D-II schools bring in new D-Coordinators

Eight of Oklahoma’s Division II schools have football programs and five of them will have a new defensive coordinator on the sidelines in 2014.

The changes come for a variety of reasons, but fans in Tahlequah, Alva, Goodwell, Durant and Weatherford can get ready to see some new looks when the defensive units take the field.

• Josh Lattimer, Northeastern State
A significant number of assistants are holdovers for the new NSU head coach, Rob Robinson, but he brings in new blood at DC.  Lattimer was the defensive coordinator at Ellsworth Community College in 2012 before being promoted to head coach there last season.  He was a two-time Division II All-American as a linebacker at Pitt State in 2003 and 2004.

• Dan Lemke, Northwestern
Another DC comes to Oklahoma straight from Iowa.  Lemke spent the past three seasons as the Defensive Backs Coach and the Strength and Conditioning Coach at D-III Upper Iowa, and last year helped the Peacocks to their first winning season in nine years.  He played as a safety for four years at Division I Western Michigan from 2001-2004.

• Jarry Poth, Oklahoma Panhandle
Poth is the veteran of the group of new DCs, bringing in 19 years of coaching experience.  He was a coach at the college level for two years at D-III Sul Ross State (as the defensive coordinator), a semi-pro team for a year and 16 years at the high school level, including Somerset H.S. in San Antonio, Texas.

• Charles Burks, Southeastern
This will be first opportunity for Burks as a coordinator.  He was the Secondary Coach at Texas A&M-Commerce in 2013 and helped the team to its first winning record in 12 years and a trip to the Texarkana Bowl.  The season prior, he was the Cornerbacks Coach at West Texas A&M, and the Aggies made it to the D-II national semifinals.  Burks was a cornerback for three seasons at East Central.

• Eric Gibson, Southwestern
Gibson has 12 years of coaching experience with him, at both the college and high school levels.  Last season, he was the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Fort Scott Community College.  Gibson has served as a high school coach for six years in Oklahoma – at Putnam City and El Reno – and helped lead PCHS to the state quarterfinals twice.