Wofford College Athletics

Jonathan Saxon was named the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Wofford in April of 2023. He previously spent eight years on the coaching staff at South Carolina State, including the final four years as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. In his eight seasons, the Bulldogs won three MEAC titles.

The Terriers were ranked fourth in the Southern Conference in total defense in 2024, as the team was 5-7 overall. The defense had 81 tackles for loss which was third in the league. Anthonie Lattany was named All-Southern Conference second team with 3.5 sacks. Marion Smokes earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors as he led the team with 4.0 sacks.
    
During the 2023 season, the Wofford defense was ranked third in the Southern Conference. Brandon Maina earned All-Southern Conference second team honors as he led the tam in sacks and was second in tackles for loss.
    
In 2022 at South Carolina State, the Bulldogs were 3-8 overall. Following the season seven defensive players were named All-MEAC, including linebackers B.J. Davis (first team) and Aaron Smith (second team). Davis led the team in tackles with 94 and he also had a team-best five interceptions. The defense was ranked eighth in the nation in fewest passing yards allowed and 41st in total defense. The Bulldogs were fifth in the nation in tackles for loss and 29th in total sacks.
    
A successful 2021 season was highlighted by Saxon’s defense leading the Bulldogs to a Celebration Bowl/HBCU National Championship win over heavily favored Jackson State, holding JSU to only 10 points and 193 total yards. On their way to the Celebration Bowl, the Bulldogs captured the MEAC Title with a 5-0 record, ranked fourth nationally in fumbles recovered, and seventh nationally in turnovers gained,while leading the MEAC in six defensive categories.
    
Following the season, Saxon saw his eighth player drafted by the NFL when defensive back Decobie Durant was drafted in the 4th round with the 127th overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams. Durant had been honored as the 2021 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and took home the 2021 Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP.
    
After the historic win in the 2021 Celebration Bowl, Saxon had a busy offseason highlighted by his selection to the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Seattle Seahawks. He was also invited to coach in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl with the New York Jets staff. Rounding out his offseason coaching stops, Saxon coached in the 2022 HBCU Legacy Bowl. He was named to ESPN’s 2022 45 Under 45 Minority Coaches to Watch for Future FBS Head Coaching Jobs and FootballScoop’s 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Stars.
    
The 2020 season was delayed due to COVID-19, with the team playing only four games in the spring of 2021. However, they had a successful season, going 3-1 with their only loss coming to eventual SWAC Champion, Alabama A&M.
   
In 2019, the Bulldogs finished first nationally in passing efficiency defense and second nationally in tackles for loss, while finishing first in the MEAC in seven defensive categories, on the way to a Co-MEAC Football Championship and three players earning All-MEAC honors.
     
The 2018 team finished top 30 nationally in nine defensive categories and first in the MEAC in two defensive categories on the way to four players earning All-MEAC honors, including DL Tyrell Goodwin on the first team.
     
During the 2017 season, the Bulldogs finished first nationally in blocked kicks and blocked punts, second nationally in first down defense, seventh nationally in Pass efficiency defense, and eighth nationally in total defense and rush defense. Linebacker Darius Leonard was selected with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts after recognition that included First Team FCS All-American honors in 2016 and 2017 and a First Team All-MEAC honoree in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He was named the 2016 and 2017 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned an invite to the 2018 Senior Bowl.
     
The 2016 team finished third nationally in fumbles recovered and turnovers gained, tenth nationally in tackles for loss, and 12th nationally in passes intercepted, while finishing first in the MEAC in five defensive categories.
    
The 2015 team finished first nationally in sacks, tackles for loss, and third down defense, second nationally in blocked kicks and blocked punts, third nationally in red zone defense and passing yards allowed, fourth nationally in scoring defense, and eighth nationally in total defense, while finishing first in the MEAC in nine defensive categories. Following the season, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave was picked 89th overall in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tight end Temarrick Hemingway was a sixth-round selection (177 overall) by the Los Angeles Rams.
    
In his first season on the Bulldog’s staff in 2014, the team finished first nationally in punt returns, second nationally in sacks, and seventh nationally in tackles for loss on the way to a Co-MEAC Football Championship.
  
Prior to S.C. State, Saxon spent two years as a defensive line graduate assistant at the University of Louisville, where Wofford head coach Shawn Watson was serving as the offensive coordinator. In 2013, he helped coach AAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smith, who was a 2014 first-round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles at defensive line. Second-Team All-AAC honoree Lorenzo Mauldin was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. The Cardinals also saw defensive back Calvin Pryor (first round, New York Jets) and linebacker Preston Brown (third round, Buffalo Bills) selected in the 2014 NFL draft.
     
Saxon helped with the 2013 Cardinals defense that led the nation in sacks (3.31 per game; 43 sacks in 13 games), total defense (251.5 yards per game) and rushing defense (80.7 ypg.). The defense also ranked second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), fifth in passing defense (170.8 yards per game) and ninth in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game (102 TFLs). Louisville finished the season with a 12-1 overall record, which included a 36-9 win over No. 25 Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
     
During the 2012 season, Saxon helped guide the Cardinals to a top-25 finish defensively and an 11-2 overall record, which included a BIG EAST title and a Sugar Bowl win over third-ranked Florida. Saxon spent a few months in early 2012 at SC State as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant before then joining Louisville in summer 2012.
     
A native of Orangeburg, S.C., Saxon was an outstanding offensive lineman at S.C. State, guiding the Bulldogs to three consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and playoff appearances in 2008-2010. He earned his bachelor’s degree from S.C. State in Physical Education 2011, and earned a masters degree from S.C. State in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2019.
     
Saxon was a three-year football letterwinner and a two-time letterman in basketball and track and field at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. He lives in Spartanburg with his wife, Jessica Rogers. His father, Thomas Saxon Jr., coached for S.C. State from 1981-1986.