End Zone Ready: Familiar Face as Offensive Coordinator

There has been a new addition to the Jag Nation, but this person is no stranger to the program or the bluff. Recently, under the Graves administration, new personnel were hired on staff. Southern alum and the Jags’ new offensive coordinator, Mark Frederick, was recently hired to bring change to the offensive side and elevate the offense’s efficiency. Previously serving multiple stints in different programs, coach Frederick for the past five through six seasons as an assistant to then Prairie View- coach Eric Dooley from 2018 to 2021, while also holding the title of offensive coordinator and assistant head coach the last two seasons there. In 2016, Frederick was the wide receivers coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Before then, he served as offensive coordinator and head coach at Lincoln University of Missouri, where his offensive style broke numerous records. Returning home to his alma mater for the third time, where he previously served as running backs coach between 2006-2009 and then moved up to defensive line coach in 2010. He also made a short return to the bluff in 2017, serving as the wide receiver’s coach. Coach Frederick is known for his explosive, heavy run offensive style, coaching running back Dawonya Tucker with back-to-back 1,000 rushing-yard seasons at Prairie View. During one of his stints at Southern, he coached all-SWAC running backs Brian Threat and Darren Coates. Coach Federick also provided more insight into his offensive philosophy “We run a spread offense Mainly basing out of eleven personnel with a tight end, we will spread it around, and we will go four or five wide as well.” Mark also went on to talk more about what he expects out of the offense driving down the field in the game “To be very efficient, if we run the ball, we want to try and average more than four yards a carry. If we pass the ball, we want to average around between eight to twelve yards a pass, so we want to be efficient, we want high percentage throws and solid run plays.” Coach Frederick talked about what the difference will be between the Jaguar’s previous offense and the new style of play he will bring “I think the biggest thing will be physicality, we want to establish the run, and then whatever the defense gives us, we will take that but were going to establish the run game.” Lastly, Coach Frederick talked about how it feels to be back where it all started for him, utilizing the things he has learned in the past and how will he incorporate them into the new offense “I had an opportunity to coach here before, but getting the chance to go out and visit other places and work there and coach there now I get the chance to come back and work for coach Garves, man this was talked about some years ago I just didn’t know it would happen here and I got the opportunity so all I want to do is put my school back on the map and win some championship’s.” Needless to say, Southern University has filled the offensive coordinator position.