CLINTON, S.C. ? Presbyterian College head football coach Bobby Bentley noted some new additions to his 2008 coaching staff on Monday.
Assistant Head Coach and linebackers coach Phil Magdic was promoted to Defensive Coordinator. He replaces Julius Dixon.
Thomas Neel was named PC's new safeties coach, while Andrew Ford was named PC's new cornerbacks coach.
PC wide receivers coach Jeff Scott is departing PC to pursue a graduate assistant position at Clemson where he will join his father on Clemson's staff.
Magdic came to PC to join Bentley's first staff in 2007 after a successful stint as the head coach at Darlington High School in Darlington, S.C.
During his tenure at Darlington, Magdic was twice named Region Coach of the Year, earning the 6-AAA Coach of the Year honor in 2003 and the Region 5-AAA Coach of the Year honor in his final year in charge in 2006.
The Athletic Director at Darlington, Magdic turned around the program in his four years in charge, going 24-22 in his four years at the helm. In his final season in 2006, Darlington finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the South Carolina AAA Playoffs.
Magdic went to Darlington after a three-year run as Bentley's Defensive Coordinator at Byrnes from 2000-02. He was a part of Byrnes' first state championship in 2002.
Neel spent his last nine seasons in coaching prior to PC at Wofford where he coached from 1998-2006.
Neel began his time with the Terriers in 1998 by coaching the offensive line before coaching the outside linebackers from 1999-2006.
He began his coaching career as a football administrative assistant at East Tennessee State in 1997.
A graduate of ETSU where he played baseball, Neel is married to Laurel.
“I am ecstatic to be a part of PC's transition and to be a part of the family and coaching staff at PC,” noted Neel.
Ford comes to PC after spending the last three seasons as a graduate assistant cornerbacks coach at Clemson University. During his time at Clemson the Tigers made three bowl games, playing in the Champs Sports Bowl, the Music City Bowl and the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
A co-captain on Clemson's 1996 team, Ford as a player with the Tigers played in two Peach Bowls and one Gator Bowl.
Once his playing career was over he coached at the high school level in both South Carolina and North Carolina before accepting the position with his alma mater.
A twin, who played with his twin brother Peter at Clemson, Ford is married to Marjon. The couple have two children currently in nine-year-old son Jamauri and 17-month-old daughter Jasmine.
Ford and Marjon are expecting their third child in September of 2008.
“I consider working on this staff a great opportunity,” remarked Ford. “It is a great time to be here and I am just happy to be a part of what the future holds for PC Football.”
The Blue Hose concluded their first season under Bobby Bentley and their first season in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision with an overall record of 6-5.
Bentley and the Blue Hose renew an old rivalry when they begin year No. 2 in the FCS in 2008, opening the year on Saturday, Aug. 30 against 2007 Southern Conference champion Wofford.
