On Wednesday, Dec. 23, Athletic Director Ryan Ivey introduced Will Healy as the 19th football coach in Governors history.
Ivey based his applicants on three R’s: Resources, References and Rest.
Healy is previously from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga where he was the receivers coach, passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Healy served under UTC Head Coach Russ Huesman for seven years and Healy wanted to thank Huesman in his press conference held at Governors Stadium.
“[Huesman] gave me the opportunity at 24 years old to coach quarterbacks,” Healy said. “And without that chance, I would not be standing here today.”
According to Healy, the UTC Mocs have won or shared the Southern Conference Championship in each of the last three seasons, making the Football Championship Subdivions play-offs in 2014 and 2015.
Healy has helped lead UTC’s quarterback Jacob Huesman into a three time Southern Conference Player of the year. In his previous season alone, Healy was able to coach Huesman to FCS Second Team All America status amassing over 2,000 yards throwing and 1,000 yards rushing.
Healy also helped mentor future draft pick BJ Coleman, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
As a former quarterback, Healy led his Richmond Spider team to a 2008 FCS National Championship.
One thing Healy said he wants to focus on is the quarterback position for the Govs.
“We have to have a trigger man to lead this offense,” Healy said.
Healy will be looking for a new face for quarterback since last year’s quarterback Trey Taylor was a senior.
With Healy as the recruiting coordinator at UTC, the Mocs had the top-ranked recruiting classes between 2012 to 2014, with the top recruiting classes in FCS in 2013 and 2014.
“We’re gonna get it done,” Healy said. “We’ve got a month left in recruiting. Plenty of time.”
Healy said his focus isn’t necessarily on recruiting because he sees the talent that this APSU roster does have. Healy’s major focus is on filling the big gaps that were left open in this past season.
Healy will be taking over for Kirby Cannon who accumulated a 1-34 record in three years with APSU.
Kendall Morris, Jared Beard and others will be returning to help Healy restore the APSU football program.
