University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Spiders Athletics
Football Announces Coaching Staff Additions
02/16/2021 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – University of Richmond head coach Russ Huesman announced the additions of Jeff Hanson, Jason Nichols and Sam Daniels to the coaching staff Tuesday. Hanson will coach the Spider defensive ends, Nichols the running backs and Daniels will coach the defensive tackles.
Jeff Hanson returns for his fourth stint coaching at his alma mater with the Spiders. Hanson's coaching career spans over five different decades, starting in 1971 upon his graduation from Richmond and encompassing two NCAA FCS National Championships (2008, Richmond, 2016 James Madison.) This season will mark his 30th year on the sidelines of the Spiders after his stints in 1971-79, 1986-06 and 2008-09.
Hanson most recently spent two seasons (2018-19) as the defensive line coach at East Carolina. Prior to ECU, he coached at James Madison (2016-17) where he led a group that included seven All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and National Defensive Player of the Year award winner Andre Ankrah (2017).
Hanson's defensive line was part of the Dukes' No. 1 national ranked defense in four defensive categories in 2017 – scoring (11.1 ppg), interceptions (31), pass efficiency defense (83.12) and turnovers gained (44). His defensive line accounted for 33.5 sacks that season. Hanson helped the 2016 defense rank eighth nationally in turnover margin and 16th in scoring defense (21.2 ppg) while helping James Madison win the 2016 National Championship.
Hanson spent three seasons as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia (2010-12). In his final year with the Cavaliers, he was elevated to assistant head coach and head of recruiting. His 2011 and 2012 recruiting classes ranked in the top-30 nationally in FBS.
Hanson's most recent stint at Richmond came in 2008-09, where was part of the Spiders' 2008 national championship team and 2009 CAA co-championship squad. During the national title season, Hanson guided Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan to All-CAA honors as the tandem combined for 17.5 of the program's 36 sacks.
Hanson had two other stints with the Spiders, coaching from 1989-2006 and 1971-79. Aside from Richmond, Hanson also had coaching stops at VMI (2007), West Texas State (1987-88), Southwest Texas State (1983-86), Lamar (1982-83) and Marshall (1980-81).
A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, Hanson graduated from Richmond with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in education. As a player, he was a linebacker for the Spiders and part of the 1968 Tangerine Bowl championship team. He earned All-Big Eight Conference honors during his career.
Jason Nichols joins the Spiders after a sting at his alma mater East Carolina, working with the running backs in 2017 and 2018. Prior to ECU, he spent one season at Western Carolina where he directed the Catamounts' running backs, including tailback Detrez Newsome who led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with a school-record 2,343 all-purpose yards. Newsome earned multiple All-America honors after rushing for 1,031 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Nichols spent six seasons Louisiana-Monroe as a wide receivers coach and served as passing game coordinator during his final year with the Sun Belt Conference member. His receiving corps flourished as five players garnered All-Sun Belt accolades during his six-year stay. The Warhawks' pass catchers consistently ranked among SBC leaders, and in 2014, ULM was one of just six teams nationally to feature two receivers with 70-plus receptions.
Prior to his move to ULM, Nichols was a part of two Mid-American Conference coaching staffs in Ohio. He was on the Kent State sideline from 2005 to 2008 before joining the Toledo staff in 2009. While with the Golden Flashes, Nichols helped orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in college football in 2006, guiding a one-win 2005 squad to a six-victory season a year later. He also mentored Najah Pruden, who finished as KSU's second-leading receiver in program history after amassing 2,131 yards and 15 touchdowns.
As receivers coach at Appalachian State for three season (2002-2004), Nichols tutored one of the top pass-catching units in Mountaineer history that included Walter Payton Award finalist Davon Fowlkes. In addition to leading FCS, Fowlkes set school and Southern Conference standards for receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yards in 2004. A year earlier, he coached a pair of 1,000-yard receivers, and in 2002, his squad combined for over 190 catches in ASU's spread scheme.
Nichols' first full-time coaching position was at Sacred Heart (Conn.), where he coached Football Gazette's I-AA Mid-Major Receiver-of-the-Year and I-AA Mid-Major All-America honoree Deveron Johnson. During the course of his career, Nichols was selected to participate in two prestigious NFL Summer Internships. He worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive staff in 2004 and the Jacksonville Jaguars' wide receivers and special teams in 2010.
Nichols started 44 of 46 contests at flanker during his four-year playing career at ECU from 1994 to 1997, helping the Pirates to back-to-back St. Jude Liberty Bowl appearances. He was named the Liberty Bowl Most Valuable Player in 1994.
Although he held ECU's career receptions record for 13 years, he currently ranks fourth on the list with 152, while also recording 1,557 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. As a senior in 1997, Nichols made 44 grabs for 346 yards, which followed a personal single-season best 502 yards in 1995. He also served as the program's top punt return specialist as a freshman, sophomore and junior, racking up a combined 270 yards on 43 returns.
Sam Daniels joins the Spiders after spending a year at Bridgewater College. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Sheperd University in West Virginia (2016-18) coaching the defensive line. He mentored Myles Humphrey to All-America honors in 2017 as the school's all-time sack leader earned Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades. He helped Humphrey earn All-America honors in his last two years.
Daniels came to Sheperd after two seasons as the defensive line coach at Frostburg State University (2014-15) and two years at the Apprentice School. He was the defensive coordinator, defensive line and recruiting coordinator at the Apprentice school in 2013 while serving as the defensive line and recruiting coordinator in 2012.
