Tony Gibson is positioned to snag the running backs coach from a recent conference champion who also spent his playing career in the ACC, multiple sources tell FootballScoop.
Additionally, Gibson -- the highly regarded defensive mind -- has moved to secure both of his coaches in the defensive back end, sources told FootballScoop late Saturday night.
Offensively, Gibson is finalizing a deal to hire Rod McDowell as his running backs coach, several sources told FootballScoop; McDowell had served in the same role at Jacksonville State, where he helped the Gamecocks win a Conference USA championship this past season.
A former standout for Dabo Swinney at Clemson, where he amassed nearly 2,000 career yards and scored 14 touchdowns, McDowell got his coaching start at his alma mater and also spent the 2021 as the running backs coach at FBS program ULM.
Defensively, Shannon Morrison -- a former Herd standout -- is going to coach the team's safeties while Jarred Holley has been tabbed to coach the team's cornerbacks.
Holley was the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach this past season at FCS program Abilene Christian; a former Pitt Panthers player, Holley also has coached at the Power Conference-level from a stint at Arizona State. He's served on staffs at James Madison and North Texas, among other stops.