For the second consecutive offseason, Stephen F. Austin coach Colby Carthel is searching for a new defensive coordinator. Joe Cauthen is leaving the Lumberjacks to become the defensive coordinator at Utah State.

The loss of Cauthen is another tough blow to an SFA team that had to replace Scott Power last year after he became the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech. It’s also bad timing, with the Lumberjacks scheduled to begin spring practice on March 20.

Cauthen has spent 27 of his 33 years as a coach at the collegiate level and will start his 22nd year as a defensive coordinator when the 2023 season begins. In his first season with SFA, Cauthen helped lead the ‘Jacks to the WAC title.

The veteran defensive coach has had numerous stops during his career, including working at Houston, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Texas A&M-Commerce, Trinity Valley, and Sherman High School. He returns to the FBS level after leaving Buffalo for Nacogdoches. 

While Carthel begins his search for a defensive coordinator, the job should attract many quality candidates considering the last two coaches who held that position have departed for FBS schools.