By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For all of the experienced coaches that Tennessee Tech head football coach Dewayne Alexander is bringing on to his Golden Eagle staff, there's also some exciting young coaches ready to make their mark.

Without a doubt, Adam Mims is going to make one.

"I think this is going to be a great opportunity," Mims said. "I'm excited about our staff, about our players, the program and the direction it's heading in under Coach Alexander. We have a lot of guys on this staff that have a lot of football knowledge, vast football knowledge. We're going to lean on one another. We've got guys who have been coaching for a very long time and some younger guys. That mix is going to help us out in the long run."

Mims will oversee the wide receivers for the Golden Eagles – and that's a position where there will be some shoes to fill after the departure of graduate Dontez Byrd.

"With Byrd leaving, his production just speaks for itself," Mims said. "We're going to have to have some guys step up. We're going to have to have some leadership in our group, but I'm excited about our group. We have a lot of potential with what we have. We just have to work and we've got a lot of work to do. I think we really have some guys who can be difference makers."

Alexander speaks highly of the young coach.

"Adam was an outstanding player at Furman," Alexander said. "He had a tremendous career there, played in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started out in physical therapy and wanted to get into coaching, so he went over to Samford and worked with Chris Hatcher, then went to Presbyterian.

"He was highly recommended by (Mercer head coach) Bobby Lamb, who coached Adam when he was at Furman. He knew what kind of player he was and how he was also an excellent student-athlete. Adam has had a tremendous relationship with his players and he's an excellent recruiter. It's also good when a guy has the NFL on their background – it's good for players and it's good for recruiting. It's positive."

Alexander continued, "More importantly, I was very impressed with his commitment to building a relationship with his players. That was really the first thing he talked to me about whenever he visited. In putting together a staff, you want guys that are highly recommended by people that you know and trust. Tre (Lamb) knew Adam and it's very important to a coordinator to have people they'd want on their side of the ball. Tre was impressed with him when they talked at Mercer, and I think he'll be an excellent addition to our staff."

He'll be working alongside offensive coordinator Lamb, who has been hailed by many of his peers as a great, young offensive mind.

"Tre has got a very, very bright future and I'm excited that he's brought me along," Mims said. "I think what we're going to do on offense is going to be different. It's going to be good for this program. We just have some pieces that we have to fill, but we'll be able to do that. With his knowledge of the game at his age, it's uncanny. But it's going to be fun, it's going to be fast-paced and hopefully we'll be able to put a lot of points on the board."

Mims comes to Cookeville following two seasons at Presbyterian College as the Blue Hose's wide receivers coach and passing game co-coordinator. During his time there, he oversaw All-Big South Conference receiver Dashawn Davis. Mims also served as the punt return coordinator and PC's unit ranked second in the BSC.

While at Presbyterian, Mims focused on recruiting in North and South Atlanta as well as Alabama – areas that Alexander sees as a priority among Tech's recruiting pathways.

"I was born and raised in Birmingham, and Alabama is a place where there's a lot of talent," Mims said. "There's a lot of hidden gems in Birmingham and all over Alabama. We're going to continue to hit those places hard, especially with me being a hometown kid from there. I'm going to take great pride in recruiting there. Atlanta as well – I've been recruiting there for the last couple of years now and have been able to form some good relationships with the high school coaches there. Those are two spots in the Southeast that just ooze talent and we're going to try to hit it as hard as we can, get our logo out there and let people know that this is a great institution and a great university and a great program."

Before his tenure in Clinton, S.C., Mims spent a year as the offensive analyst for the Samford football program, compiling scouting report books, breaking down opponent stats and film breakdown. With the aid of his efforts, the Bulldogs finished third in the nation in passing offense, seventh in total offense and the top team in completion percentage.

"I was afforded a great opportunity under Coach Hatcher (at Samford) to learn under him," Mims said. "That helped me out a lot at Presbyterian with Coach Harold Nichols and Tommy Spangler. They're two of the best and they helped prep me for where I am today. I owe all of those guys a lot and I think it's going to help me in the long run."

Mims has also worked with prep level student-athletes and younger at the University of Tennessee football camp and the Dabo Sweeney Football Camp, managing more than 500 kids at each event and coaching various skills.

As a collegiate student-athlete at Furman, Mims was a team captain in 2010. He was named a second-team All-American by The Sports Network that same season, as well as the group's National Player of the Week following a contest at then-No. 13 South Carolina in September 2010.

He was named to the Orangeburg Touchdown Club's All-State team in 2009 and 2010, received the team's Vince Perone Award – Furman's equivalent of Tech's Robert Hill Johnson Award – in 2009 and 2010, and was Furman's receiver of the year in 2008 through 2010. Mims was a consensus selection to the All-Southern Conference team for three straight seasons.

He ended his career at Furman as the school's all-time leading receiver in career yards, career receptions and single-season receptions. Mims is fifth in Furman's record book in career touchdowns with 13.

Mims later went on to spend a season with the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 and then to the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes in 2012 as a receiver/punt returner and kick returner, before returning to the collegiate side to coach.

He comes from a background where he'll be able to relate to the wide receivers under his watch.

"Absolutely," he said. "Playing the position, it gives me good knowledge and a grasp on what they're having to deal with from day to day. That's helped me out in my coaching career. I just want to be someone they can lean on, not just for football knowledge, but for life. I've told them that football is going to end at some point and they're going to have to have qualities and characteristics, things to build upon to brighten their path and help them on after football."