Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Football
Luke Paschall
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Email:
- Luke.Paschall@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 615-898-2926
Updated January 2025
Luke Paschall is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff as the special teams coordinator.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, special teams coordinator, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 19, 2024
• In 2024, Paschall led a unit that produced a first team all-conference long snapper, a second team all-conference punt returner and an honorable mention true freshman punter
At Louisiana, special teams coordinator, 2022-23
• In 2022, UL special teams led the nation in punt returns for touchdowns (2) and punt return yards (442) and ranked first in the Sun Belt in punt return average (16.37), blocked kicks (5), yards per kick return allowed (15.82) and blocked punts (2)
• The 2022 unit ranked ninth in overall special teams FEI ranking which was the highest in program history
• Zylan Perry led the nation in kickoff return yards in 2023 while the team came up with two blocked kicks
• In his two years at UL, the Ragin’ Cajuns had seven blocked kicks
At UMass, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2019-21
• UMass punter George Geogopoulos averaged 44.75 yards per boot, sending 19 balls over 50 yards and pinning 21 of his 64 punts inside the 20 in 2021
• Long snapper Evan Deckers earned Second Team All-Independent honors from Phil Steele in 2021
• In 2019, he coached Isaiah Rodgers who earned First Team All-American honors as the top kick return specialist in the nation after leading the country in kickoff return yardage (1,295). Rodgers went on to be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
At North Carolina, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2018
• During the 2018 season, the UNC special teams group posted quality numbers among the nation’s leaders in kickoff return defense (19.35; 35th), punt return defense (3.5; 10th) and punt return average (14.3; 16th)
• Dazz Newsome ranked No. 4 in FBS for punt return average (15.1) and sixth with three punt return touchdowns, while kicker Freeman Jones ranked 11th in the country for field goals per game (1.64)
At Arkansas State, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2014-17
• Part of an offense that set conference records in both total offense and points in 2014, 2015 and 2017
• Coached numerous All-Sun Belt performers, including Omar Bayless, Justin McInnis, and J.D. McKissic
• Coordinated a special teams unit that led the league in overall special teams all four years
At North Carolina, offensive quality control/special teams GA, 2012-13
• During his two seasons at North Carolina as a graduate assistant, Paschall was part of a coaching staff that led the Tar Heels to 15 victories and a win over Cincinnati in the 2013 Belk Bowl
• Helped coach All-ACC wide receiver Quinshad Davis who ranked 22nd in the nation with 10 touchdown receptions and was 13th in the ACC with 730 receiving yards in 2013. Davis led the team in receiving in 2012 with 61 receptions for 776 yards and five touchdowns to earn freshman all-America honors from College Football News
• Coached FWAA Freshman All-American and CFPA Punt Returner of the Year Ryan Switzer in 2013
At Ole Miss, offensive graduate assistant, 2011
• He worked under Houston Nutt and was primarily responsible for working with the receivers and tight ends, but also assisted with special teams
At Oklahoma State, offensive graduate assistant, 2008-10
• Was primarily responsible for helping coach the wide receivers and quarterback positions as a graduate assistant, working with future NFL quarterback Zac Robinson and NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant
• Oklahoma State's 2008 team ranked sixth in the nation in total offense (487.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring offense (40.7 ppg)
At Mississippi Gulf Coast, wide receivers, 2007
• Responsible for the wide receivers on a team that won the NJCAA National Championship
• Team ranked 20th nationally in total offense
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2007: Mississippi Gulf Coast (wide receivers)
• 2008-10: Oklahoma State (offensive graduate assistant/special teams)
• 2011: Ole Miss (offensive graduate assistant)
• 2012-13: North Carolina (offensive quality control/special teams GA)
• 2014-17: Arkansas State (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2018: North Carolina (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2019-21: UMass (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2022-23: Louisiana (special teams coordinator)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (special teams coordinator)
Personal
• Birthdate: Dec. 9, 1983
• Hometown: Dickson, TN
• Wife: Lauren
• Children: Emma Rose and Myles
Education
• High School: Dickson County High School
• College: Middle Tennessee, B.S. in Psychology, 2006; Master’s in Sports Management, 2007
Playing Experience (WR)
• Middle Tennessee (2002-06)
Bowl Experience
• 2006: Motor City Bowl (player)
• 2008: Holiday Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Alamo Bowl (coach)
• 2014: GoDaddy.com Bowl (coach)
