Veteran defensive coach and 2018 Broyles Award finalist Jay Bateman has joined the North Carolina football staff, head coach Mack Brown announced. Bateman, who comes to Chapel Hill after five successful seasons at Army West Point, will serve as co-defensive coordinator as well as coach the Tar Heel safeties.
“Jay Bateman is an outstanding football coach and I’m thrilled he is joining our staff,” Brown said. “He is a great teacher of the game, a brilliant defensive play caller, and an excellent recruiter with many ties to North Carolina and this region, including strong relationships with North Carolina high school coaches. Sally and I are excited to welcome Jay, Heather and their two children to the Carolina football family.”
Bateman’s five seasons as Army’s defensive coordinator coincided with a resurgence for the Black Knights. Army finished fourth nationally in total defense in 2016 and currently ranks ninth in the category, allowing just 293.5 yards per game. The Black Knights have won 28 games over the last three seasons, including a recent 17-10 win over Navy that was Army’s third straight in the series. After being a semifinalist in 2016, Bateman was named one of five finalists for the 2018 Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Bateman arrived at West Point after three seasons at Ball State. Prior to his time at BSU, Bateman spent five years in the state of North Carolina as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Elon (2006-10). A 1995 graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, Bateman also had coaching stops at Lehigh, Richmond and Siena after three seasons as an assistant at his alma mater. He was the head coach at Siena from 2000-03.
