Jahmile Addae to be UGA's new defensive backs coach
Kirby Smart has found his new secondary coach, West Virginia’s Jahmile Addae.
A 12-year coaching veteran, Addae spent the last two years as the secondary coach with the Mountaineers, with a focus this past season on the cornerbacks.
UGASports broke the news that Addae was in the running on Monday and the news that his hire was expected on Tuesday.
"We are excited to add Jahmile to our staff and to welcome he and his family to Athens," said UGA head coach Kirby Smart in a statement. “Having been an all-conference safety himself while playing for West Virginia, we feel like Jahmile will boost our team both as a former player who understood the game as well as with his knowledge from coaching at a high level over the last decade."
A former Mountaineer all-conference safety, Addae returned home to WVU in January 2019, after serving as the defensive backs coach and assisting with several special teams’ phases at Minnesota in 2018. His punt return unit finished No. 1 in the nation (22.3 yards per return), punt return defense was No. 2 (1.11 y/r) and the kickoff return unit finished No. 26 nationally (23.4 y/r).
Along with safeties coach Dontae Wright, Addae helped coach a West Virginia secondary that led the Big 12 in pass defense, giving up just 159.6 yards per game through the air. The second-lowest mark was Iowa State at 237.3.
A graduate of West Virginia, Addae was actually an all-conference performer for the Mountaineers and played against Georgia in the 2005 Sugar Bowl.
In his first year at West Virginia, Addae coached two All-Big 12 Conference selections in Keith Washington II and Josh Norwood as well as freshman All-American Tykee Smith.
Washington II finished with a team-leading three interceptions and a team-tying nine pass breakups for 12 passes defended, ranking No. 23 nationally. Smith was second on the team in interceptions with two, including one he returned for a touchdown against Iowa State.
Prior to coming to West Virginia, Addae served as the secondary coach at Arizona (2016-2017) and Minnesota (2018).
He also served as the running back coach for two seasons (2010-2011) at Cincinnati, where he mentored All-Big East Second Team selection Isaiah Pead.
As a player at WVU, Addae was a four-year starter, two-time captain and two-time All-Big East defensive back. He tied the WVU record for most pass breakups in a game (5, Rutgers, 2002), and finished his WVU career with 253 tackles, including 152 solo stops and 25 pass breakups, ranking No. 5 in program history. He also ranks No. 3 in single-season pass breakups with 16 during the 2002 season.
A native of Valrico, Florida, Addae is also considered an excellent recruiter as he was once recognized as one of the top 10 recruiters in the Big East Conference by Rivals.
Addae takes over for Warren Charlton who was named the defensive coordinator at Indiana.