Daniels was a two-time All-American and four-year member of the James Madison University football team. In his final two years, Daniels was a two-time team captain, a two-time All-CAA defensive line honoree and a two-time All-American. Over his final two seasons, he finished with 108 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks. As a senior, he was the Dukes' Defensive MVP and Lineman of the Year.
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Jeff Hanson returns for his fourth stint coaching at his alma mater with the Spiders. Hanson's coaching career spans over five different decades, starting in 1971 upon his graduation from Richmond and encompassing two NCAA FCS National Championships (2008, Richmond, 2016 James Madison.) This season will mark his 30th year on the sidelines of the Spiders after his stints in 1971-79, 1986-06 and 2008-09.
Hanson most recently spent two seasons (2018-19) as the defensive line coach at East Carolina. Prior to ECU, he coached at James Madison (2016-17) where he led a group that included seven All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and National Defensive Player of the Year award winner Andre Ankrah (2017).
Hanson's defensive line was part of the Dukes' No. 1 national ranked defense in four defensive categories in 2017 – scoring (11.1 ppg), interceptions (31), pass efficiency defense (83.12) and turnovers gained (44). His defensive line accounted for 33.5 sacks that season. Hanson helped the 2016 defense rank eighth nationally in turnover margin and 16th in scoring defense (21.2 ppg) while helping James Madison win the 2016 National Championship.
Hanson spent three seasons as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia (2010-12). In his final year with the Cavaliers, he was elevated to assistant head coach and head of recruiting. His 2011 and 2012 recruiting classes ranked in the top-30 nationally in FBS.
Hanson's most recent stint at Richmond came in 2008-09, where was part of the Spiders' 2008 national championship team and 2009 CAA co-championship squad. During the national title season, Hanson guided Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan to All-CAA honors as the tandem combined for 17.5 of the program's 36 sacks.
Hanson had two other stints with the Spiders, coaching from 1989-2006 and 1971-79. Aside from Richmond, Hanson also had coaching stops at VMI (2007), West Texas State (1987-88), Southwest Texas State (1983-86), Lamar (1982-83) and Marshall (1980-81).
A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, Hanson graduated from Richmond with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in education. As a player, he was a linebacker for the Spiders and part of the 1968 Tangerine Bowl championship team. He earned All-Big Eight Conference honors during his career.
Jason Nichols joins the Spiders after a sting at his alma mater East Carolina, working with the running backs in 2017 and 2018. Prior to ECU, he spent one season at Western Carolina where he directed the Catamounts' running backs, including tailback Detrez Newsome who led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with a school-record 2,343 all-purpose yards. Newsome earned multiple All-America honors after rushing for 1,031 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Nichols spent six seasons Louisiana-Monroe as a wide receivers coach and served as passing game coordinator during his final year with the Sun Belt Conference member. His receiving corps flourished as five players garnered All-Sun Belt accolades during his six-year stay. The Warhawks' pass catchers consistently ranked among SBC leaders, and in 2014, ULM was one of just six teams nationally to feature two receivers with 70-plus receptions.
Prior to his move to ULM, Nichols was a part of two Mid-American Conference coaching staffs in Ohio. He was on the Kent State sideline from 2005 to 2008 before joining the Toledo staff in 2009. While with the Golden Flashes, Nichols helped orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in college football in 2006, guiding a one-win 2005 squad to a six-victory season a year later. He also mentored Najah Pruden, who finished as KSU's second-leading receiver in program history after amassing 2,131 yards and 15 touchdowns.
As receivers coach at Appalachian State for three season (2002-2004), Nichols tutored one of the top pass-catching units in Mountaineer history that included Walter Payton Award finalist Davon Fowlkes. In addition to leading FCS, Fowlkes set school and Southern Conference standards for receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yards in 2004. A year earlier, he coached a pair of 1,000-yard receivers, and in 2002, his squad combined for over 190 catches in ASU's spread scheme.
Nichols' first full-time coaching position was at Sacred Heart (Conn.), where he coached Football Gazette's I-AA Mid-Major Receiver-of-the-Year and I-AA Mid-Major All-America honoree Deveron Johnson. During the course of his career, Nichols was selected to participate in two prestigious NFL Summer Internships. He worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive staff in 2004 and the Jacksonville Jaguars' wide receivers and special teams in 2010.
Nichols started 44 of 46 contests at flanker during his four-year playing career at ECU from 1994 to 1997, helping the Pirates to back-to-back St. Jude Liberty Bowl appearances. He was named the Liberty Bowl Most Valuable Player in 1994.
Although he held ECU's career receptions record for 13 years, he currently ranks fourth on the list with 152, while also recording 1,557 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. As a senior in 1997, Nichols made 44 grabs for 346 yards, which followed a personal single-season best 502 yards in 1995. He also served as the program's top punt return specialist as a freshman, sophomore and junior, racking up a combined 270 yards on 43 returns.
Sam Daniels joins the Spiders after spending a year at Bridgewater College. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Sheperd University in West Virginia (2016-18) coaching the defensive line. He mentored Myles Humphrey to All-America honors in 2017 as the school's all-time sack leader earned Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades. He helped Humphrey earn All-America honors in his last two years.
Daniels came to Sheperd after two seasons as the defensive line coach at Frostburg State University (2014-15) and two years at the Apprentice School. He was the defensive coordinator, defensive line and recruiting coordinator at the Apprentice school in 2013 while serving as the defensive line and recruiting coordinator in 2012.
Daniels was a two-time All-American and four-year member of the James Madison University football team. In his final two years, Daniels was a two-time team captain, a two-time All-CAA defensive line honoree and a two-time All-American. Over his final two seasons, he finished with 108 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks. As a senior, he was the Dukes' Defensive MVP and Lineman of the Year.
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