Linguist Announces Additions to Coaching Staff
2/7/2023 3:34:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo football head coach Maurice Linguist has announced new additions to his coaching staff.
DJ. Mangas has been hired as offensive coordinator, Robert Wright has been hired as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant, Bryan Applewhite has been tabbed as running backs coach and Holman Copeland has been hired as defensive backs coach.
In addition, Mickey Jacobs has been hired as defensive analyst and quality control, Ryan Barry has been hired as special teams quality control, Chauncey Scissum has been hired as assistant strength and condition coach and Ian Fried has been hired as director of recruiting.
DJ Mangas – Offensive Coordinator
Mangas has over 11 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels.
He had two stints at LSU where he served as an offensive analyst in 2019 and the team's pass game coordinator in 2021. As offensive analyst, he helped put together the most prolific offensive in SEC history, averaging 48.4 points and 568.4 total yards per game in 2019. That year, LSU won the national championship, scoring 50 or more points seven times and winning all but two games by double-digits.
Mangas spent the 2020 season in the NFL as an offensive coaching assistant with the Carolina Panthers. He was part of a Carolina offensive coaching staff that produced four players with over 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season as the Panthers become only the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish such a feat.
Mangas served five years on the William & Mary coaching staff from 2014-18. He coached running backs for three seasons and then was elevated to offensive coordinator for his final two years with the Tribe.
Mangas had four players earn all-conference honors during his first year as offensive coordinator. Two of his former players – offensive linemen Chris Durant and Connor Hilland – signed free agent NFL contracts.
Under Mangas' direction as a running backs coach for William & Mary, both Mikal Abdul-Saboor (3,108) and Kendell Anderson (3,082) etched their names in the Tribe's record books and finished their illustrious careers as two of the most productive running backs in school history, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively, on the program's all-time rushing list.
Mangas is a 2012 graduate of William and Mary where he was a wide receiver for the Tribe. He began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at Hampton-Sydney College in 2012 and running backs coach at Georgetown in 2013. Most recently, he served as a defensive analyst at UCF this past season.
Robert Wright – Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Assistant
Wright comes to Buffalo from Duke where he served as a senior defensive analyst in 2022. Working with defensive coordinator Robb Smith, he helped lead the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record and a victory over UCF in the 2022 Military Bowl.
Wright spent the 2021 season at Iowa State as a Special Teams Analyst. While in Ames, IA, Wright was responsible for organizing all aspects of the special teams unit, including meetings, daily practice plans, scouting reports and game plans. During his short time with the Cyclones, Wright helped the program to a 7-6 record, including an appearance in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl. He also mentored kicker Andrew Mevis, who garnered Lou Groza Award semifinalist accolades.
Prior to Iowa State, Wright spent two seasons (2019-20) at Texas A&M University as a defensive graduate assistant where he worked with Linguist as well as defensive coordinator Brandon Bailey. During his time in College Station, Texas A&M posted an overall record of 17-6, including consecutive bowl game victories over No. 25 Oklahoma State (2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl) and No. 13 North Carolina (2020 Capital One Orange Bowl).
Before that, Wright served in two different roles at the University of Illinois for the 2016-18 seasons. He joined the Illini as a defensive graduate assistant (2016-17) before being elevated to a defensive quality control analyst for his final year (2018). While in Champaign, Wright worked primarily with the linebackers and nickelbacks.
Wright got his coaching start as a special teams quality control coach at his alma mater the University of Miami. He spent the 2015 season helping coach punter Justin Vogel, who was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, who recorded 67 punts for 2,846 yards (42.5 avg.) that year. The Hurricanes finished the season with an 8-5 mark, including an appearance in the Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Before his coaching stint with the Hurricanes, Wright was a member of the football program at Miami for the 2011 season. He later went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics from the University in 2015. He also obtained his master's degree in sport administration from Illinois in 2017.
Holman Copeland – Defensive Backs Coach
It's a homecoming of sorts for Copeland who was a graduate assistant on the UB staff in 2012 and 2013. Copeland spent the last four seasons at as the cornerbacks coach at Delaware. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator prior to the 2022 campaign.
