Former EMCC standout linebacker Justin Lucas returns to Scooba as the Lions’ defensive coordinator

SCOOBA - Aberdeen product and Troy University alum Justin Lucas, a former defensive standout and two-time national champion at East Mississippi Community College, has returned to the Scooba campus to serve as the Lions' defensive coordinator. The announcement was made this week by EMCC head football coach Buddy Stephens.

"Justin was an excellent player for us on back-to-back national championship teams, so he understands our program's expectations and standards," Stephens noted. "We're excited to hire someone who has done so well for himself within the college coaching ranks in addition to the loyalty he demonstrates for our program."

Lucas, who was a standout linebacker on EMCC's back-to-back unbeaten national championship teams in 2013 and 2014, most recently spent the past three years as the defensive coordinator at MACCC foe Itawamba Community College. Under Lucas' defensive leadership, the Indians posted consecutive overall winning seasons with 4-2 division marks the past two years in cracking the NJCAA Division I Top 15 national rankings both seasons.

"Coach Stephens was the first head coach to offer me an opportunity to play college football, and I'll be forever grateful for this opportunity to coach alongside him," Lucas said regarding the NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach. "It feels great to be back home on the Scooba campus to lead the Lions' defense."

Headlined by Temple University signee Orel Gray and current Murray State University defensive back Dylan Rowsey, ICC had a dozen defensive players earn all-conference honors during the past three seasons under Lucas' guidance. Gray was an All-Region 23 linebacker selection this past season, while Rowsey collected honorable mention NJCAA All-America recognition a year ago after being chosen as the 2024 MACCC North Division Defensive Player of the Year.

During Itawamba's 6-3 turnaround season of 2024, the Indians narrowly missed qualifying for the MACCC playoffs after leading the conference in turnovers forced, pass interceptions, quarterback sacks, fumble recoveries and defensive touchdowns during regular-season play. This past year in finishing third among the MACCC North Division standings, ICC again ranked among the league's top-five team statistical leaders in several defensive categories.

Prior to his successful three-year coaching stint at Itawamba, Lucas gained his initial MACCC coaching experience serving as the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Coahoma Community College during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. During his stint with the Tigers, Lucas helped mentor first-team, all-conference linebackers Desmond Williams and Trayshon Jones.

Following his two playing seasons at Troy University in 2015 and 2016, Lucas began his collegiate coaching career as a defensive analyst for his alma mater before becoming the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Montgomery, Alabama-based Faulkner University, where he coached first-team, all-conference linebacker Daylon Fox.

Having totaled 87 career tackles, including 13.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, along with intercepting three passes during his Troy playing days, Lucas capped his collegiate career by earning game MVP honors following the Trojans' 28-23 Dollar General Bowl victory over Ohio in 2016. He was credited with five tackles, including one stop behind the line of scrimmage, and a pair of quarterback hurries to go along with a pass interception during Troy's bowl game win over the Bobcats.

Under the guidance of current North Texas head football coach Neal Brown and former Troy defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley a decade ago, Lucas' winning mentality and belief in the process approach helped lead the Trojans to a six-win turnaround season during his senior campaign. Troy's 10-3 overall record and 6-2 Sun Belt Conference mark in 2016 marked the program's first season with double-digit wins as an NCAA FBS member. Lucas earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Troy.

A product of Aberdeen High School, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of MHSAA Class 3A state championship game appearances, Lucas' first stint on the Scooba campus resulted in consecutive undefeated seasons that featured arguably the most dominant defensive play in the history of EMCC's acclaimed football program. While posting 24 consecutive wins during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the Lions surrendered only 71 total points, including just 10 total offensive touchdowns, during 18 regular-season games for an average of less than four points allowed per contest. Also featuring current NFL veteran defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Jarran Reed, the Lions registered 10 shutouts during regular-season play those two years.

After totaling 22 tackles with 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pass interception as an EMCC freshman, Lucas developed into the team's leading tackler with 85 total stops, including 15.5 tackles for loss, with five quarterback sacks during his sophomore campaign with the Lions. Along with helping EMCC secure a second straight national championship and repeat conference title, Lucas claimed first-team, all-conference accolades in 2014. He closed out his East Mississippi playing career by earning Defensive MVP game honors following his 14-tackle performance during the Lions' 34-17 national championship game victory over Iowa Western in Mississippi Bowl VII played in Biloxi.