With more than 24 years of college football experience, Daryl Daye was named the 11th Head Coach in the history of Missouri Southern Football on December 16, 2011. 

In his first season as the head coach with the Lions, Daye led the team to a 6-5 record, its first winning season since 2007 and just the third winning season in the prior 20 years. He helped mentor the Division II National Defnensive Player of the Year as Brandon Williams broke the Southern sack record and was named to five different All-America teams. Williams was also selected to play in the Senior Bowl. 

Daye came back to Southern after serving two seasons with the NFL's Buffalo Bills as Assistant to the Head Coach. He assisted Defensive Coordinator Dave Wannstedt in coaching the inside linebackers and also helped to coach the special teams units. He was responsible for assisting head coach Chan Gailey in the team’s day-to-day administrative operation as well as numerous travel and training camp duties. 

Prior to his stint with the Bills, Daye served for four years with the Lions as the team's defensive coordinator. He was also the special teams coach and also coached the Southern linebackers.

In 2008, the Lions once again led the MIAA in pass defense and junior linebacker Jared Brawner was an All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American selection after leading the MIAA in tackles with 120. The Lions held opponents to 172 passing yards per game and recorded 58 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks and recovered all 15 fumbles the team forced.

The 2007 MSSU defense helped the Lions to their first winning season in 12 years. The defense led the MIAA in total defense for the 1st time in school history and also led the MIAA pass defense, opponents' first downs, passing efficiency and were ranked second in Opponents third and fourth down conversions. The Lions' defense was ranked 21st nationally in total defense and also broke a 17 year old division II school record with 21 interceptions. Coach Daye's defenses have now forced a total of 113 turnovers in 4 years.

Prior to Southern, Daye worked as special teams coach for the Southern University Jaguars in Baton Rouge, La. until 2005. His punt return unit led the nation with 19.1 yards per return in 2005, and the kickoff return squad ranked ninth nationally at 22.4 yards per return. He coached place kicker Breck Ackley who became the all-time leading scorer at Southern University.

Daye previously served as head coach at Nicholls State University, in Thibodeaux, La., from 1999-2003.

His 2003 team broke 32 school records and played for the first ever Southland Conference championship. The Colonels finished that year ranked 32nd nationally and were among the top 45 percent in NCAA Division I-AA attendance. His quarterback Josh Son became the All-Time leading rusher in Colonel History.

Daye led the Colonels to a four-win turnaround in 2002 as the team finished 7-4 and ended the season ranked in the Division I-AA top 25. For his efforts, he was named the 2002 Southland Conference Coach of the year. The success for Daye at Nicholls State started in 2001, where he guided the Colonels to a victory over Division I-A foe Arkansas State, the first ever Division I-A victory in school history.

Daye not only helped Nicholls State to wins on the field, but off it as well. Over the course of his career, the team went from a 1.7 overall grade-point average to a 2.5 GPA and over 150 players were named to the All-SLC academic team and over 40 players were named to the Verizon All-Academic All American team.

Daye took the head coaching job at Nicholls State after serving eight seasons under former Cleveland Brown, two-time NFL Coach of the Year Sam Rutigliano at Liberty University, where he served as the school's defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.

His first season in his defensive coordinator role proved to be an outstanding experience. The defense showcased itself as one of the most opportunistic squads in the I-AA ranks, leading the nation in turnovers (40), second in turnover margin (1.82), and yielded only 17.7 points per contest, the best mark by a Flames' defensive squad over the previous 15 seasons. The Flames finished the season at 9-2 and nationally ranked No. 17.

His football coaching experience began at Louisiana State University in 1986, where he worked under and also played for Bill Arnsparger "the architect of the Miami Dolphins' 'No-Name Defense'" in the early 1970s. He then coached two seasons for then-coach Mike Archer who is the current defensive coordinator at North Carolina State University. Initially, Daye came to LSU as a walk-on player. He earned a scholarship and later lettered at inside linebacker for the Tigers.

