Jacksonville State has hired former Maryland defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Brian Williams to lead its defense, a source close to the team confirmed to AL.com.

Williams will replace Vinnie Sunseri, who left to become the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at the University of Florida.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports was the first to report the news.

Last season saw Maryland’s defense allow 30.4 points per game, taking a step back from a 2023 season which it allowed 22.5 points per game, the fewest number since 2010.

Williams has a history with Jax State head coach Charles Kelly, with the two being on the same staff at Florida State in 2013 and 2014.

Kelly was special teams coordinator in 2013 and assistant defensive coordinator in 2014, with Williams serving as a defensive analyst for both of those seasons.

Williams was on staff at Maryland since 2019 and was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator ahead of the 2022 season; he also had stints as outside linebackers coach, defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator before his promotion.

The coach spent three seasons (2016-2018) as UAB’s linebackers coach under Bill Clark after a season at the University of Georgia as player relations director.