Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Football
Hargreaves, Vernon
Vernon Hargreaves
- Title:
- Defensive Line
- Email:
- VHargreaves@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 615-898-2926
Updated January 2025
A veteran with more than 35 years of coaching experience, Vernon Hargreaves is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff. Hargreaves coaches the defensive line.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, defensive line, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 24, 2024
• Led a defensive line in 2024 that produced two CUSA All-Freshman honorees in Anthony Bynum and Shakai Woods (Bynum’s 60 tackles went down as the second most in CUSA among linemen)
At Howard, defensive line/special teams, 2020-23
• In 2023, Hargreaves coached Darrian Brokenburr to first team All-MEAC honors and Jamel Stewart to second team recognition on a defense that ranked 22nd nationally in total defense
• In 2022, he tutored defensive lineman Jevin Jackson to first team honors while Brokenburr was a second team selection
• Kicker Faraji Woodson earned All-MEAC recognition in 2021
At Missouri, inside linebackers, 2018-19
• In 2018, junior LB Cale Garrett blossomed into the undisputed glue of a Tiger defense that improved significantly during the course of the year, one that played a big role in MU's eight-win season and berth in the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
• Garrett led Mizzou and ranked seventh in the Southeastern Conference with 112 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback pressures. Garrett was named second-team All-SEC by league
coaches, and also earned first-team All-SEC acclaim from Pro Football Focus
• Coached Nick Bolton who earned All-America honors and first team All-SEC recognition in 2019. He was a second round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs
• With his help, the Mizzou defense improved drastically from 2017 to 2018. The Tigers ranked 22nd nationally in rushing defense (126.5 avg.), up from 58th in 2017 (159.6), and also improved to 50th in scoring defense in 2018 (25.5 avg.), up from 97th in 2017 (31.8 avg.), while also making a big jump in total defense, ranking 62nd nationally in 2018 (388.5 avg.), up from 82nd in 2017 (414.1 avg.)
At Arkansas, linebackers, 2015-17
• Coached several award winners, including sophomore MLB De’Jon Harris, who was named second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press in 2017 after he finished second in the league with 115 tackles, a year after he earned SEC All-Freshman team honors
• In his first two years at Arkansas, Hargreaves mentored Brooks Ellis into one of Arkansas’ top producers on and off the field. Ellis, the team leader in tackles in 2015 and 2016, closed out his career with 290 tackles, was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and became the first Arkansas football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors twice. Ellis was also named the 2016 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and was honored as one of 12 finalists for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy
• Helped mold Dre Greenlaw into the 2015 SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year after putting up 95 tackles to lead all SEC rookies. He was drafted in the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers.
At Houston, linebackers, 2013-14
• In 2013, Hargreaves helped Houston rank as the third-most improved defense nationally after allowing just 21.8 points per game, 14.2 points per game lower than the previous season. Houston led the nation with 43 turnovers created and also led the country in turnover margin
• In 2014, the Cougars ranked second in the American Conference and 11th nationally with 30 forced turnovers and were 15th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 20.6 points per game
At South Florida, defensive ends/special teams, 2010-12
• The Bulls finished second nationally in tackles for loss and fourth nationally in sacks during the 2011 season, in large part due to the outstanding play of Hargreaves’ defensive ends
At East Carolina, defensive ends/special teams, 2007-09
• Helped defensive end C.J. Wilson earn back-to-back Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009
• Wilson was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL Draft and started at defensive end for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV
At FIU, linebackers, 2006
• Coached Lombardi Award nominee Keyonvis Bouie
At Miami, linebackers, 1998-2005
• Coached future NFL stars Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, D.J. Williams, Rocky McIntosh and Nate Webster
• Helped lead the Hurricanes to a BCS National Championship title in 2001 and another BCS title game appearance in 2002
• Seven of his linebackers at Miami were selected in the NFL Draft, including Morgan who won the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award in 2000
• The 2001 Hurricanes were one of the best defensive units in college football history, allowing just 9.4 points per game and only 138.2 passing yards per contest. Hargreaves helped Miami to a perfect 12-0 season, culminating in the 2002 BCS title game win over Nebraska
At UConn, linebackers, 1990-97
• Played a pivotal role in the development of Paul Duckworth, who was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1994
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 1990-97: UConn (linebackers)
• 1998-2005: Miami (linebackers)
• 2006: FIU (linebackers
• 2007-09: East Carolina (defensive ends/special teams)
• 2010-12: South Florida (defensive ends/special teams)
• 2013-14: Houston (linebackers)
• 2015-17: Arkansas (linebackers)
• 2018-19: Missouri (inside linebackers)
• 2020-23: Howard (defensive line/special teams)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (defensive line)
Personal
• Birthdate: April 8, 1962
• Hometown: New Haven, CT
• Wife: Jackie
• Children: Carina, Vernon III and Chanelle
Education
• High School: James Hillhouse High School
• College: Connecticut, B.S. in Sociology, 1986
Playing Experience (Linebacker)
• UConn (1980-83)
Bowl Experience
• 1998: Micron PC Bowl (coach)
• 2000: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 2001: Sugar Bowl (coach)
• 2002: Rose Bowl (coach)
• 2003: Fiesta Bowl (coach)
• 2004: Orange Bowl (coach)
• 2004: Peach Bowl (coach)
• 2005: Peach Bowl (coach)
• 2007: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Meineke Bowl (coach)
• 2014: BBVA Compass Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Belk Bowl (coach)
