The Lindenwood football program announced a change to its coaching staff on Wednesday afternoon. Head coach Patrick Ross announced that Deion Melvin has been named the team's defensive coordinator.

"This is a fantastic opportunity at a great university,” said Melvin. “Lindenwood has outstanding tradition and great success. Working with Coach Ross and this team...it is a perfect fit for me.”

Melvin will be in his 22nd season as a football coach next season. For the last two years, he was an assistant at Ball State. He was the linebackers coach during the 2009 season before being promoted to special teams coordinator last year.

"It was great to meet the staff and see pictures of new facility Lindenwood is building,” Melvin said. “It was clear to me how important football is to Lindenwood. Everyone is fully behind the program from the president to the AD and the staff and students. You can see Lindenwood is in it for the long haul and committed to doing it right."

Ross is optimistic that Melvin will have an impact immediately.

“Coach Melvin brings a lot of experience to our staff,” Ross said. “It is important to find somebody that will fit in, not only on the football staff, but fit in at the University as well.

“Coach Melvin shares a lot of my same philosophies in regards to the development of players, as well as relationship building. Football coaches at Lindenwood must be selfless, and hardworking, Coach Melvin is both of those.”

Melvin also had coaching stints at Bowling Green State, Georgia Southern, Missouri State, Western Illinois, and East Aurora High School. He was at Bowling Green State from 2007-08 and coached the inside and outside linebackers, and was assistant special teams coordinator. In 2006, he coached the running backs at Georgia Southern. From 1999-2005, he was at Missouri State as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. From 1993-98, Melvin coached at Western Illinois as the inside and outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. His coaching career started at East Aurora from 1990-92.

At the college level, Melvin has coached seven All-Americans and two Buck Buchanan award winners, which goes to the top defensive player in NCAA Division I Football Championship Series. He coached 14 all-conference winners, six academic first-team all-conference players, and seven players who were named the team MVP. He also coached two players who finished first in the nation for tackles.

Melvin was an All-American and all-league honoree at linebacker during his college career at the College of Dupage. He was an all-state and all-conference award winner at East Aurora High School.

Melvin graduated from Western Illinois with a bachelor of science degree in community health in 1994.

Melvin replaces Shawn Nagel, who recently stepped down for personal reasons and has been reassigned as Lindenwood's strength and conditioning coach and Director of Football Operations. Nagel has been the defensive coordinator at Lindenwood since 2004. Under Nagel, the Lions had six of their top eight scoring defenses in school history.

“We have also made great strides in the weight room this off-season by moving Coach Nagel into the football strength and conditioning position,” said Ross. “He has pushed our team to a new level in strength and speed development.”