Seider Hired as Assistant Coach
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head coach Jim McElwain announced Thursday that Ja'Juan Seider will join his UF coaching staff as an assistant. Seider has spent the last four years at West Virginia as the Mountaineers running backs coach.
A native of Belle Glade, Fla., and a former standout quarterback at Glades Central High, Seider has a great deal of high school coaching experience in his home state. He served as the quarterbacks coach at Lake Worth High from 2006-08, where he coached U.S. Elite 11 and U.S. Army All-American game selection quarterback Star Jackson (2007).
Seider was the offensive coordinator at Palm Beach Lakes High from 2003-05 where he helped the team to the Class 6A regional finals in 2003 and 2004, while coaching three players who earned first-team all-state honors. He was also a member of the coaching staff at Glades Central High School from 2001-02 where he worked with running backs.
As a player, Seider earned All-America honors and won the Doug Williams Award for National Offensive Player of the Year and the Jake Gaither Award (considered the Heisman Trophy of Historically Black Colleges) following a spectacular senior year at Florida A&M where he passed for 2,512 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was also named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and went on to be selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
He began his collegiate playing career at West Virginia and earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from WVU in 2000 and a master's degree in athletic coaching in 2010.
At WVU over the past four years, Seider tutored Wendell Smallwood, who was the Big 12 rushing champion in 2015 with 1,519 yards. Smallwood was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection and a fifth-round NFL Draft selection of the Philadelphia Eagles a year ago. In 2014, he coached a WVU offense that ranked No. 9 nationally in passing offense, No. 11 in first down offense, No. 12 in total offense and No. 34 in scoring offense.
One year prior in 2013, Seider recruited current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims, who transferred to WVU for his final collegiate season after he spent four years at Houston. During that season, Sims rushed for 1,095 yards on 208 carries (5.3 avg) and 11 touchdowns, while catching 45 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns. He was named first team All-Big 12 while adding the honor of Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Sims was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
As a team in 2016, the Mountaineers ranked 25th in the country in rushing offense and fifth in the Big 12 at 228.4 ypg.
Seider returned to West Virginia in 2013 after serving as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Marshall since 2010.
During his three-year stint at Marshall, he coached the running backs, organized recruiting territories and developed recruiting strategies. Seider was named Conference USA's top recruiter in 2012 and was credited with signing the best class in the league.
Two of his top recruits were quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was named the 2012 C-USA Player of the Year, and running back Kevin Grooms. Three of his freshman backs averaged more than five yards a carry in 2012 and the offense-finished No. 6 nationally in total offense.
In 2011, his freshman running back Travon Van earned All-Conference USA honors and Seider helped lead the Herd to the championship of the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.
Seider came to Marshall from West Virginia, where he served as a graduate assistant in 2008 and 2009. His responsibilities included coordinating position drills with quarterbacks, breaking down game film and assisting in the recruiting process.
While at WVU, he helped in the development of three of the Mountaineer's top quarterbacks, Pat White, Jarrett Brown and Geno Smith. He was part of a coaching staff that posted an 18-8 record and played in the Meineke Car Care and Gator Bowls.
Seider is married to the former Brandi Smith, and they have three children - Jaden, Ava and Brenley.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Head Coach Jim McElwain:
"We are excited to have Ja'Juan in the Gator family. A lot is talked about his ability to recruit, but he is more than that – he is a great coach as well. Recruiting is about relationships and he does a great job of connecting and relating to players not only while is recruiting them, but while they are play for him and well after their playing days are over."
Assistant Coach Ja'JuanSeider:
"I've always had an affinity for this university and am honored to have the opportunity to join the Florida Gators family. I look forward to working with Coach Mac and his staff. I can't wait to meet the players, spend time with them and help them achieve their goals."
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head coach Jim McElwain announced Thursday that Ja'Juan Seider will join his UF coaching staff as an assistant. Seider has spent the last four years at West Virginia as the Mountaineers running backs coach.
A native of Belle Glade, Fla., and a former standout quarterback at Glades Central High, Seider has a great deal of high school coaching experience in his home state. He served as the quarterbacks coach at Lake Worth High from 2006-08, where he coached U.S. Elite 11 and U.S. Army All-American game selection quarterback Star Jackson (2007).
Seider was the offensive coordinator at Palm Beach Lakes High from 2003-05 where he helped the team to the Class 6A regional finals in 2003 and 2004, while coaching three players who earned first-team all-state honors. He was also a member of the coaching staff at Glades Central High School from 2001-02 where he worked with running backs.
As a player, Seider earned All-America honors and won the Doug Williams Award for National Offensive Player of the Year and the Jake Gaither Award (considered the Heisman Trophy of Historically Black Colleges) following a spectacular senior year at Florida A&M where he passed for 2,512 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was also named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and went on to be selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
He began his collegiate playing career at West Virginia and earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from WVU in 2000 and a master's degree in athletic coaching in 2010.
At WVU over the past four years, Seider tutored Wendell Smallwood, who was the Big 12 rushing champion in 2015 with 1,519 yards. Smallwood was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection and a fifth-round NFL Draft selection of the Philadelphia Eagles a year ago. In 2014, he coached a WVU offense that ranked No. 9 nationally in passing offense, No. 11 in first down offense, No. 12 in total offense and No. 34 in scoring offense.
One year prior in 2013, Seider recruited current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims, who transferred to WVU for his final collegiate season after he spent four years at Houston. During that season, Sims rushed for 1,095 yards on 208 carries (5.3 avg) and 11 touchdowns, while catching 45 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns. He was named first team All-Big 12 while adding the honor of Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Sims was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
As a team in 2016, the Mountaineers ranked 25th in the country in rushing offense and fifth in the Big 12 at 228.4 ypg.
Seider returned to West Virginia in 2013 after serving as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Marshall since 2010.
During his three-year stint at Marshall, he coached the running backs, organized recruiting territories and developed recruiting strategies. Seider was named Conference USA's top recruiter in 2012 and was credited with signing the best class in the league.
Two of his top recruits were quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was named the 2012 C-USA Player of the Year, and running back Kevin Grooms. Three of his freshman backs averaged more than five yards a carry in 2012 and the offense-finished No. 6 nationally in total offense.
In 2011, his freshman running back Travon Van earned All-Conference USA honors and Seider helped lead the Herd to the championship of the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.
Seider came to Marshall from West Virginia, where he served as a graduate assistant in 2008 and 2009. His responsibilities included coordinating position drills with quarterbacks, breaking down game film and assisting in the recruiting process.
While at WVU, he helped in the development of three of the Mountaineer's top quarterbacks, Pat White, Jarrett Brown and Geno Smith. He was part of a coaching staff that posted an 18-8 record and played in the Meineke Car Care and Gator Bowls.
Seider is married to the former Brandi Smith, and they have three children - Jaden, Ava and Brenley.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Head Coach Jim McElwain:
"We are excited to have Ja'Juan in the Gator family. A lot is talked about his ability to recruit, but he is more than that – he is a great coach as well. Recruiting is about relationships and he does a great job of connecting and relating to players not only while is recruiting them, but while they are play for him and well after their playing days are over."
Assistant Coach Ja'JuanSeider:
"I've always had an affinity for this university and am honored to have the opportunity to join the Florida Gators family. I look forward to working with Coach Mac and his staff. I can't wait to meet the players, spend time with them and help them achieve their goals."
