2010-11: Jamie Bryant enters his second year as defensive coordinator. He also handles coaching duties for the Commodore defensive backs.
In his first year as coordinator, the Commodores continued their solid defensive play. Despite several key injuries, including the loss of three-year starting safety Ryan Hamilton for 10 games, the unit ranked ninth nationally in pass defense and 46th nationally in scoring defense.
Bryant, 40, was promoted to defensive coordinator after the Commodores[apos] 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl victory. Now in his ninth year on the Vanderbilt staff, Bryant has also served the role of special teams coordinator.
Two of Bryant[apos]s starters this season, safety Sean Richardson and cornerback Casey Hayward are ranked among the SEC[apos]s elite at their positions.
Bryant has a number of former pupils currently on National Football League rosters. Two standouts from the 2009 squad, Hamilton and cornerback Myron Lewis, are with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, respectively. Lewis, the third All-SEC selection mentored by Bryant, was a third round draft pick of the Bucs.
Two other recent Commodores, former All-America defensive back D.J. Moore and safety Reshard Langford, are with Chicago and Kansas City, respectively.
Bryant[apos]s 2008 starting corps of Moore, Lewis, Langford and Hamilton also own the distinction of each posting four interceptions or more that season.
Prior to accepting the Commodore post, Bryant assisted at North Carolina in 2001 alongside current Vanderbilt interim head coach Robbie Caldwell. That year, an aggressive defense helped the Tar Heels finish strong, winning seven of their final nine regular season games, including impressive routs of ACC foes Florida State and Clemson, then defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
Prior to the UNC post, Bryant[apos]s efforts as defensive coordinator and secondary coach improved a struggling defense at I-AA St. Francis (Pa.) University in 2000.
Bryant entered the collegiate coaching ranks in 1997 as outside linebackers coach at Clarion. His duties at Clarion evolved to secondary coach and special teams coordinator for his final two seasons.
A native of Fredericktown, Ohio, Bryant was a three-year letterwinner at Ohio Wesleyan. He earned a B.S. in Economics Management.
Bryant and his wife, Elisa, are the parents of two sons, Luke and Jake.