While at LSU the Tigers won two Southeastern Conference Championships. Daye was a part of five teams that went to bowl games either as a player or coach. LSU represented the SEC as the league champions in the Sugar Bowl in 1985 and 1987, while also appearing in the 1983 Orange Bowl, 1985 Liberty Bowl and 1988 Gator Bowl and the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl

After his stint at LSU, Daye coached at Southern Mississippi under former head coach Curley Hallman in 1989-90. The Golden Eagles, whose then-roster included current Green Bay Packers star Brett Favre, made one postseason appearance during his stay there in the 1990 All American Bowl.

The Ferriday, La., native was a two-time All-State performer at Huntington High School and earned a bachelor's degree in general studies from LSU in 1986 and added a master's degree in physical education from Southern Mississippi in 1990.

Daye is married to the former Kathy Polko, also a graduate of LSU and a former All-SEC selection in gymnastics. His father Donnie Daye played for the 1958 National Champion LSU Tigers as a fullback/linebacker and coached for over 13 years, six seasons of which he was the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State University. His mother Penny was a feature majorette for the University of Missouri.

H.T. Kinney comes to Southern after a season at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, and he has Division I experience at Liberty, Nichols State, Wagner and Hofstra. He will serve as the passing game coach and co-offensive coordinator, while also assuming the role of assistant head coach.

"I'm very excited to bring in a coach of H.T.'s caliber to our program," Daye said. "I've known him for a long time and have had the chance to work with him on a few different occasions. He's a very loyal man and will be a great fit for both the MSSU football program, as well as the Joplin community."

In 2012 at UWW, Kinney helped the Warhawks to a 7-3 mark and a 5-2 record in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UWW threw the ball for 1,688 yards and rushed for 1,872, while adding 13 touchdowns both rushing and passing.

Before UWW, Kinney was the run game coordinator, as well as the tight ends and fullbacks coach for both the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Liberty, his second stint at the school.

Prior to that, he spent eight years as a coach at Nichols State University, serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach during his tenure. He was an assistant under Daye in Daye's final season at Nicholls. At Nichols, the Colonels ranked in the top 15 in Division I FCS in rushing offense each season. In 2005 the team advanced to the FCS playoffs where they rushed for 3,648 yards and 38 touchdowns, and were ranked second nationally. Current Lions offensive Line coach Kevin Carrey held the same position at Nicholls under Kinney.

Prior to Nicholls, Kinney coached two seasons at Hofstra as the running backs coach, but before that, he served his first term at Liberty, coaching seven seasons on the offensive side of the ball. There he was an assistant with Daye under Sam Rutigliano.

Prior to his first stint at Liberty, Kinney coached at Wagner for two years as secondary/special teams coach (1991-92). In 1989 and 1990, Kinney spent two years in an Italian professional league, where he was the defensive coordinator with the Bologna Rebels in 1989 and the head coach for the Tolentino Orange Blades in 1990.

Kinney broke into the college coaching rankings in 1988, when he served as an assistant coach at Monmouth College, where he worked with the linebackers and special teams.

Kinney is a 1988 graduate of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he was a four-year starter for the Pioneers, earning his undergraduate degree in health and physical education. In 1993, Kinney earned a master's degree in education from Wagner.

A native of Monmouth, Ill., Kinney is married to the former Christine Richard. The couple has two children: a daughter, Colby (18) and a son, Christian (9).

A veteran coach, Bob Howell comes to Missouri Southern after nine years as a high school head coach in Louisiana, most recently serving as the athletic director and head football coach at Plaquemine High School. Howell will serve as the Lions' offensive coordinator. 

Howell spent three seasons at Plaquemine, leading his team to playoff appearances in each season. He was 18-15 in his tenure there. Prior to Plaquemine, Howell served as the head coach at Zachary High School for five seasons where he led the team to five-straight playoff appearances, a 49-16 overall record and four class 4A district titles. 

