Justin DeCol

Justin DeCol, entering, his fifth season with Snow College and third overall as the team’s Defensive Coordinator will look to build upon the great success exhibited by the 2007 defensive unit in 2008.

The 2007 Snow Badger defense was ranked first nationally in total defense.  Their number one ranking attained was the first time in school history a Badger defense ranked first overall. 

The Badgers in the ’07 campaign allowed just 186.1 yards per game in twelve contests.  Their dominating performance also enabled the Badgers finish second in run defense at 66.8 yards per game allowed and sixth in pass defense at 119.3 yards per game allowed. 

Snow College is well known for the pressure it places on opposing quarterbacks.  Coach DeCol’s defensive unit produced 42.5 sacks.  In addition they accumulated 96 tackles for loss.  Those incredible figures led to a total of 24% of their defensive snaps finishing in a negative result for the opposing team’s offense.    

DeCol’s defense also featured a number of standout players during the 2007 season.  Defensive End, Coleby Clawson was named 1st Team All-American and WSFL Defensive Player of the Year before signing with Brigham Young University.  Josh Sharp was a 1st Team All-American at linebacker.  Defensive Back, Andrew Rich turned down scholarship offers from Cal-Berkeley and Boise State before settling in at Brigham Young with Coleby Clawson and fellow Badger Tevita Hola.  Hola was a 1st Team WSFL All-Confernce defensive tackle.  In addition, three other defensive linemen signed with Division I schools in Casey Davis (Utah State), Stephen Paea (Oregon State) and Chris Romero (New Mexico State) and linebacker Josh Anderson signed with Division I-FBS Bucknell.  

In 2006, DeCol’s first season overseeing the defensive unit, saw a dominating unit take the field.  A defense is ultimately measured by the points they allow and the defense allowed just 13.2 points per game.  The Badgers compiled two shut-outs in 2006, a 34-0 victory over Air Force Prep and a 61-0 win over Pima.  In wins over Scottsdale and Mesa, the defense allowed only 7 and 6 points respectively.

The Badger defense exhibits an aggressive style of defensive play which places constant pressure on opposing team’s quarterbacks.  In 2006, Snow College tallied 34.5 sacks.  In addition, the team forced 27 turnovers and had 4 defensive touchdowns. 

The Badgers finished in the top 20 nationally in total defense, team passing defense and team rushing defense.  Snow allowed just 210 yards per game. 

In the NJCAA Game of the Week, which pitted Snow against then #4 ranked Glendale CC, the Badger defense was stifling.  The Badgers limited the Gauchos to 17 points, which was well below their average of 31 on the season.  They also forced two turnovers both of which ended in touchdowns for the Badger offense as Snow College battled to a 20-17 victory.

Along with coordinating the defense, DeCol has been the team’s defensive backs coach during his tenure at Snow College.  He has coached multiple players who garnered post-season honors as well as players who moved onto the four year level.  

In 2004, DeCol’s first season, Quincy Wallin attained All-American status as a defensive back under DeCol’s tutelage.  Ty Sparrow, a starter at safety moved onto Weber State and has been a two year starter for the Wildcats. 

The 2005 season saw two players from DeCol’s secondary move onto Division I programs.  Tico Pringle signed with Brigham Young University and Derek Brown signed with Southern Utah.  Chase Palmer signed with Oberlin University and attained Division III All-America status while playing for the Yeomen.

Before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator, DeCol served as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2004 and 2005.  An attacking style of special teams has been a trademark of Badger teams, which DeCol instituted.  Aggressive schemes installed by DeCol have paid major dividends for the Badgers during those seasons as Snow College is well-known for its emphasis on the kicking game.   

The 2005 special teams unit blocked an incredible 8 kicks or punts throughout the season.  They also allowed only 2.3 yards per punt return and 13.9 yards per kick return.  In addition the team averaged 42.3 yards per punt. 
 
In 2004, Deondrick Nunez attained All-American status while returning three kick-offs for touchdown’s while averaging 37.6 yards per return.  Also, Snow allowed only 1.2 yards per punt return, which is an incredible feat.   

Before joining the Badgers, DeCol spent four successful seasons coordinating the defense for Box Elder High School (Brigham City, UT).  The year prior to DeCol’s arrival at Box Elder the Bees finished 1-9.  During DeCol’s four year tenure with the Bees, the program saw significant achievements.  Over a 4-year span Box Elder was 40-9 with a State runner-up finish in 2001, two Region 4 championships and two 2nd place finishes in Region 4.

DeCol also coached multiple players who moved onto collegiate playing careers: Matt Putnam (Brigham Young), Beau Herbert (Utah State), Nick Green (Dixie State, Weber State), Colt Mund (Snow, Utah State), Derek Brown (Snow, Southern Utah), Josh Crittenden (Snow, Idaho State), Terry Larsen (Pima, Weber State), Matt Davis (Air Force Academy), Josh Anderson (Utah State). 

Prior to his arrival at Box Elder, DeCol spent three seasons as the secondary coach at Mountain Crest High School (Hyrum, UT).  In two of his three seasons the Mustangs were Region champions. 

DeCol prepped at Uintah High School (Vernal, UT) and attained All-Region status as a junior and senior.

A native of Vernal, Utah, DeCol is single and resides in Ephraim.      

Copyright © 2008 SnowBadgers.Com • All Rights Reserved.