississippi State (1989-92), Western New Mexico (1993). Northwestern State (1994-2001), Arkansas State (2002-08) and Memphis (2009).
 
His Arkansas State tenure included the 2005 Sun Belt championship while making the Red Wolves' first-ever appearance in a bowl game. He coached six first-team All-Americans and nine NFL Draftees in eight seasons at Northwestern State with more than a dozen pro players. Likewise, his 1993 Western New Mexico secondary led the nation (NAIA) with 29 interceptions to go with an NAIA playoff appearance and No. 3 national ranking.
 
Originally from Birmingham, Ala., his family moved to Silver City, N.M. just before he began his high school playing career. He was a first-team all-state defensive back at Silver City High School before playing three years at Evangel University (1984-86) before injuries cut his collegiate football career short, forcing him into a student-coaching role for the Crusaders.
 
He earned his undergraduate degree at Evangel in 1987 and master's degree in physical education at Henderson State in 1990. He also began his specialist's degree in educational leadership at Mississippi State.
 
He is married to the former Michelle Weser of Dumas, Ark., and they have two daughters, Carolina and Georganna.
 
Curtis' hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.