Former Bowling Green assistant Sean Spencer will serve as defensive line coach for the Commodores under first-year Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin.
In 2010, Spencer's top Bowling Green pupil, defensive tackle Chris Jones, garnered six quarterback sacks, including 3.5 sacks in a win over Central Michigan that helped Jones earn National Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. At the end of the season, Jones also earned All-MidAmerican Conference recognition.
The Bowling Green defensive front posted 40 sacks in the 2009-10 seasons with Spencer as the unit mentor. In 2009, despite opening the season without a single returning starter on the defensive front, Spencer helped Bowling Green to the Humanitarian Bowl.
Spencer, who is starting his 11th year of defensive line coaching experience, was also the special teams coordinator at UMass in 2007 and 2008. Along with his special teams duties, Spencer also coached the defensive line for the Minutemen. In 2007 the Minutemen had 44 sacks, one of the top sack totals in the country, led by All-American and Buck Buchanan Award finalist David Buris.
Spencer enjoyed team success at UMass, helping the Minutemen to consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles. He also mentored two special teams phenoms at UMass: kick returner Courtney Robinson and punter Brett Arnold. Robinson earned first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors after breaking the team's record for kick return yards. Arnold earned first team All-America honors for his punting abilities.
Spencer spent the 2006 season at Hofstra University where he was the defensive line coach for the Pride. He also served as the team's NFL Liaison in addition to his coaching duties.
In the summer of 2006, Spencer took part in an NFL summer internship with the New York Jets.
Prior to Hofstra, Spencer served as linebackers coach at Villanova University in 2005 where he coached All-American Brian Hulea, who finished his career as the all-time tackler in the CAA.
Spencer also spent one season at the College of Holy Cross where he served as defensive line coach in 2004. Before his stint at Holy Cross, Spencer served as the defensive line coach at UMass from 2001 through 2003. In his final season in Amherst, the Minutemen finish second in the Atlantic 10 in sacks with 34. Under Spencer's tutelage, three linemen earned all-conference honors including Minutemen defensive All-America Vladamar Brower, a Buchanan Award finalist who topped the nation in sacks and tackles for loss en route to earning earned All-America recognition.
Spencer also coached at Trinity College from 1998 through 2000 where he was the running backs coach and pass game coordinator in 1999 before becoming the defensive line coach in 2000, Shippensburg University from 1996 to 1998 as running backs coach, and Wesleyan University from 1995 and 1996 as the wide receiver and tight ends coach.
Spencer started three years at free safety as an undergraduate at Clarion University. He earned a bachelor's in political science in 1995.
Spencer has one daughter, Alysia.
The Spencer File Personal Date of Birth: December 15, 1970 Hometown: Hartford, Conn. Alma Mater: Clarion University (1995) Education: Bachelor's, political science, Clarion (1995) Family: daughter, Alysia, 7
Spencer's Coaching Career 2009-10 - Bowling Green (defensive line) 2007-08 - University of Massachusetts (defensive line, special teams coordinator) 2006 - Hofstra (defensive line) 2005 - Villanova (linebackers) 2004 - College of Holy Cross (defensive line) 2001-03 - University of Massachusetts (defensive line) 1998-2000 - Trinity College (running backs, passing game coordinator, defensive line) 1996-97 - Shippensburg University (running backs)
