Missouri S&T Athletics

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On-Field Video

Brett Sykes, a former defensive lineman at Ohio University, is in his fifth season on the Missouri S&T coaching staff in 2014 and will serve as the Miners' defensive coordinator this year.  In addition, Sykes will work with the Miners’ defensive line as he has done in his previous four seasons on the staff.

The Miners had one of the top defensive units in the GLVC and in NCAA Division II during the 2013 season, finishing second in the nation in pass efficiency defense, 14th in passing yards allowed and 13th in total defense.  The Miners were second in the GLVC in total defense behind league champion Indianapolis, allowing just 304.9 yards per contest and holding each of their final nine foes to 338 or fewer yards behind the GLVC's "Defensive Player of the Year" in 2013, linebacker Chris Emesih.

During the 2012 season, when the Miners finished with a 10-1 record, the S&T defense set a new school record with 45 quarterback sacks and led the nation in turnover margin, forcing more than two turnovers per game than its opponents.  S&T ranked 10th in NCAA Division II in total defense as it allowed just 293.1 yards per game during the 2012 campaign.

In the 2011 season, he guided a defensive line contingent that recorded a large percentage of the team’s 34 quarterback sacks and 91 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Sykes spent seven seasons in the Ohio program, five as a player from 2003-07 and two as defensive quality control working with the defensive line and assistant strength and conditioning during the 2009 campaign. As a player, he appeared in every game throughout his collegiate career at defensive tackle and totaled 92 tackles during his four seasons of eligibility.

As a senior, he finished with 37 tackles (15 solo) from the defensive tackle spot and finished fifth in the Mid-America Conference among defensive linemen with 27 tackles during the 2005 season.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Sykes received his bachelor’s degree in recreation management from Ohio in 2007.  Sykes and his wife, Malory, live in Rolla and have one daughter.