• 2015: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Cure Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 2023: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
Luke Paschall is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff as the special teams coordinator.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, special teams coordinator, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 19, 2024
• In 2024, Paschall led a unit that produced a first team all-conference long snapper, a second team all-conference punt returner and an honorable mention true freshman punter
At Louisiana, special teams coordinator, 2022-23
• In 2022, UL special teams led the nation in punt returns for touchdowns (2) and punt return yards (442) and ranked first in the Sun Belt in punt return average (16.37), blocked kicks (5), yards per kick return allowed (15.82) and blocked punts (2)
• The 2022 unit ranked ninth in overall special teams FEI ranking which was the highest in program history
• Zylan Perry led the nation in kickoff return yards in 2023 while the team came up with two blocked kicks
• In his two years at UL, the Ragin’ Cajuns had seven blocked kicks
At UMass, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2019-21
• UMass punter George Geogopoulos averaged 44.75 yards per boot, sending 19 balls over 50 yards and pinning 21 of his 64 punts inside the 20 in 2021
• Long snapper Evan Deckers earned Second Team All-Independent honors from Phil Steele in 2021
• In 2019, he coached Isaiah Rodgers who earned First Team All-American honors as the top kick return specialist in the nation after leading the country in kickoff return yardage (1,295). Rodgers went on to be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
At North Carolina, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2018
• During the 2018 season, the UNC special teams group posted quality numbers among the nation’s leaders in kickoff return defense (19.35; 35th), punt return defense (3.5; 10th) and punt return average (14.3; 16th)
• Dazz Newsome ranked No. 4 in FBS for punt return average (15.1) and sixth with three punt return touchdowns, while kicker Freeman Jones ranked 11th in the country for field goals per game (1.64)
At Arkansas State, wide receivers/special teams coordinator, 2014-17
• Part of an offense that set conference records in both total offense and points in 2014, 2015 and 2017
• Coached numerous All-Sun Belt performers, including Omar Bayless, Justin McInnis, and J.D. McKissic
• Coordinated a special teams unit that led the league in overall special teams all four years
At North Carolina, offensive quality control/special teams GA, 2012-13
• During his two seasons at North Carolina as a graduate assistant, Paschall was part of a coaching staff that led the Tar Heels to 15 victories and a win over Cincinnati in the 2013 Belk Bowl
• Helped coach All-ACC wide receiver Quinshad Davis who ranked 22nd in the nation with 10 touchdown receptions and was 13th in the ACC with 730 receiving yards in 2013. Davis led the team in receiving in 2012 with 61 receptions for 776 yards and five touchdowns to earn freshman all-America honors from College Football News
• Coached FWAA Freshman All-American and CFPA Punt Returner of the Year Ryan Switzer in 2013
At Ole Miss, offensive graduate assistant, 2011
• He worked under Houston Nutt and was primarily responsible for working with the receivers and tight ends, but also assisted with special teams
At Oklahoma State, offensive graduate assistant, 2008-10
• Was primarily responsible for helping coach the wide receivers and quarterback positions as a graduate assistant, working with future NFL quarterback Zac Robinson and NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant
• Oklahoma State's 2008 team ranked sixth in the nation in total offense (487.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring offense (40.7 ppg)
At Mississippi Gulf Coast, wide receivers, 2007
• Responsible for the wide receivers on a team that won the NJCAA National Championship
• Team ranked 20th nationally in total offense
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2007: Mississippi Gulf Coast (wide receivers)
• 2008-10: Oklahoma State (offensive graduate assistant/special teams)
• 2011: Ole Miss (offensive graduate assistant)
• 2012-13: North Carolina (offensive quality control/special teams GA)
• 2014-17: Arkansas State (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2018: North Carolina (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2019-21: UMass (wide receivers/special teams coordinator)
• 2022-23: Louisiana (special teams coordinator)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (special teams coordinator)
Personal
• Birthdate: Dec. 9, 1983
• Hometown: Dickson, TN
• Wife: Lauren
• Children: Emma Rose and Myles
Education
• High School: Dickson County High School
• College: Middle Tennessee, B.S. in Psychology, 2006; Master’s in Sports Management, 2007
Playing Experience (WR)
• Middle Tennessee (2002-06)
Bowl Experience
• 2006: Motor City Bowl (player)
• 2008: Holiday Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Alamo Bowl (coach)
• 2014: GoDaddy.com Bowl (coach)
• 2015: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Cure Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 2023: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
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