In 2022, the Blue Hens went 8-5 and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Delaware led the CAA in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense. They totaled eight interceptions and 33 pass breakups on the season. Cornerback Justin Henley was named was All-CAA Second Team selection.
In 2021, the Delaware defense ranked fifth in the CAA in passing defense, allowing just 204.9 yards per game through the air. UD's cornerbacks had a stellar season as they combined for five interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Nijuel Hill was an All-CAA Second Team selection and eventual signed with the Washington Commanders as an UDFA.
During the Blue & Gold's run to the FCS Semifinals in the 2020-21 spring season, the defense was absolutely dominant leading the CAA in both scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and passing defense (118.4 ypg). Hill earned his first All-CAA nod as he was named to the second team while also earning Second Team All-American (Stats Perform) honors.
Prior Delaware, Copeland spent two seasons (2017-18) at William & Mary where he was the secondary coach and an assistant special teams coordinator. During his first season in Williamsburg, Copeland was instrumental in developing W&M's secondary. He helped mentor two of the league's top players in Aaron Swinton and Raeshawn Smith and safety Corey Parker was an All-CAA Third Team selection.
The Tribe had two members of its secondary earn All-CAA honors in 2018, led by safety Isaiah Laster earning a second team nod. Parker earned his second-straight postseason honor as he was named to the All-CAA Second Team. In addition, Copeland helped push the secondary at William & Mary to a top-25 national ranking in passing yards allowed (190.0 ypg) in 2018.
Copeland joined the Tribe's staff after a three-year stint (2014-16) as an assistant at Central Connecticut State where he served as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. During his successful stint at CCSU, Copland produced four all-conference selections.
Copeland worked as a graduate assistant at UB for two seasons (2012-13). In addition to mentoring and helping develop NFL first-round selection Khalil Mack as a linebackers assistant in 2012, he coached the secondary the following season and helped the Bulls rank second in the Mid-American Conference in both total defense and scoring defense. Buffalo also earned a bid to the Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013.
Copeland's resume also includes a pair of one-year stints as the secondary coach at East Stroudsburg University (2011) and the University of New Haven (2010). He produced a pair of all-conference cornerbacks during both seasons, while his unit helped ESU lead the league in interceptions during the 2011 campaign. Additionally, New Haven won the NE-10 Championship in 2010.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg and then spent a season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Harry S. Truman (Levittown, Pa.) in 2009.
Copeland was a two-year letterwinner at Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he played safety. He graduated from Clarion in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and a minor in sport management. He earned his Master of Science degree in sport management from East Stroudsburg.
Bryan Applewhite – Running Backs Coach
A coaching veteran of over 20 years, Applewhite comes to Buffalo from Nebraska where he spent the 2022 season. In his lone season with the Huskers, he coached Anthony Grant who rushed for 915 yards, the highest total by a Husker since 2018. True freshman Ajay Allen showed his potential by averaging 5.8 yards per carry over the season's first four games before he suffered a season-ending injury.
Prior to arriving at Nebraska, Applewhite spent two seasons at TCU. He helped the Horned Frogs rank in the top 30 nationally in rushing both seasons. TCU was the Big 12 rushing champion in 2020, averaging 214.7 rushing yards per game to rank 20th nationally in rushing. The Horned Frogs then finished 30th in the country in 2021 at 196.3 rushing yards per game. In 2020, TCU had three running backs top 100 yards in a single game, with true freshmen Zach Evans (7.7 ypc) and Kendre Miller (7.2 ypc), posting the second- and fifth-best yards per carry averages in Horned Frogs history, respectively.
Applewhite spent five seasons as running backs coach at Colorado State from 2015 to 2019. He also took on the added responsibility as the Rams' recruiting coordinator in 2018 and 2019. In his time at CSU, the Rams posted two of their top five season marks in total offense and points per game. Colorado State reached three bowl games in five seasons while Applewhite was on staff.
