Since the news of the APSU coaching football staff has been released, there have been two new additions to the staff. Coach Will Healy has introduced Max Thurmond and Eddie Hicks to the APSU family.

Thurmond will be the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach while Hicks will be coaching the nickel package and cornerbacks.

Thurmond joins APSU from West Alabama, where he held the same positions. Thurmond is not new to the Ohio Valley Conference as he was once a coach and player for Jacksonville State Gamecocks.

Thurmond has experience leading a group of young men to the OVC championship, having done so in 2003, 2004 and 2011.

“I was looking for somebody who had a passion for special teams,” Healy said about Thurmond to letsgopeay.com “When you get the chance to be around Max, you see his energy and enthusiasm.”

After spending a season working with OVC rival Murray State, Hicks will be joining the APSU staff.

Hicks was the defensive backs coach at Murray State for the 2015 season.

DeQuinten Spraggins, whom Hicks coached, had a impressive 90 tackles last season, the most by an OVC defensive back. Spraggins also received All-OVC honors last season.

Hicks previously worked for the University of California as the defensive quality control coach.

As a graduate assistant, he coached at the University of Cincinnati and Alcorn State.

“I think Eddie is the real steal of this coaching group,” said Healy. “He’s an unbelievable young coaching mind who we’re going to rely on as more than just our corners coach. He’s coached in our league and I think he’ll do a great job with our players, but he’s going to have as much say in our defense as anybody.”