CARROLLTON, Ga. – Head football coach Joel Taylor continues to assemble his staff for the 2024 season, and the newest addition is Special Teams Coordinator, Allen Tucker.
 
Tucker, a young coach who has quickly risen in the ranks of college football, is Taylor's second official hire following the announcement of defensive coordinator Mike Adams. In addition to his coordinator role, Tucker will coach the outside linebackers.
 
"Allen is one of the top, up-and-coming coaches in the profession," said head coach Joel Taylor. "His work ethic, attention to detail, and intellect will make everyone around him better. We're excited to have him join the Wolves family."
 
Most recently, Tucker was the special teams coordinator at Akron under Joe Moorhead. Tucker spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Zips.

"It's an honor to join Coach Taylor and the West Georgia family and build on the history and success of this program," said Tucker. "The support and belief this community has shown us is something that is truly special. I'm excited to be a part of everything this community and this University stands for. Go Wolves!"
 
While at Akron, Tucker was instrumental in three players: Darrian Lewis, Blake Hester, and Dante Jackson earning All-MAC selections on special teams. Lewis led the FBS with 13 special teams tackles. As a unit, the Zips' special teams ranked ninth in the country in punt return defense and 28^th in the country in kickoff defense.
 
Tucker gained experience in the Southeastern Conference from 2018-2021, serving as Mississippi State's special teams quality control assistant. While coaching the Bulldogs, he played a key role on the increase in net punt, punt average, kick and punt return average and special team's efficiency (ESPN) ranking every year at Mississippi State (2018-2020).
 
He coached kicker Jace Christmann, who was named to the Lou Groza Watch list in 2018, while punter Tucker Day was tabbed to the Ray Guy Watch List in 2019. The Bulldogs finished ninth in the NCAA in 2020 in kickoff return average, while kicker Brandon Ruiz was honored as the Lou Groza Star of the Week.
 
Prior to joining Moorhead's staff at Mississippi State, Tucker spent the 2017 season as a defensive quality control analyst at The Citadel where he helped coach three players to All-SoCon honors. Tucker began his coaching career at a familiar foe, in-state rival Valdosta State, as a defensive backs intern in 2016.
 
Tucker has coached four players who have gone on to play in the NFL and a fifth player to reach the next level in the XFL.

He hold a bachelor's degree in business administration from Mississippi State.