Jami DeBerry - Football Coach - Southern Illinois University Athletics

Jami DeBerry

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator
Email:
jamison.deberry@siu.edu
Alma Mater:
Western Kentucky, 2004

Jami DeBerry joined SIU's coaching staff as special teams coordinator in July of 2021. Prior to SIU he spent two seasons as a defensive coordinator at UVA Wise (2020) and Ohio Dominican (2019).

A former linebacker at Western Kentucky, DeBerry was a part of WKU's 2002 National Championship season under coach Jack Harbaugh, lettering at linebacker, before serving as quality control and graduate assistant on defense from 2008-11. He returned to his alma mater for two seasons (2017-18) as safeties coach and special teams coordinator.

In 2018, DeBerry's starting safeties combined for 137 tackles, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups. As a unit, the Hilltoppers were particularly stout in the redzone as they allowed a redzone touchdown just 47 percent of the time, the 11th best mark in the nation. In 2017, the Hilltoppers allowed just 11 passing touchdowns, a mark which ranked No. 5 nationally. Under DeBerry's tutelage, both starting safeties earned postseason accolades as Drell Greene was named All-Conference USA Honorable mention while Devon Key was named to the league's All-Freshman team. Greene and Key also finished No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on the squad in total tackles while Greene's pair of interceptions tied for the team lead.

Prior to the 2016 campaign, DeBerry led the special teams and safeties for the Sycamores from 2014-15, highlighted by their 2014 kickoff return in a crucial game in November against Missouri State. The play, which utilized a "hidden ball trick" set up a long return by freshman Aaron Killebrew, resulting in a game-winning field goal by Eric Heidorn. The special teams effort was the No. 3 play on Sportscenter's Top Plays that weekend.

As ISU's safety coach, DeBerry guided Mark Sewall to All-Missouri Valley Football Conference second team honors in 2014 as he ranked second in the league in interceptions (four), tying with teammate Travis Starks. On special teams, DeBerry helped develop snapper Josh Appel and punter Osborn Umeh to Honorable Mention and All-Newcomer honors, respectively.

In 2013, DeBerry coached the Sycamore special teams and tight ends. Kick returner LeMonte Booker earned MVFC All-Newcomer honors. Booker tallied 25 kickoff returns for 578 yards including a 97-yard return for a score against No. 1 North Dakota State. Aided by that return, Booker's 173 kickoff return yards was the single-game high that year in the MVFC.

DeBerry added a stop at Kansas in 2012 where he served as a quality control coach on special teams. Prior to his playing days at WKU, DeBerry, a Franklin, Ky. native, starred as a quarterback at Franklin-Simpson where he threw for 2,020 yards and 20 touchdowns on 149-of-275 passing, to go along with 464 yards and 15 scores on the ground as a senior.

COACHING CAREER
2008-09: WKU (Graduate Assistant)
2010-11: WKU (Defensive Quality Control)
2012: Kansas (Quality Control)
2013: Indiana State (Special Teams/Tight Ends)
2014-15: Indiana State (Special Teams/Safeties)
2016: Indiana State (Pass Defense Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2017: WKU (Safeties/Recruiting Coordinator)
2018: WKU (Safeties/Co-Special Teams Coordinator)
2019: Ohio Dominican (Defensive Coordinator)
2020: UVA Wise (Defensive Coordinator)

Pronounced: DEE-berry