MONTGOMERY – Alabama State head football coach
Reggie Barlow has named four new coaches to his staff.
“With success, sometimes things change and we had some success this year,” said fifth-year head coach
Reggie Barlow of his team which won the SWAC Eastern Division championship last season. ”We had a few guys that had an opportunity to move on to other positions. All in all, we have four really good guys we've brought into the fold that we think can give us what we need to take care of unfinished business.”
Kaiss (pronounced KICE like ICE), joins the ASU staff from Hampton University, where in his second stint there, he served as offensive coordinator in 2010. He previously coached the Pirates from 2001-06, serving as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator. His offense averaged 44.6 points per game in 2004 in the first of back-to-back Black College National Championship seasons for Hampton.
“We are happy and proud to bring in Coach Kaiss, who is very familiar with the SWAC, and has had the opportunity to be a part of four national championships,” Barlow said. “He's a guy that's very smart and intelligent to run the offense.”
Kaiss also twice coached at Tennessee State. He initially served the Tigers as special team's coordinator/wide receivers coach (1997-99). Upon his return he was offensive coordinator (2006-08) and later wide receivers coach (2009).
No stranger to the SWAC, Kaiss coached running backs, was recruiting coordinator and special teams' coordinator at Southern (1993-96), helping the Jaguars win two Black College National titles (1993, 1995). He also was offensive coordinator/receivers coach at Alabama A&M (2000-01).
Kaiss, a part of four national championship teams as a coach, began his collegiate coaching career in 1992 as the offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and receivers coach at Morgan State.
Harris comes to ASU after also spending one season at Hampton as quarterbacks coach under Kaiss. He previously spent six seasons at Tennessee State, serving in various capacities, and quarterbacks coach (2004, 2009), tight ends coach (2005) and receivers coach (2006-08).
“He's a guy that is real familiar with Coach Kaiss' system. I believe when you bring new coaches on, it's always good to bring guys on that have worked together. He'll be good to assist with getting the offense installed.”
He played collegiately at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College (1998-2000), where he was selected to the All-Mississippi South team and played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star game.
The Wiggins, Miss. native played quarterback for TSU from 2001-02, setting a school record for total offense with 3,137 yards as a senior.
After his playing career at TSU ended, he remained with the program as a student assistant coach. He also played the 2003 season with the Shreveport Battle Wings of the Arena Football League II.
Scissum comes to the Hornets from Alcorn State, where he served as offensive line coach (2008-10).
“Coach Scissum played at Alabama, played professionally and has coached offensive line on every level,” Barlow said. “What we are getting from him in terms of his experience is huge for us. He's a big guy in demeanor and stature and he'll demand respect from our guys.”
Scissum, who coached the offense line for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder and Ft. Valley State (2007), spent six seasons at Morehouse College, first as offensive line coach (1998-2000) and later as head coach (2002-2005), sandwiched around a brief stint as co-offensive coordinator at Morris Brown (2001) .
The Huntsville, Ala. native was a four-year starter at the University of Alabama, where he was a member of three bowl teams while playing two seasons for the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Scissum played professionally for four seasons (1985-88), playing in both the National Football League (with the Denver Broncos and the Washington Redskins) and Canadian Football Leagues (with the Calgary Stampede and British Columbia Lions).
His coaching career began as a student assistant at Alabama A&M (1991-94), before joining the Crimson Tide staff as a grad assistant (94-97).
Stevenson comes to Alabama State after spending the past two years as a intern at LSU, where he helped mentor Linebacker Perry Riley who was drafted to the Washington Redskins in the 4th round and free agent Linebacker Harry Colemen in 2010. Stevenson also helped mentor 1st round pick Patrick Peterson, who was First Team All-SEC and Thorpe Award Winner.
“Coach Stevenson comes to us from LSU by way of Tennessee and the NFL,” Barlow said. “He's another guy that we're adding to the defensive side of the ball that gives us the chance to have another set of eyes.”
Stevenson went to LSU after working the 2008 season at Southern Methodist University where he was a volunteer linebackers coach.
After being drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft, Stevenson played parts of five seasons (2002-06) with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.
A four-year letterman and three-year starter at the University of Tennessee (1997 -2001), Stevenson won a national championship with the Volunteers in 1998 and was a second-team All-SEC selection as a senior.
