Jonathan Saxon

Jonathan Saxon joined the SC State football staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2014. His primary responsibility will be working with the outside linebackers. Prior to SC State, Saxon spent two years as a graduate assistant, coaching the defensive line at the University of Louisville. In 2013, he helped coach AAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smith, who was a 2014 first-round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Second-Team All-AAC honoree Lorenzo Mauldin. That same year, Saxon helped with the Cardinals defense that led the nation in in sacks (3.31 per game; 43 sacks in 13 games), total defense (251.5 yards per game) and rushing defense (80.7 ypg.). The defense also ranked second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), fifth in passing defense (170.8 yards per game) and ninth in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game (102 TFLs). Louisville finished the season with a 12-1 overall record, which included a 36-9 win over No. 25 Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl. During the 2012 season, Saxon helped guide the Cardinals to a top-25 finish defensively and an 11-2 overall record, which included a BIG EAST title and a Sugar Bowl win over third-ranked Florida. A native of Orangeburg, S.C., Saxon was an outstanding offensive lineman at SC State, guiding the Bulldogs to three consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and playoff appearances in 2008-2010. A physical education major, Saxon earned his degree from SC State in 2011 and remained at his alma mater to work in the strength and conditioning office during the 2011-12 season. Scholastically, Saxon was a three-year football letterwinner and a two-time letterman in basketball and track and field at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.