March 26, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion head football coach Bobby Wilder has announced the addition to Jarod Dodson to the Monarchs' coaching staff. Dodson will coach the defensive backs replacing former assistant Chip West who departed for the University of Virginia earlier this year.
"We are excited to welcome Jarod and his family to our Monarch family," said Wilder. "Jarod will be a good fit with our coaching staff and student-athletes based on his personality, commitment to the academic standards we set for our Monarch football players, and overall knowledge of the great game of football."
Dodson comes to the Monarchs after serving as the Special Teams Co-Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach at the University of Buffalo.
Prior to joining the Bulls staff, Dodson served as defensive coordinator at South Dakota for five seasons.
In his first year as USD's defensive coordinator in 2008, Dodson helped form one of the top units in NCAA Division I FCS and the Great West Conference.
The Coyotes allowed 18.6 points per game, which ranked 14th nationally and best in the Great West Conference. The Coyotes were also ranked 24th nationally in total defense (313.6 yards per game), which was also best in the GWC. The Coyotes also had the top-ranked pass defense in the GWC (191.7 yards per game), and led the league in turnovers forced (24). USD also had seven players earn postseason honors from the GWC. The Coyotes also surrendered the fewest passing touchdowns of any team in the league and led the league in interceptions under Dodson's guidance. The Coyotes also boasted the top red-zone defense in the GWC.
Following the 2007 season, Dodson was a finalist for the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award. The award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.Dodson pulled double duties in 2007, working with the wide receivers and defensive backs. The production from the Coyote receivers helped the offense rank 6th in the nation in total offense (496.2 ypg) and 49th in passing offense (232.6 ypg).
In 2006, Dodson served as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. He helped coach a Coyote defense that ranked second in the NCC in scoring defense (19.5 points per game) and ranked first in the NCC and fourth nationally in rushing defense at 73.8 yards per game.
In 2005, Dodson was the wide receivers coach and helped coach the best offense in the nation as USD advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII playoffs, finishing 9-4 and was ranked 13th in the final AFCA poll.
Before joining the USD coaching staff, he served as the special teams coordinator at Michigan Tech. Dodson, had worked special teams and defense (linebackers, defensive backs) at Michigan Tech since the 2000-01 season.
A native of Palmdale, Calif., he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in recreation in 1999 and received a Master of Arts degree in health, physical education and recreation in 2000 from USD. Jarod and his wife, Shannon, have four daughters, Mariah, LaRae, JaeLynn and Kendyl.