Kevin Corless enters his second season on the Samford football coaching staff. Corless works with the team’s linebackers.
In his first season at Samford in the spring of 2021, linebacker Nathan East was named All-SoCon after leading the team in tackles. Freshman Noah Martin was also named to the SoCon’s All-Freshman team.
Corless came to Samford from Army, where he served as the inside linebackers coach from 2014 to 2019. He helped lead the Black Knights from a 2-10 season in 2013 to averaging nearly 10 wins a season over the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons, earning 29 wins. The 2018 team won 11 games, the most in school history.
Prior to Army, Corless spent two seasons at Georgia Southern. In 2012, he guided the linebackers and then served as co-defensive coordinator with Jack Curtin in 2013. The 2012 squad advanced to the FCS national semifinals and the 2013 team beat Florida, but was not eligible for postseason play as the Eagles made the jump to FBS.
Prior to joining the Georgia Southern staff, Corless spent nine years at Arkansas State. He was the co-defensive coordinator for the first seven years before handling the defense solely his last two seasons. In addition, he oversaw the linebackers and punt return units.
Rivals.com named Corless the Sun Belt “Defensive Coordinator of the Year” for the accomplishments of his 2009 Red Wolves’ defense. That season capped a four-year run that saw the defense claim either first or second in each of the league’s five major defensive statistical categories.
Corless has guided seven players who have been selected in the NFL draft since 1998, including second-round choice Tyrell Johnson, the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Corless mentored Alex Carrington to the league’s top defensive honor and a third-round selection by the Buffalo Bills. DeMario Davis is the most recent of Corless’ charges to be drafted when he was chosen in the third round by the New York Jets in 2012. He guided 10 All-Sun Belt Conference linebackers and three Freshmen All-America choices.
Corless was at Northwestern State in 1995 as a defensive line coach and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator in 1999 with oversight of the linebackers during his final three seasons. Northwestern State made NCAA FCS playoff appearances in 1997, 1998 and 2001 and won two Southland Conference titles.
Corless played and graduated from Northwest Missouri State and spent two seasons as a graduate assistant where the team went 10-2 and qualified for the national playoffs. He moved to Montana Tech to mentor linebackers and serve as special teams coordinator. During his eight seasons, he helped the Orediggers transform from winless in three seasons into conference champions and an NAIA playoff team in 1992.
Corless and his wife Stacey have three children, Anne, Caitlin and Joe.
