Slade Buckley begins his fourth season as Jones College's linebackers coach.
Nicknamed the "Smoke Team," his unit has had a strong three seasons with five all-conference selections, including Ole Miss signee and NJCAA Second Team All-American Raymond Collins. Collins led the team in tackles, tackles-for-loss and sacks his sophomore year.
Three linebackers signed with Division I programs off last year's team, including Kennon Loftin to Western Kentucky, Chance Barron to New Mexico State and Peyton Anderson to Southern Miss. Seven total have inked with four-year programs in his three seasons.
Jones had the No. 4 scoring defense in the MACCC during the 2023 season and was 13th nationally in rushing yards allowed after finishing with the No. 2 scoring defense his first year.
Buckley was a graduate assistant at Florida State University before Jones, working with the Seminole secondary in 2020 and linebackers in 2021. He worked with second round draft pick Asante Samuel Jr. in 2020 and All-Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker Kalen Deloach in 2021.
Prior to FSU, Buckley spent two years as a data analyst at Louisiana-Monroe, where he worked with the defensive backs both years and directly oversaw nickelbacks in 2019. The 2018 Warhawks reached bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013. The 2019 defense produced the conference's interceptions leader and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in team interceptions and total takeaways.
Buckley began his coaching career as a student assistant at Ole Miss from 2015-17 and graduated with a bachelor's in secondary education. The Rebels won 21 games, including the 2016 Sugar Bowl, in those three seasons.
A 2013 graduate of Petal High School, Buckley was a starter in football, baseball and basketball during his career. He played for a state championship in football in 2011 and won a state championship with the Panthers in baseball in 2011.
Buckley married the former Ashliegh Badley of Laurel in May 2024. The couple have a newborn son, Sawyer.
