Brandon Lacy - Football Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Brandon Lacy

Title:
Ends/Rush

At Florida Atlantic

Joined the Owls in January of 2025 where he will focus his attention on the defensive ends and the rush

At Western Michigan

Joined the Western Michigan staff in March of 2024 and was part of a staff that guided the team to the Veterans Bowl
Was part of a staff that recorded 54.5 tackles for a loss of 200 yards, which included 20 sacks

Southern Miss

Was a member of the Eagles staff for three seasons, where he worked with the defensive line
During the 2022 season, Lacy's unit terrorized opposing offenses all season, racking up 222 total tackles, 42 tackles for loss, and 25.5 sacks on the year
Four defensive linemen finished with 30 or more total tackles, led by Jalen Williams' 50, fifth-most on the team
Under Lacy's tutelage, Dominic Quewon. 11 of Quewon's 21 tackles were tackles for loss for a total loss of 58 yards. His sack numbers were 13th most in the nation by an individual and second in the Sun Belt Conference
In his first year with the Golden Eagles, he mentored Josh Carr, Jr., who was a Conference USA honorable mention selection
The defensive line helped Southern Miss produce the No. 42 total defense in the country, allowing just 358.5 yards per game, while also ranking No. 2 in Conference USA

At Richmond

Coached one season at Richmond, where he worked with the Spider defensive line, which ranked No. 1 in the CAA in pass defense, No. 2 in the CAA in sacks, and No. 4 in CAA in total defense - along with producing two all-conference players, one preseason CAA defensive player of the year and a sophomore All-American

At Southeast Louisiana

Coached ten seasons as a member of the Southeastern Louisiana football staff as defensive line coach – but also held the duties of defensive line/ run game coordinator during three of his years there, six seasons as the Lions recruiting coordinator, and also his last three as the assistant head coach
Coached an All-American, fourteen All-Southland Conference players, led Southeastern to national rankings in sacks, TFL's, turnovers, total defense, rush defense, scoring defense, and along with setting several first-time achievements in SLU's school history
In 2018, returned seven defensive linemen from the 2017 season, and it showed up in a big way placing two of those players on the 2018 All-Southland Conference team. SLU’s defense was first in Red Zone Defense in the Southland this year
In 2017, helped mold a young group of first-timers with only 16 games combined played into one of the top third down conversions (29%) and rushing defenses (145.4 yds/per game) in the conference. The Lions' defense was among the top four teams in scoring defense, total defense, and defensive pass efficiency
The 2016 season Lacy guided a group of defensive linemen who finished first in red zone defense, second in pass defense, and third in defensive pass efficiency. Also, he had two linemen awarded with All-Southland Conference honors
In 2015, coached a group that finished Southland Conference play third in rushing defense, second in scoring defense, second in sacks and 28th in the nation, first in TFL’s and sixth in the nation, and second in total defense. Again, the Lions had two defensive linemen awarded with All-Southland Conference honors
In 2014, the Eagles finished with their second consecutive Southland Conference Championships (1st time since the 1960’s). The team was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation. Also, SLU secured a 7-1 conference record and a second consecutive playoff appearance. The defense recorded 32 sacks, led by the defensive line group, which is good for 28th nationally, ranked 18th nationally in rushing defense, 8th nationally in scoring defense, and seventh nationally in total defense. The Lions had two of his defensive linemen awarded with All-Southland Conference honors
2013 had many firsts for SLU. The team was nationally ranked for the first time as an FCS school, climbed as high as No. 4 in the nation, secured a 7-0 conference record, and won the Southland for the first time as an FCS school
The defense recorded a league-high 34 sacks,16 by defensive linemen, two shy of a school record, along with 105 TFL, which was six short of a school record. With Lacy’s teaching, all three of his starting defensive linemen gained All-Southland Conference honors. One finished second in the conference in sacks and TFL’s while receiving All-American honors as well
Under Lacy’s guidance in 2012, two garnered All-Southland Conference performances while the Lion defense finished fourth overall in sacks with 25
One player signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers
In 2010, guided a group of defensive linemen that recorded 25 of the Lions 28 sacks. Again having two All-Southland Conference performers, both players led the team in sacks and TFLs.
In his first season with the Lions in 2009, guided a young freshmen trio that combined for 98 tackles and 27 quarterback hurries

