Entering his first year at EMU is Kasey Teegardin, who came to Ypsilanti after serving an assistant with Indiana University for 10 seasons. A veteran coach with more than 16 years of experience, Teegardin will serve as EMU’s special team’s coordinator and defensive ends coach.
Teegardin has college coaching experience at Indiana, Valparaiso University, Northwood University (Mich.), and the University of Charleston (WVa.). Once the youngest defensive coordinator in the NCAA at the age of 24, he coached six All-Big 10 Conference performers in the past two seasons as well as two “true” freshman All-America honorees.
All told at Indiana, Teegardin mentored a total of 10 All-Big 10 performers over a six year span. During his four-year tenure as special teams coordinator, Indiana’s special teams units blocked a total of 10 kicks. The Hoosiers were also the only FBS program with multiple kickoff returns for scores in 2022.
Indiana’s 2021 special teams unit tied for first in the country with four blocked punts. The team scored on an 81-yard punt return and a blocked punt versus Idaho, the first time scoring twice on special teams in IU history since 1969. Furthermore, Indiana’s 2020 special teams units shared fifth in ESPN’s special teams efficiency rankings. Indiana finished ranked 12th in the final Associated Press Poll and second overall in the Big Ten.
In 2023, kick return specialist Jaylin Lucas was the highest-rated kickoff return man in the FBS among specialists with 25 or more returns on the season. His 572 kickoff return yards led the Big Ten, was No. 5 among “Power 5” returners, and ranked No. 14 in the FBS. His 100-yard kickoff return against Purdue tied for the longest play in IU history and was one of 10 returns of 100 yards in the FBS during the 2023 season, the only 100-yard effort in the Big Ten. For his efforts, Lucas earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors as a return specialist.
Punter James Evans earned Second Team All-Big honors as he set the Indiana single-season record by one yard per punt, averaging 45.8 yards per punt. His career average of 43.9 yards per punt ranks No. 1 on Indiana’s career charts.
A season prior in 2022, Lucas earned All-America accolades from six outlets, including four first-team honors. He became the first Hoosier and the first Big 10 “true” freshman to be named the Big Ten’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year. Lucas ranks tied for No. 1 in career kickoff return touchdowns with three in Indiana history. He was the lone returner (in 2022) in the country with two scores, his 591 yards led the Big Ten, and his 28.1 yards per return ranked top five nationally.
Evans closed out 2022 with a 44.3 average per punt, which ranks second in school history and earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors. Additionally, outside linebacker Dasan McCullough earned Freshman All-American honors along with honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors.
In 2020, kicker Charles Campbell led the Big 10 with 91 percent field goal percentage and made all 25 extra point attempts. Campbell earned 2020 Second Team All-Big honors. Punter Haydon Whitehead averaged 43.4 yards, which ranked fourth on the Indiana single-season list. Whitehead was a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist and received honorable-mention All-Big honors. Return Specialist Reese Taylor also received honorable-mention All-Big honors.
In 2018, safety Jonathan Crawford signed a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans, participated at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, and earned 2018 honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition. Crawford topped the team in tackles (66) and solos (47). He finished third in the B1G (24th nationally) with two fumble recoveries to go along with a pick-six and one forced fumble, one sack, 3.5 stops for loss, and three pass breakups. Safety Bryant Fitzgerald paced the team with three interceptions (t-8th in the Big Ten), two forced fumbles (t-7th in the Big Ten), and six takeaways total. Fitzgerald shared first in the B1G among freshmen in INTs (t-7th nationally) and forced fumbles (t-4th nationally).
A Hoosiers defensive graduate assistant (2014-16) for three years and director of on-campus recruiting for one campaign (2017), Teegardin was promoted to full-time status for the first time on March 2, 2018.
A native of Palm City, Fla., Teegardin spent 2012 and 2013 as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Valparaiso University.
He served as Valpo’s NFL and academic liaison as well as the program’s community outreach coordinator. The NFL liaison at three schools, Teegardin has mentored four players who have reached the professional ranks.
Teegardin came to Valpo after spending the 2011 season at Division II Northwood University, where he coached the secondary. Before his time at Northwood, Teegardin coached at Division II University of Charleston, where he served as the youngest defensive coordinator in the NCAA (hired at age 24) in 2010, leading a defensive attack that ranked 19th in the nation in rush defense.
Teegardin first joined the Golden Eagles staff in 2007 as a graduate assistant coaching the defensive line, before moving on to coach the linebackers in 2008, where he led three All-WVIAC selections.
In 2009, Teegardin became Charleston’s secondary coach for a team that finished the season 9-2 and ranked 19th nationally in the AFCA Poll. He helped lead a defense that led the WVIAC in five defensive categories: rush defense No. 13 nationally), scoring defense, total defense, pass efficiency and red zone defense (No. 6 nationally). UC was also third in the league in interceptions, third down percentage (No. 23rd nationally), and takeaways (No. 26 nationally). Teegardin coached four All-WVAIC performers, including the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in safety Chris Woomer.
Teegardin is a 2007 graduate from Charleston with a degree in sport management. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the school in 2008.
During his undergraduate years, Teegardin played linebacker for the football program and was selected a captain his senior season, helping the team to an 8-3 overall record. During his first two seasons at UC, Teegardin also served as an outfielder and catcher for the baseball team.
Teegardin and his wife, Monica, have one son, Kayden (2).
| The Kasey Teegardin File |
| Name: |
Kasey Teegardin |
|
| High School: |
South Fork H.S. - Palm City, Fla. |
|
| College: |
University of Charleston - Bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration - 2007 |
|
|
University of Charleston - Master’s degree in Business Administration - 2008 |
|
| Family: |
Wife: Monica; Son: Kayden |
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| Coaching Experience |
| Year |
School |
Position |
| 2024-Present |
Eastern Michigan University |
Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2021-23 |
Indiana University |
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/OLB |
| 2020 |
Indiana University |
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs |
| 2018-19 |
Indiana University |
Assistant Coach/Safeties |
| 2017 |
Indiana University |
Director of On-Campus Recruiting |
| 2014-16 |
Indiana University |
Defensive Graduate Assistant |
| 2012-13 |
Valparaiso University |
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2011 |
Northwood University (Mich.) |
Assistant Coach/Secondary |
| 2010 |
University of Charleston |
Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Secondary |
| 2009 |
University of Charleston |
Assistant Coach/Secondary |
| 2008 |
University of Charleston |
Assistant Coach/Defensive Line/Linebackers |
