Two new coaches join Texas State Football Staff

Staff Reports

SAN MARCOS – Texas State football has added two new assistant coaches as Chris Buckner will serve as the co-wide receivers coach and Clay Jennings the defensive back coach/passing game coordinator, head coach Jake Spavital announced.

As part of the moves, Buckner will join current assistant Bryson Abraham coaching the wide receivers.

Buckner joins Texas State following a brief stint at Delaware as the wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator. He joined the Blue Hens in December 2021 after two seasons at Sam Houston as the running backs coach.

From a team standpoint, Buckner has been a part of winning programs that have gone on to capture an FCS national championship, make two FCS playoff appearances, reach a bowl game, and secure two conference championships and three conference division titles.

“We are fired up for Coach Buckner to be a part of our staff,” said Spavital. “He’s had great success in the Sun Belt Conference as well as his time at Sam Houston, and we know that will continue with his time here in San Marcos. He’s got an understanding of what it looks like to be successful at this level both on the field and through recruiting in Texas.”

Buckner has tutored mainly the wide receiver position in his 12-year coaching career, but he has also worked with quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends as well as serving as an offensive/co-offensive coordinator for three different seasons.

Under his guidance, Buckner has helped three players earn All-American honors, including running back Ramon Jefferson at Sam Houston last season, and 16 reach all-conference status.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Buckner played both wide receiver (2006-07) and defensive back (2008-09) at New Mexico State before starting his coaching career at Jackson State in 2010.

Jennings, who has spent 18 of his 26 years coaching in the state of Texas, joins the Bobcats after spending the 2021 season with UNLV overseeing the cornerbacks. A longtime secondary coach, the Waco, Texas native has also featured stints at the likes of North Texas (2019-20), Texas Tech (2018), Houston (2017; 2005-06), Texas (2016), TCU (2008-13), Baylor (2007), and Sam Houston (2001-02).

“We are thrilled for Coach Jennings to get back to the state of Texas and be a part of our defensive staff,” said Spavital. “Coach Jennings has coached at some of the elite schools across the state, and he’s going to play a major role in developing our defensive backs on and off the field. He’s a great fit with our players, coaches, and staff and we are excited to get on the field with him when spring ball starts next week.”

Jennings has been a part of several top defensive units in the country, from Arkansas in 2015, where the Razorbacks ranked 11th in the nation in scoring and total defensive, to TCU, which had three nation-leading defenses for three straight years from 2008 to 2010.

Jennings has tutored numerous NFL draft picks and free-agent selections during his career, including Tevin Mitchel (Arkansas), Alan Turner (Arkansas), Jason Verrett (TCU), Kevin White (TCU), Greg McCoy (TCU), Malcolm Williams (TCU), Rafael Priest (TCU), C.C. Brown (Louisiana), Michael Adams (Louisiana), Antwain Spann (Louisiana), Keith Davis (Sam Houston) and Jordan Babineaux (Southern Arkansas).

A product of North Texas, Jennings spent his entire collegiate playing career with the Mean Green and was a member of the 1994 Southland Conference championship team. He began his coaching experience at North Texas as a student assistant in 1996.

Abraham is in his third season with Texas State. The Bobcats return 13 wide receivers from last year, including seven of the top eight in terms of receptions.