At Angelo State

Served as co-defensive coordinator/run game coordinator in 2008
Guided the Rams’ run defense to a No. 2 rank in the Lone Star Conference after finishing 12th the previous season
Mentored a defensive lineman to All-Lone Star honors in 2008

At Rice

Worked with the Rice Owls during the 2006 and 2007 seasons
Helped coach the Rice Owls to a 7-6 record in 2006 and their first bowl appearance in 45 years
Tutored an All-CUSA performer that finished second in school history in single-season sacks (2007)
Worked with two freshmen bookends that achieved freshman All-American and CUSA freshman honors

At Ferrum

Spent his 2006 spring at Ferrum College as the defensive line coach/run game coordinator

At UT-Martin

Served one season at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he served as the running backs coach and helped guide the Skyhawks to their first winning season in 12 years
Among his pupils was a 1,396-yard rusher and an All-Ohio Valley Conference performer

At Appalachian State

Began his coaching career at FCS powerhouse Appalachian State in 2003, working under legendary coach Jerry Moore
Worked two seasons in Boone, where he was a part of two consecutive seasons while helping to mold some of the top players in school history, including four eventual Buck Buchanan award nominees. Of those players, two set the school record for sacks, and one has the FCS record for most pass breakups and INTs in a career

Playing Career

Played defensive end at Kansas and was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection
Final three seasons at KU, he played for coaches Terry Allen and Mark Mangino, while earning the Jayhawk Scholar Athlete Award and being named to the KU Honor Roll three times
Played his first two seasons at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he led the Skyhawks in sacks both seasons and was a four-time OVC Defensive Player of the Week and a six-time Skyhawk Player of the Week

High School

Four-sport athlete at Edmond Santa Fe High School (football, basketball, baseball, and track)
Named All-District two years, named to the All-Edmond team twice and Honorable Mention All-State in football, All-District one year in basketball and lettered in baseball and track

PERSONAL

Education: Earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at KU ‘03 and received graduate credit in sports psychology at Rice
Family: He and his wife, Jessica, are both from Edmond, Oklahoma, and are the parents of three sons: Brandon, Jr., Julius, and Tre
Certification and Memberships: Member of the American Football Coaches Association, American Football Coaches Association Committee Member, Black Coaches Association, and has high school membership in the Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana High School Coaches Associations

LACY HISTORY

Year	University	Position	Bowl	Result
2025	Florida Atlantic	Rush/Ends
2024	Western Michigan	Rush/Ends	Veterans Bowl vs South Alabama	L, 30-23
2023	Southern Miss	Defensive Line
2022	Southern Miss	Defensive Line	Lending Tree Bowl vs Rice	W, 38-24
2021	Southern Miss	Defensive Line
2020	Richmond	Defensive Line (COVID)
2019	Richmond	Defensive Line
2018	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant HC/DL/Run Game Coordinator
2017	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant HC/Recruiting Coordinator/DL
2016	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant HC/Recruiting Coordinator/DL
2015	Southeastern Louisiana	Recruiting Coordinator/DL
2014	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	Conference Champions
			First Round FCS vs. Sam Houston	L 21-17
2013	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	Conference Champions
			First Round FCS vs. New Hampshire	W, 30-29
2012	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2011	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach
2010	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach
2009	Southeastern Louisiana	Assistant Coach
2008	Angelo State	Assistant Coach/DL
2007	Rice	Graduate Assistant/Defense
2006	Rice	Graduate Assistant/Defense	New Orleans Bowl vs. Troy	L, 41-17
2005	UT-Martin	Running Backs/Offensive Special Teams
2004	Appalachian State	Outside Linebackers/Safeties
2003	Appalachian State	Defensive Ends