Applewhite's Colorado State running backs posted 24 individual 100-yard rushing games. Ram running backs Izzy Matthews and Dalyn Dawkins each finished in the top eight on the CSU career rushing list under Applewhite's guidance.
Applewhite coached for five years at Louisiana-Monroe from 2010 to 2014, working with the running backs and coordinating the Warhawks' recruiting efforts. He coached two all-conference running backs while at ULM. In 2012, his running backs combined for 19 total touchdowns as the Warhawks finished with eight wins and played in the Independence Bowl, the school's first bowl games since joining the FBS in 1994.
He spent one season at FCS Montana State in 2009. In his lone season, Applewhite coached a running back tandem that combined for more than 1,100 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Applewhite was at Wyoming for six seasons as running backs coach from 2003 to 2008. While at Wyoming, Applewhite tutored two of Wyoming's four all-time leading rushers in Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon.
He spent four seasons from 1999 to 2002 coaching at his alma mater, Northern Colorado. He first served as a graduate assistant in 1999 and was elevated to a full-time assistant coach in 2000. The Bears played in the Division II playoffs in both 1999 and 2002 while Applewhite was on the coaching staff.
Applewhite was a standout fullback at Northern Colorado from 1994 to 1998. He played on teams that won two NCAA Division II National Championships (1996 and 1997), competed in the Division II Playoffs four straight seasons (1995-98) and won North Central Conference crowns during his junior and senior seasons.
He graduated with his bachelor's degree from Northern Colorado in 1998 and his master's degree in 2001.
Other Hires
Ryan Barry was named Special Teams Quality Control Coach. He spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois.
Mickey Jacobs was named Defensive Analyst and Quality Control after spending the last two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Pittsburgh.
Chauncey Scissum was named Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. He most recently was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Connecticut. He also spent two seasons as at Memphis.
Ian Fried was named Director Recruiting. He most recently held the same position at Western Michigan.
Promotions
Jacob Byron was promoted to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Ethan Sheirer was promoted to Senior Special Teams Analyst.
DJ. Mangas has been hired as offensive coordinator, Robert Wright has been hired as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant, Bryan Applewhite has been tabbed as running backs coach and Holman Copeland has been hired as defensive backs coach.
In addition, Mickey Jacobs has been hired as defensive analyst and quality control, Ryan Barry has been hired as special teams quality control, Chauncey Scissum has been hired as assistant strength and condition coach and Ian Fried has been hired as director of recruiting.
DJ Mangas – Offensive Coordinator
Mangas has over 11 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels.
He had two stints at LSU where he served as an offensive analyst in 2019 and the team's pass game coordinator in 2021. As offensive analyst, he helped put together the most prolific offensive in SEC history, averaging 48.4 points and 568.4 total yards per game in 2019. That year, LSU won the national championship, scoring 50 or more points seven times and winning all but two games by double-digits.
Mangas spent the 2020 season in the NFL as an offensive coaching assistant with the Carolina Panthers. He was part of a Carolina offensive coaching staff that produced four players with over 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season as the Panthers become only the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish such a feat.
Mangas served five years on the William & Mary coaching staff from 2014-18. He coached running backs for three seasons and then was elevated to offensive coordinator for his final two years with the Tribe.
Mangas had four players earn all-conference honors during his first year as offensive coordinator. Two of his former players – offensive linemen Chris Durant and Connor Hilland – signed free agent NFL contracts.
Under Mangas' direction as a running backs coach for William & Mary, both Mikal Abdul-Saboor (3,108) and Kendell Anderson (3,082) etched their names in the Tribe's record books and finished their illustrious careers as two of the most productive running backs in school history, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively, on the program's all-time rushing list.
Mangas is a 2012 graduate of William and Mary where he was a wide receiver for the Tribe. He began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at Hampton-Sydney College in 2012 and running backs coach at Georgetown in 2013. Most recently, he served as a defensive analyst at UCF this past season.
Robert Wright – Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Assistant
Wright comes to Buffalo from Duke where he served as a senior defensive analyst in 2022. Working with defensive coordinator Robb Smith, he helped lead the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record and a victory over UCF in the 2022 Military Bowl.
