Cincinnati Bearcats football makes defensive staff additions, changes

Cincinnati Bearcats head football coach Scott Satterfield has rounded out his 2026 football staff with four new staff members and some updated roles for returners.

The Bearcats added Larry Murphy (cornerbacks), Mike Beaudry (assistant safeties), Petey Warrick (assistant wide receivers) and James Vollono (assistant special teams). At the same time, Robert Nunn moves to edge rushers coach and Adam Braithwaite will now coach outside linebackers.

Cincinnati Bearcats head football coach Scott Satterfield speaks to media Feb. 10 at the Sheakley Indoor Performance Facility.

“I am really pleased with the formation of our 2026 staff,” Satterfield said. “We have such an outstanding range of people on both sides of the ball with diverse experiences at the college and professional levels, and I have enjoyed seeing them bond with our players as we head into spring ball.”

Nunn, entering his fourth season with the Bearcats, served as Senior Advisor to the Head Coach last season. Braithwaite joined UC last fall as the safeties coach.

Nunn has previously worked with the Bearcats’ outside linebackers and pass rushers. He spent 19 years in the NFL, including earning a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, before joining the Appalachian State staff from 2020-22.

Adam Braithwaite moves from safeties to outside linebackers as part of defensive changes by the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Braithwaite’s first season saw former walk-on Antwan Peek Jr. become a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He was previously the defensive coordinator at Samford and Tennessee Tech.

David Flores (assistant offensive line), Curtis Fitch (assistant quarterbacks/tight ends), Josh Runda (assistant linebackers) and Theo Lemon (assistant defensive line) all return in support staff roles.

Beaudry joins as an assistant safeties coach from Army, where he was a defensive analyst under new UC defensive coordinator Nate Woody for a year. Before that, he was an offensive analyst at West Florida and quarterbacks coach at Benedict College (S.C.). As a player, he led UWF to the 2017 Division II national title, then played at UConn and Idaho, followed by a year with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks.

Cornerbacks coach Murphy previously worked with new safeties coach David Rowe at Rutgers for the past year, following four seasons at Western Carolina as its corners coach. He first worked with Rowe while serving as a grad assistant at his alma mater, Valdosta State.

Warrick comes from UTSA, where he was an offensive assistant, and will serve as an assistant wide receivers coach for the Bearcats. As a player, he was a four-year letter-winner (2013-16) with six starts as a senior for Texas.

Vollono will serve as the assistant special teams coach. Part of his career highlights include Sun Belt titles in each of his two years at Troy and coaching back-to-back Lou Groza Award winners in 2019 and 2020. Since last year, he has been with the 33rd Team, an NFL Think Tank run by former general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Vollono also has experience at Georgia, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Colorado, Navy, FIU, Towson and the Edmonton Elks.

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield looks to the scoreboard in the third quarter of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Navy Midshipmen, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tn. Midshipmen won 35-13.

2026 Cincinnati Bearcats football coaching staff

Scott Satterfield – Head CoachNate Woody – Defensive CoordinatorCortney Braswell – Co-Offensive Coordinator, ILBsNic Cardwell – Co-Offensive Coordinator, OLPete Thomas – Co-Offensive Coordinator, QBsLuke Paschall – Special Teams CoordinatorJosh Stepp – Tight EndsSean Dawkins – Running BacksVijay Stingley – Wide ReceiversWalter Stewart – Defensive LineAdam Braithwaite – Outside LinebackersDavid Rowe – SafetiesLarry Murphy – CornerbacksRobert Nunn – Edge RushersDavid Flores – Assistant Offensive LineCurtis Fitch – Assistant Quarterbacks / Tight EndsPetey Warrick – Assistant Wide ReceiversJosh Runda – Assistant LinebackersTheo Lemon – Assistant Defensive LineMike Beaudry – Assistant SafetiesJames Vollono – Assistant Special Teams

The Bearcats start spring practice in March and are slated to begin the 2026 season Sept. 5 at Nippert Stadium against Boston College.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Scott Satterfield adds to Cincinnati Bearcats football defensive staff

Source link