CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Austin Peay State University has a new interim head football coach for the 2020 season.
APSU Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison on Tuesday named Marquase Lovings as the Governors’ coach for the 2020 season.
The move follows the resignation of Mark Hudspeth on Friday, for personal reasons.
Lovings served as associate head coach for the Governors last season, overseeing the defensive line. Under his leadership, that unit helped Austin Peay’s 2019 squad post one of the best defensive seasons in program history. They ranked among the FCS’ top 20 in rushing defense (8th), total defense (12th), scoring defense (15th), and third-down defense (16th). Josephus Smith and Shaun Whittinghill each earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and John Wesley Whiteside was named to the league’s All-Newcomer team.
“I am excited for Marquase, but more importantly I am excited for our student-athletes and our football program,” said Harrison. “After meeting with our student-athletes and coaching staff following Mark (Hudspeth)’s resignation it was clear our best chance to bring another championship to Stacheville this year was promoting Marquase.
“Marquase understands and shares my expectations for Austin Peay Football. Along with our outstanding coaching staff and dedicated Governors student-athletes I am confident we will continue on a positive trajectory. In short, Marquase is the right leader to lead this team.”
“I am excited to get started and humbled by the opportunity Gerald has given me,” said Lovings. “Really love the fact I get to lead these young men and blessed to have these coaches by my side. We will coach these young men with love and respect but will still be demanding. We want Clarksville and Austin Peay to be proud of this football team both on and off the field.”
In 2018, Lovings was selected to participate in the American Football Coaches Association’s Coaches’ 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, which is designed to identify and train rising leaders in the game of football and the coaching professions. He also was a presenter at the 2019 AFCA Convention.
Prior to joining the Governors, Lovings was defensive line coach at Nicholls after seven seasons as an assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette.
After spending his first six seasons as the running backs coach at ULL, Lovings moved to defensive ends coach in 2017. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished with 61.5 tackles for loss and 20.0 sacks, led by defensive end Joe Dillon’s 4.5 sacks.
Prior to his time in Lafayette, Lovings spent four seasons at Mississippi State (2007-10), his first two as a defensive quality control coach and his final two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant that saw him work with defensive line standouts Fletcher Cox and Titus Brown.
Lovings walked on as a tight end at Howard University and earned his bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism in 2006. He earned a master’s of science in sport administration from Mississippi State in 2008 and pursued a doctorate as well.