Wright spent the 2021 season at Iowa State as a Special Teams Analyst. While in Ames, IA, Wright was responsible for organizing all aspects of the special teams unit, including meetings, daily practice plans, scouting reports and game plans. During his short time with the Cyclones, Wright helped the program to a 7-6 record, including an appearance in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl. He also mentored kicker Andrew Mevis, who garnered Lou Groza Award semifinalist accolades.
Prior to Iowa State, Wright spent two seasons (2019-20) at Texas A&M University as a defensive graduate assistant where he worked with Linguist as well as defensive coordinator Brandon Bailey. During his time in College Station, Texas A&M posted an overall record of 17-6, including consecutive bowl game victories over No. 25 Oklahoma State (2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl) and No. 13 North Carolina (2020 Capital One Orange Bowl).
Before that, Wright served in two different roles at the University of Illinois for the 2016-18 seasons. He joined the Illini as a defensive graduate assistant (2016-17) before being elevated to a defensive quality control analyst for his final year (2018). While in Champaign, Wright worked primarily with the linebackers and nickelbacks.
Wright got his coaching start as a special teams quality control coach at his alma mater the University of Miami. He spent the 2015 season helping coach punter Justin Vogel, who was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, who recorded 67 punts for 2,846 yards (42.5 avg.) that year. The Hurricanes finished the season with an 8-5 mark, including an appearance in the Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Before his coaching stint with the Hurricanes, Wright was a member of the football program at Miami for the 2011 season. He later went on to earn a bachelor's degree in economics from the University in 2015. He also obtained his master's degree in sport administration from Illinois in 2017.
Holman Copeland – Defensive Backs Coach
It's a homecoming of sorts for Copeland who was a graduate assistant on the UB staff in 2012 and 2013. Copeland spent the last four seasons at as the cornerbacks coach at Delaware. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator prior to the 2022 campaign.
In 2022, the Blue Hens went 8-5 and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Delaware led the CAA in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense. They totaled eight interceptions and 33 pass breakups on the season. Cornerback Justin Henley was named was All-CAA Second Team selection.
In 2021, the Delaware defense ranked fifth in the CAA in passing defense, allowing just 204.9 yards per game through the air. UD's cornerbacks had a stellar season as they combined for five interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Nijuel Hill was an All-CAA Second Team selection and eventual signed with the Washington Commanders as an UDFA.
During the Blue & Gold's run to the FCS Semifinals in the 2020-21 spring season, the defense was absolutely dominant leading the CAA in both scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and passing defense (118.4 ypg). Hill earned his first All-CAA nod as he was named to the second team while also earning Second Team All-American (Stats Perform) honors.
Prior Delaware, Copeland spent two seasons (2017-18) at William & Mary where he was the secondary coach and an assistant special teams coordinator. During his first season in Williamsburg, Copeland was instrumental in developing W&M's secondary. He helped mentor two of the league's top players in Aaron Swinton and Raeshawn Smith and safety Corey Parker was an All-CAA Third Team selection.
The Tribe had two members of its secondary earn All-CAA honors in 2018, led by safety Isaiah Laster earning a second team nod. Parker earned his second-straight postseason honor as he was named to the All-CAA Second Team. In addition, Copeland helped push the secondary at William & Mary to a top-25 national ranking in passing yards allowed (190.0 ypg) in 2018.
Copeland joined the Tribe's staff after a three-year stint (2014-16) as an assistant at Central Connecticut State where he served as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. During his successful stint at CCSU, Copland produced four all-conference selections.
Copeland worked as a graduate assistant at UB for two seasons (2012-13). In addition to mentoring and helping develop NFL first-round selection Khalil Mack as a linebackers assistant in 2012, he coached the secondary the following season and helped the Bulls rank second in the Mid-American Conference in both total defense and scoring defense. Buffalo also earned a bid to the Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013.
