Football
- Title:
- Defensive Ends Coach/Run Game Coordinator
Segrest joins Samford after his fourth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 and his first as a Pro Scout. Segrest has spent 30 years coaching at the college and NFL levels throughout his career, most recently serving as Assistant Defensive Line Coach for the Jaguars for three seasons (2022-24).
In 2024, Segrest helped develop DT Mason Smith, who finished his rookie year with 17 tackles (10 solo), four quarterback hits, 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss and three passes defensed in 11Â games played. Smith was one of four rookie defensive linemen in 2024 with at least 3.0 sacks.
In 2023, the Jaguars' defense tied for eighth in turnovers (27), ranked ninth in rushing yards per game (103.1) and eighth in third-down defense (36.5 percent). In his first season with Jacksonville in 2022, en route to an AFC South Division Title, he helped coach a unit that had the seventh-fewest opponent yards per rush (4.2) and had the 12th-lowest percentage of opponent rushes that resulted in a first down (24.3).
Segrest spent four seasons with the University of Louisiana (2018-21) as the Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach. In that span, the Ragin' Cajuns finished with a record of 41-12, a perfect 16-0 mark against members of the Sun Belt West Division, four consecutive West Division titles, four straight bowl appearances, and a share of the Sun Belt title in 2020 and as the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Champions. He helped develop Andre Jones, Jr. who was drafted by the Washington Commanders.
In 2021, Segrest helped Louisiana to its first conference championship title since 2005 and second in program history. The team finished with a 12-1 record, the most single-season wins in school history. The 12 straight wins also set the program record for consecutive victories. In 2020, Louisiana's defense ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and 31st nationally in scoring defense (22.0) and 33rd in total defense (355.4). The team broke into the national rankings for the first time in the modern era, finishing the campaign ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 with a record of 10-1. During the 2019 season, the defensive line helped Louisiana finish the historic 2019 campaign with the top-ranked scoring defense (19.7 points allowed per game) and the second-best total defense (371.8 yards allowed per game) in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's 11 victories marked the first double-digit win season in program history.
Prior to his time with Louisiana, Segrest spent three seasons as Defensive Line and Specialist Coach at Arkansas from 2014-16. During this time period, he helped develop Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Jr., Darius Philon, and Jeremiah Ledbetter all drafted in the NFL. Flowers (2x) and Wise(1) were Super Bowl Champions with the New England Patriots and Ledbetter (1) with Tampa Bay. He recruited and coached several other Razorbacks that were either drafted or undrafted free agents including Mitch Loewen, Armon Watts, McTelvin Agim, T.J. Smith and Jonathan Marshall.Â
After his second stint on the Samford coaching staff, where he was the team’s defensive line coach and special teams coordinator from 2011-13. He previously coached at Samford from 2002-05 when he was defensive line coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Samford finished the 2013 season ranked 18th in the final coaches poll after earning the program’s first FCS playoff berth since 1992. Fabian Truss was named to the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team as an all-purpose player as he ranked second nationally in kickoff return average at 32.1 yards per return. The Samford defense also led the SoCon in sacks and tackles for loss.
In 2012, Samford defensive lineman Nick Williams was named first-team all-conference and finished second in the Southern Conference and 36th nationally (FCS) with seven sacks. Williams was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Samford’s defense tied for first in the SoCon and finished 27th in the FBS in sacks with 27. Additionally, Samford ranked 29th in the FCS in total defense.
Segrest’s special teams units also had success in 2012 finishing sixth in kickoff returns with a 24.91 yards per return average and first in the SoCon in kickoff coverage. Punt returner Riley Hawkins finished first in the SoCon and 14th in the FCS in punt return average, and Truss finished 13th in the FCS in kick return average. Kicker Cameron Yam was named first-team All American as well as first-team all-conference.
In 2011, Samford’s special teams improved in every category over the previous season. The kickoff return unit was ranked 12th in the FCS, Truss ranked seventh in the FCS in kick return average and the punt return unit was ranked 19th in the FCS. Redshirt freshman punter Greg Peranich ranked 24th in the FCS and was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Yaw ranked second in the FCS in field goals, connecting on 23-of-28, and was tied for eighth in total scoring.
Segrest returned to Samford after coaching with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2006-10. While with the Eagles, Segrest was the special teams quality control/assistant defensive line coach (2006-07), special teams coordinator (2007-09) and defensive line coach (2009-10). In 2006 and 2010, the Eagles won the NFC East and made it to the NFC Championship game in 2008. Segrest also coached in the 2009 Pro Bowl.
In 2009 and 2010, the Eagles’ defensive line units ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the NFL in sacks by defensive linemen. They ranked third (2010) and ninth (2009) in the league in tackles for loss by defensive linemen. In 2010, they were ranked second in the NFL in quarterback knockdowns and hurries by defensive linemen. Segrest also coached two-time Pro Bowler Trent Cole (2007, 2009) while with the Eagles.
Philadelphia’s special teams finished third in the NFL in 2008 in field goals made and Pro Bowl kicker David Akers broke franchise records with 33 field goals and 144 points scored. Akers set his career high that year with 17 touchbacks. Punter Sav Rocca set a franchise record with his single-season net punt average of 37.9. Rocca and Akers were both named NFL’s Special Teams Player of the month.
Segrest is married to his wife Jackie and they have one son James. Rory is a graduate from Alabama where he earned his bachelor’s degree in health-care management  in 1996.
