MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – St. Thomas University's Head Football Coach/Associate Vice President of Athletics Bill Rychel announced the addition of two new coaches to the nationally-ranked Bobcats' staff for the upcoming campaign. Joining Rychel on the sideline this fall are Jairus Marlow (Co-Defensive Coordinator, Outside Linebackers) and Reilly Murphy (Co-Offensive Coordinator, Tight Ends).

Marlow joins the defensive coaches from Concord University where he was on the staff this past spring. He spent the previous three seasons at Chowan University, working with the Defensive Backs and adding Defensive Coordinator responsibilities in 2023. The Hawks won seven games in back-to-back seasons with Marlow on staff, capped by an appearance in the CIAA Championship Game in their final season in the league. He mentored Traevon Mitchell into Chowan's first All-Gulf South Conference honoree during their first season in the league in 2023 with First-Team honors. He developed the 2021 CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in Issac Anderson along with 10 All-CIAA honorees.

Other stops for Marlow include Lyon College, Gannon University, MacMurray College, Jupiter High School and Saint Vincent College. Between the five stops he has produced 12 All-conference with one achieving All-National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) First Team status.

"Jarius brings a lot of valuable experience to our program," Rychel said. "He is a defensive coordinator that has previously worked with Coach Rzyczycki.  Jairus is a South Florida guy that will relate well to our team on and off the field.  I am excited to bring his family back home."

Murphy comes to South Florida with a history of success, helping three separate schools break their record for wins in a season. Most recently, he helped Gannon win their second PSAC West Division title during his first season as the Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinate behind an 8-3 record that marked the best finish in school history. With the Golden Knights for two seasons, he guided quarterback Kory Curtis to Don Hansen Division II All-American Honorable Mention distinction and Donell Mason to PSAC West Freshman of the Year.

Prior to joining Gannon's staff, Murphy led Lake Erie College as the Storm's Head Coach to their best season as a Division II program in 2021. Other stops for Murphy include Fayetteville State where he helped the Broncos advance to the CIAA Championship Game in 2018, Dixie State (now Utah Tech) where the Trailblazers set the school record for rushing yards in a season, Western New Mexico State where the Mustangs boasted one of the best offenses in Division II in back-to-back seasons, Bethel College where he took them from the worst-ranked offense in the NAIA to a program-record offensive that set the single-season mark for points and yards in a season after getting his coaching start at Notre Dame College.

"I am excited to get Reilly and his family down to South Florida," Rychel said. "I have worked with him in the past as a young coach. He is a great offensive mind and recruiter. It is always great to add good coaches to the program with coordinator and head coaching experience.  He is going to bring a lot of value to many aspects of the program."

The Bobcats begin the 2024 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 31 against the University of Fort Lauderdale with kickoff slated for 12 p.m.