Copeland's resume also includes a pair of one-year stints as the secondary coach at East Stroudsburg University (2011) and the University of New Haven (2010). He produced a pair of all-conference cornerbacks during both seasons, while his unit helped ESU lead the league in interceptions during the 2011 campaign. Additionally, New Haven won the NE-10 Championship in 2010.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg and then spent a season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Harry S. Truman (Levittown, Pa.) in 2009.
Copeland was a two-year letterwinner at Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he played safety. He graduated from Clarion in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and a minor in sport management. He earned his Master of Science degree in sport management from East Stroudsburg.
Bryan Applewhite – Running Backs Coach
A coaching veteran of over 20 years, Applewhite comes to Buffalo from Nebraska where he spent the 2022 season. In his lone season with the Huskers, he coached Anthony Grant who rushed for 915 yards, the highest total by a Husker since 2018. True freshman Ajay Allen showed his potential by averaging 5.8 yards per carry over the season's first four games before he suffered a season-ending injury.
Prior to arriving at Nebraska, Applewhite spent two seasons at TCU. He helped the Horned Frogs rank in the top 30 nationally in rushing both seasons. TCU was the Big 12 rushing champion in 2020, averaging 214.7 rushing yards per game to rank 20th nationally in rushing. The Horned Frogs then finished 30th in the country in 2021 at 196.3 rushing yards per game. In 2020, TCU had three running backs top 100 yards in a single game, with true freshmen Zach Evans (7.7 ypc) and Kendre Miller (7.2 ypc), posting the second- and fifth-best yards per carry averages in Horned Frogs history, respectively.
Applewhite spent five seasons as running backs coach at Colorado State from 2015 to 2019. He also took on the added responsibility as the Rams' recruiting coordinator in 2018 and 2019. In his time at CSU, the Rams posted two of their top five season marks in total offense and points per game. Colorado State reached three bowl games in five seasons while Applewhite was on staff.
Applewhite's Colorado State running backs posted 24 individual 100-yard rushing games. Ram running backs Izzy Matthews and Dalyn Dawkins each finished in the top eight on the CSU career rushing list under Applewhite's guidance.
Applewhite coached for five years at Louisiana-Monroe from 2010 to 2014, working with the running backs and coordinating the Warhawks' recruiting efforts. He coached two all-conference running backs while at ULM. In 2012, his running backs combined for 19 total touchdowns as the Warhawks finished with eight wins and played in the Independence Bowl, the school's first bowl games since joining the FBS in 1994.
He spent one season at FCS Montana State in 2009. In his lone season, Applewhite coached a running back tandem that combined for more than 1,100 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Applewhite was at Wyoming for six seasons as running backs coach from 2003 to 2008. While at Wyoming, Applewhite tutored two of Wyoming's four all-time leading rushers in Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon.
He spent four seasons from 1999 to 2002 coaching at his alma mater, Northern Colorado. He first served as a graduate assistant in 1999 and was elevated to a full-time assistant coach in 2000. The Bears played in the Division II playoffs in both 1999 and 2002 while Applewhite was on the coaching staff.
Applewhite was a standout fullback at Northern Colorado from 1994 to 1998. He played on teams that won two NCAA Division II National Championships (1996 and 1997), competed in the Division II Playoffs four straight seasons (1995-98) and won North Central Conference crowns during his junior and senior seasons.
He graduated with his bachelor's degree from Northern Colorado in 1998 and his master's degree in 2001.
Other Hires
Ryan Barry was named Special Teams Quality Control Coach. He spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois.
Mickey Jacobs was named Defensive Analyst and Quality Control after spending the last two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Pittsburgh.
Chauncey Scissum was named Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. He most recently was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Connecticut. He also spent two seasons as at Memphis.
Ian Fried was named Director Recruiting. He most recently held the same position at Western Michigan.
Promotions
Jacob Byron was promoted to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Ethan Sheirer was promoted to Senior Special Teams Analyst.
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Saturday, September 06
Head Coach Pete Lembo on what he learned vs. Minnesota and the challenge this weeks matchup presents
Tuesday, September 02
Linebacker Dion Crawford talks Shaun Dolac's influence and if his skills could translate to offense
Tuesday, September 02