• 2018: Liberty Bowl (coach)
A veteran with more than 35 years of coaching experience, Vernon Hargreaves is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff. Hargreaves coaches the defensive line.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, defensive line, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 24, 2024
• Led a defensive line in 2024 that produced two CUSA All-Freshman honorees in Anthony Bynum and Shakai Woods (Bynum’s 60 tackles went down as the second most in CUSA among linemen)
At Howard, defensive line/special teams, 2020-23
• In 2023, Hargreaves coached Darrian Brokenburr to first team All-MEAC honors and Jamel Stewart to second team recognition on a defense that ranked 22nd nationally in total defense
• In 2022, he tutored defensive lineman Jevin Jackson to first team honors while Brokenburr was a second team selection
• Kicker Faraji Woodson earned All-MEAC recognition in 2021
At Missouri, inside linebackers, 2018-19
• In 2018, junior LB Cale Garrett blossomed into the undisputed glue of a Tiger defense that improved significantly during the course of the year, one that played a big role in MU's eight-win season and berth in the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
• Garrett led Mizzou and ranked seventh in the Southeastern Conference with 112 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback pressures. Garrett was named second-team All-SEC by league
coaches, and also earned first-team All-SEC acclaim from Pro Football Focus
• Coached Nick Bolton who earned All-America honors and first team All-SEC recognition in 2019. He was a second round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs
• With his help, the Mizzou defense improved drastically from 2017 to 2018. The Tigers ranked 22nd nationally in rushing defense (126.5 avg.), up from 58th in 2017 (159.6), and also improved to 50th in scoring defense in 2018 (25.5 avg.), up from 97th in 2017 (31.8 avg.), while also making a big jump in total defense, ranking 62nd nationally in 2018 (388.5 avg.), up from 82nd in 2017 (414.1 avg.)
At Arkansas, linebackers, 2015-17
• Coached several award winners, including sophomore MLB De’Jon Harris, who was named second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press in 2017 after he finished second in the league with 115 tackles, a year after he earned SEC All-Freshman team honors
• In his first two years at Arkansas, Hargreaves mentored Brooks Ellis into one of Arkansas’ top producers on and off the field. Ellis, the team leader in tackles in 2015 and 2016, closed out his career with 290 tackles, was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and became the first Arkansas football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors twice. Ellis was also named the 2016 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and was honored as one of 12 finalists for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy
• Helped mold Dre Greenlaw into the 2015 SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year after putting up 95 tackles to lead all SEC rookies. He was drafted in the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers.
At Houston, linebackers, 2013-14
• In 2013, Hargreaves helped Houston rank as the third-most improved defense nationally after allowing just 21.8 points per game, 14.2 points per game lower than the previous season. Houston led the nation with 43 turnovers created and also led the country in turnover margin
• In 2014, the Cougars ranked second in the American Conference and 11th nationally with 30 forced turnovers and were 15th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 20.6 points per game
At South Florida, defensive ends/special teams, 2010-12
• The Bulls finished second nationally in tackles for loss and fourth nationally in sacks during the 2011 season, in large part due to the outstanding play of Hargreaves’ defensive ends
At East Carolina, defensive ends/special teams, 2007-09
• Helped defensive end C.J. Wilson earn back-to-back Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009
• Wilson was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL Draft and started at defensive end for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV
At FIU, linebackers, 2006
• Coached Lombardi Award nominee Keyonvis Bouie
At Miami, linebackers, 1998-2005
• Coached future NFL stars Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, D.J. Williams, Rocky McIntosh and Nate Webster
• Helped lead the Hurricanes to a BCS National Championship title in 2001 and another BCS title game appearance in 2002
• Seven of his linebackers at Miami were selected in the NFL Draft, including Morgan who won the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award in 2000
• The 2001 Hurricanes were one of the best defensive units in college football history, allowing just 9.4 points per game and only 138.2 passing yards per contest. Hargreaves helped Miami to a perfect 12-0 season, culminating in the 2002 BCS title game win over Nebraska
At UConn, linebackers, 1990-97
• Played a pivotal role in the development of Paul Duckworth, who was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1994
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 1990-97: UConn (linebackers)
• 1998-2005: Miami (linebackers)
• 2006: FIU (linebackers
• 2007-09: East Carolina (defensive ends/special teams)
• 2010-12: South Florida (defensive ends/special teams)
• 2013-14: Houston (linebackers)
• 2015-17: Arkansas (linebackers)
• 2018-19: Missouri (inside linebackers)
• 2020-23: Howard (defensive line/special teams)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (defensive line)
Personal
• Birthdate: April 8, 1962
• Hometown: New Haven, CT
• Wife: Jackie
• Children: Carina, Vernon III and Chanelle
Education
• High School: James Hillhouse High School
• College: Connecticut, B.S. in Sociology, 1986
Playing Experience (Linebacker)
• UConn (1980-83)
Bowl Experience
• 1998: Micron PC Bowl (coach)
• 2000: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 2001: Sugar Bowl (coach)
• 2002: Rose Bowl (coach)
• 2003: Fiesta Bowl (coach)
• 2004: Orange Bowl (coach)
• 2004: Peach Bowl (coach)
• 2005: Peach Bowl (coach)
• 2007: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2009: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2010: Meineke Bowl (coach)
• 2014: BBVA Compass Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Liberty Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Belk Bowl (coach)
• 2018: Liberty Bowl (coach)
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