ATL Standard

Veteran coach Jason Semore is set to return to the Georgia Tech football program as an assistant on Coach Geoff Collins' staff.

Fresh off of leading Valdosta State to the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship game as defensive coordinator, Semore will serve as linebackers coach for the Yellow Jackets, Georgia Tech reported in a release. He previously served two seasons at the school as a defensive analyst.

In his lone season at Valdosta State, Semore led the Blazers to top-20 finishes in several categories, including four defensive touchdowns, 160 yards per game in pass defense, .673 red-zone defense and 12 fumble recoveries, Georgia Tech reported. Overall, VSU ranked second in the Gulf South Conference with 22.7 points per game (22.7), with a 12-2 record and a national runner-up finish.

Over the course of his 15-year career, Semore has also worked at Montana from 2016-17 and the Colorado School of Mines in 2014, along with working as the co-defensive coordinator at Adams State, his alma mater, from 2008-09, Georgia Tech reported.

"I'm excited to round out our coaching staff with Jason Semore and to welcome Jason, Jessy, and their children back to the Georgia Tech football family," Collins said in the release. "Jason is a proven defensive coach who has a great track record of player development and success at every stop of his career. We missed his expertise on the defensive side of the ball this past season and we’re grateful to welcome him back to our team."

In his two seasons Georgia Tech's defensive analyst, the Jackets were in the country's top 40 in pass defense at 207.7 yards per game and top 25 in red-zone defense with .774 in 2019, and in 2020 ranked No. 2 nationally in fumble recoveries with 12 in 10 games and No. 25 in total takeaways with 18 in 10 games, Georgia Tech reported.

"My wife, Jessy, and I could not be more excited about returning to The Flats," Semore said in the release. "We love everything about Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta. We are very appreciative of Coach Collins for the opportunity and are excited to be a part of his vision and plan for the future success of Georgia Tech football."

Semore played four seasons with Adams State from 2001-05, where he was a linebacker and earned a bachelor's degree in history, government and philosophy, Georgia Tech reported. He also boasts two master's degrees from the University of Phoenix and the University of Tulsa for criminal justice and educational methods, respectively.