Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- abraithw@richmond.edu
- Phone:
- 289-6848
Adam Braithwaite is in his third season as Richmond’s defensive coordinator under head coach Russ Huesman. Braithwaite has spent the past six years as defensive coordinator at the FCS level, ranking in the top-20 nationally four times.
Last year, the Spiders' defensive line was the top unit in all of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Spiders' four down linemen accounted for 23.5 sacks, five more than any other team in the conference. Defensive end Maurice Jackson and defensive tackle Andrew Clyde led the way with All-CAA honors in 2018. Jackson led the CAA in sacks and forced fumbles while earning All-America accolades.
In Braithwaite’s first season at Richmond, the Spiders ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association with 35 total sacks and ranked fifth in passing defense at 197.7 yards per game. Under his guidance, Andrew Clyde was named Third Team All-America after leading the CAA in sacks while Colby Ritten earned Freshman All-America accolades.
Prior to Richmond, Braithwaite spent five years on Huesman’s staff at Chattanooga including the last four as defensive coordinator from 2013-16. He led the Southern Conference’s top-rated defense in three out of his four seasons as coordinator.
UTC was ranked No. 4 in the FCS in total defense in 2014, allowing just 277.6 yards per game. That’s the fewest yards allowed by a Chattanooga defense since 1983. Chattanooga also led the SoCon and was No. 11 in the nation, allowing just 19.4 ppg.
In 2016, Chattanooga was No. 6 in total defense (294.0) and passing yards allowed (164.4) while ranking ninth in scoring defense (19.6). The 2015 squad led the SoCon allowing just 351.9 yards per game. UTC also led the league in passing defense (177.8 ypg) and was third in the league in scoring defense (22.4 ppg).
In 2013, Chattanooga led the SoCon and was No. 17 in the nation in total defense (328.9 ypg). UTC led the SoCon in passing defense (151.6 ypg), pass efficiency defense (120.60) and scoring defense (20.4 ppg).
Braithwaite spent 2011 as the defensive coordinator for NCAA Division III Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. The Captains won the USA Southern Athletic Conference title with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-0 mark in league play.
Prior to coaching at CNU, Braithwaite worked on the staff at the University of Michigan for three years. He coached the Wolverines’ safeties in 2010, following two seasons as a graduate assistant.
In 2007, he took over as defensive coordinator at Hampden-Sydney College, also coaching linebackers and special teams. He helped lead Hampden-Sydney to an Old Dominion Athletic Conference title before heading to Michigan.
Braithwaite served as a graduate assistant working with defensive backs and linebackers at West Virginia for two seasons from 2005-06. He returned to the alma mater in William & Mary as an assistant on the Tribe’s 2004 FCS national semifinalist team while beginning his coaching career at West Liberty State in 2003.
A 2002 graduate of William and Mary, Braithwaite played defensive back for the Tribe from 1997-2001.