Howell was an assistant coach at McNeese State in the 2002 season, helping the team to a 13-2 record and a Southland Conference Championship. Prior to his stint at McNeese, Howell was the athletic director and head coach at Baker High School in Baker, La. for four seasons where he led the team to a 36-14 record. The team won four district titles and was a state finalist in 2001. 

Howell also spent time on the coaching staffs at Louisiana-Lafayette, as well as two other high schools (Airline and Lake Charles) in Louisiana. 

A two-time Baton Rouge High School Coach of the Year, as well as the 2001 Louisiana Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, Howell graduated from McNeese State with a bachelors degree in 1978. He earned a masters degree in education in 1980. 

Howell has a wife, Shannon and has one son, Matthew and two daughters, Jennifer and Lauren. 

Veteran collegiate coach Wally Ake is in his first year as a coach with the Missouri Southern football team and will serve as the Lions' defensive coordinator. 

Ake comes to Southern after a year as the defensive coordinator at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.

He had previously coached Liberty’s secondary and linebackers from 2009-11. In 2011, the Flames were among the defensive leaders in the Big South Conference in numerous categories. Liberty had the top scoring defense in the league (22.0) and ranked first in pass defense efficiency (119.7).

Rashad Watson comes to Missouri Southern after serving two seasons coaching the defense at Benedict College. Watson will be responsible for coaching the defensive backs at Southern. 

While at Benedict, the secondary at Benedict led all of Division II in interceptions at the end of the regular season. Free safety Marquez Gibson led the team with six while being selected first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Previously, Watson came to Benedict by way of Nicholls State University. He coached the defensive backs at Nicholls having two players selected to the All-Conference Teams.  He also held the positions of NFL liaison, making way for Antonio Robinson's free agent selection and Robinson later earned a Super Bowl ring while be a part of the Green Bay Packers.

Watson spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with Morehouse College, specializing with the secondary and assisting with special teams. During his time there, his unit produced the SIAC's 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Jeffrey Cargile, and three All-Conference selections.

Prior to his stint with Morehouse College, Watson spent five years coaching on the prep level in Alabama. He spent 2004-05 with Anniston High, coaching both the offensive and defensive backfields, and then moved on to Midfield High where he served as the school's defensive coordinator. Watson held that post until 2007.

Watson played on the collegiate level at Alabama A&M from 1997-2001, and was a four-year letter winner, earning a starting role as a redshirt freshman. The Bulldogs' 2000 defensive unit put together one of the best season's in school history, finishing eighth nationally in total defense. The 2000 unit still holds the NCAA record for least amount of rushing yards allowed in a season (39.7 yards/game).

Watson is married to the former Katrina Woods of Greensboro, Ala. The couple have two sons, Amari and Aiden.

Derek Moore is in his first year on the Missouri Southern football staff as the offensive line coach.

Moore comes to Southern after three seasons at Division I Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. 

During his first year at WIU, Moore assisted with an offensive line unit that produced First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) selection Mike Lamphear. The line helped pave the way for a record-setting group in passing yards and total yards, while ranking among the 'Top 25' nationally in five different statistic categories. Last year eight different lineman started and nine lettered.

Moore spent the 2009 season as an assistant defensive line coach at MVFC member Northern Iowa, working with the defensive tackles. He spent three years as co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Upper Iowa University, working directly with the offensive line.

He started his coaching career in 1999 at Ellsworth Community College and spent two years as the offensive and defensive line coach, in addition to serving as the head strength and conditioning coach.

After a year at Iowa Central CC (2001) and Ames (IA) High School (2002), Moore took over as the assistant offensive line coach at St. Cloud State University. He spent two years working as the university's assistant strength and conditioning coach.

In 2005, Moore went to Lincoln University to take over as special teams coordinator and offensive line coach while adding head strength and conditioning coach duties.  He coached at Upper Iowa from 2006-09, as well as a stint at Northern Iowa for a season. 

Moore is a proud father of son Elijah (5).

Randall State joins the Lions after serving as a coach at Lake City High School in South Carolina. He will be responsible for coaching the wide receivers at Southern. 

