Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Football
Tyrone Nix
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- tyrone.nix@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 898-2926
Personal
• Birthdate: Sept. 30, 1972
• Hometown: Attalla, Al.
• Wife: Toya
• Children: Tyvari and Tiah
Education
• High School: Etowah HS, 1990
• College: Southern Miss, B.S. in Management, 1995
Playing Experience (LB)
• Southern Miss, 1990-93
Bowl Experience
• 1990: All-American Bowl (player)
• 1997: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 1998: Humanitarian Bowl (coach)
• 1999: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2000: GMAC Bowl (coach)
• 2002: Houston Bowl (coach)
• 2003: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2004: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2005: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 2006: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, (co)defensive coordinator/linebackers, 2012-present
• Date Hired: Sept. 30, 1972
• 2015 defense ranked fourth nationally in red zone defense (.694), eighth in defensive touchdowns (4) and 14th in interceptions (17), while forcing 25 turnovers
• Coached 13 all-conference selections and two NFL talents in Kevin Byard and Jimmy Staten
• Recruiting Area: National
At Ole Miss, defensive line, 2008-11
• Among the nation’s best in tackles for loss and sacks, tying for the nation’s lead in TFLs in 2008 and topping the SEC in 2009 in TFLs
• Coached a No. 11 ranked defense nationally in pass efficiency and No. 15 in both scoring defense and pass defense in 2009
At South Carolina, co-defensive coordinator, 2005-07
• Managed a defensive unit that topped the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense
• Mentored a defense that surrendered just 18.7 points per game, good for No. 29 in the country
At Southern Miss, DTs (1995) OLB (1996-99) DBs (2000) defensive coordinator (2001-2004), 1995-2004
• Coached 12 all-conference selections, four C-USA Defensive Players of the Year and six All-America picks
• USM claimed four conference titles and seven bowl berths during his tenure
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1995: Southern Miss (defensive tackles)
• 1996-99: Southern Miss (outside linebackers)
• 2000: Southern Miss (defensive backs)
• 2001-04: Southern Miss (defensive coordinator/inside linebackers)
• 2005: South Carolina (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line)
• 2006-07: South Carolina (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2008-11: Ole Miss (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2012-14: Middle Tennessee (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2015-present: Middle Tennessee (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• Birthdate: Sept. 30, 1972
• Hometown: Attalla, Al.
• Wife: Toya
• Children: Tyvari and Tiah
Education
• High School: Etowah HS, 1990
• College: Southern Miss, B.S. in Management, 1995
Playing Experience (LB)
• Southern Miss, 1990-93
Bowl Experience
• 1990: All-American Bowl (player)
• 1997: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 1998: Humanitarian Bowl (coach)
• 1999: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2000: GMAC Bowl (coach)
• 2002: Houston Bowl (coach)
• 2003: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2004: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2005: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 2006: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, (co)defensive coordinator/linebackers, 2012-present
• Date Hired: Sept. 30, 1972
• 2015 defense ranked fourth nationally in red zone defense (.694), eighth in defensive touchdowns (4) and 14th in interceptions (17), while forcing 25 turnovers
• Coached 13 all-conference selections and two NFL talents in Kevin Byard and Jimmy Staten
• Recruiting Area: National
At Ole Miss, defensive line, 2008-11
• Among the nation’s best in tackles for loss and sacks, tying for the nation’s lead in TFLs in 2008 and topping the SEC in 2009 in TFLs
• Coached a No. 11 ranked defense nationally in pass efficiency and No. 15 in both scoring defense and pass defense in 2009
At South Carolina, co-defensive coordinator, 2005-07
• Managed a defensive unit that topped the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense
• Mentored a defense that surrendered just 18.7 points per game, good for No. 29 in the country
At Southern Miss, DTs (1995) OLB (1996-99) DBs (2000) defensive coordinator (2001-2004), 1995-2004
• Coached 12 all-conference selections, four C-USA Defensive Players of the Year and six All-America picks
• USM claimed four conference titles and seven bowl berths during his tenure
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1995: Southern Miss (defensive tackles)
• 1996-99: Southern Miss (outside linebackers)
• 2000: Southern Miss (defensive backs)
• 2001-04: Southern Miss (defensive coordinator/inside linebackers)
• 2005: South Carolina (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line)
• 2006-07: South Carolina (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2008-11: Ole Miss (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2012-14: Middle Tennessee (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2015-present: Middle Tennessee (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
Blue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - October 29th
Thursday, October 30
MTSU Football vs. Jacksonville State post-game press conference – 10/29/25
Thursday, October 30
MTSU Football vs. Jacksonville State post-game press conference – 10/29/25
Wednesday, October 29
Raider Report Game 8 - MTSU vs. Jacksonville State University
Tuesday, October 28