State comes to Southern after coaching seven years on the high school level that included also coaching the sport of basketball, as well as caoching AAU teams. 

State played for Daye at Liberty where he was an All-Conference pick in 2001-02, as well as a pre-season All-American. From there, he went on to play in the Arena League for four seasons. 

State is single and is a 2003 graduate of Liberty. 

Byron Anderson is in his first year as an assistant coach with the Missouri Southern football team. He will be responsible for assisting with the defensive backs. 

Anderson comes to Southern after a season with Division I Arkansas-Pine Bluff. There he assisted the head coach with day-to-day operations and scheduled and organized the defensive practice schedule. He was also responsible for breaking down defensive passing game for the team's opponents. 

Prior to UAPB, Anderson served as both an assistant track and football coach for six years at Ruston (La.) High School. He also was an Adult Literacy and GED Instructor each year, as well. Prior to Ruston, Anderson was the head football coach and athletic director at Ringgold (La.) High School for three years. While there he was responsible for not only the administration of the football team, but each of Ringgold's sports. While there, he helped lead the team to the playoffs each season and was the District Coach of the Year in 2004. 

He got his start in teaching at Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School where he served as a special education instructor for two years. 

Anderson played collegiately at Grambling State, graduating in 2002 with a degree in criminal justice. He was a member of three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships and helped the team to the National Black College Football Championship in both 2000 and 2001. 

Chandler Tygard is entering his first season with the Missouri Southern football team and will be responsible for coaching the defensive linemen.

He will be recruiting Texas and Mississippi junior colleges for the Lions.

He comes to Southern after serving as the defensive line coach and coaching special teams at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Cumberlands finished the 2012 season with a 10-2 record and #7 NAIA national ranking. The defense ranked 8th in sacks, 10th in rushing defense, and blocked 8 total kicks, setting a school record. Coach Tygard coached two Mid South Conference All-Conference defensive linemen, Nick Smith and Jared Stippert. Smith was also named a NAIA All-American.

Prior to the Cumberlands, Tygard coached at the University of Tennessee where he worked as the defensive quality control coach for the Volunteers from 2010-2011. He was the right hand man to defensive coordinator, Justin Wilcox, and assisted linebackers coaches, Lance Thompson and Peter Sirmon. He coached A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt, the first true freshman linebackers to ever start for the Tennessee Volunteers. Both players were chosen as first-team Freshman All-SEC selections.

In 2009, Tygard was the special teams quality control coach assisting special teams coordinator, Eddie Gran and managing the defensive playbook for defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin. For the 2009 "Chick Fil' A Bowl," he was the interim special teams coordinator for the bowl game after the departure of Eddie Gran to Florida State.

From 2005-2008, Tygard worked as the student assistant to defensive coordinator, John Chavis, and defensive backs coach, Larry Slade. His primary role was to assist with opponent film breakdown and running the offensive scout team.

During Tygard's tenure at Tennessee, fifteen defensive players were drafted into the NFL including six first round picks: Jason Allen, Justin Harrell, Jerod Mayo, Robert Ayers, Dan Williams, and Eric Berry. In 2010, while coaching linebackers, Tygard helped coach Nick Reveiz to a team-leading 108 tackles. Reveiz also was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, presented to a former walk-on having the biggest impact on his team.

Chandler hails from Nashville, TN and was a graduate from Montgomery Bell Academy. He is a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelors degree in History. He is engaged to Lauren Castle of South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

Chass Williams is back for another year as the assistant to the head coach with the Missouri Southern football team. Williams specializes in working with the Lions' offensive linemen, as well as assisting with the special teams unit. 

Beginning his 17th year associated with college football, Williams played his college football at Tarleton State where he was an All-American linebacker in 1994 and 95. A four-year letterwinner for the Texans, he graduated in 1995. He is also a member of the Texas High School Coaches All-Decade Team of the 90's. 

Williams is engaged to be married to Dr. Kristie E. Jones.