Georgia Southern Extra: Clay Helton lets all on-field coaches go except for Kevin Whitley

Kevin Whitley, chosen by Georgia Southern to navigate the football team for eight games as interim head coach, will be the lone member of the 2021 on-field coaching staff retained by new head coach Clay Helton, an athletic department spokesperson has confirmed.

Whitley was in his third season as cornerbacks coach when director of athletics Jared Benko promoted him on Sept. 26 following the firing of head coach Chad Lunsford after a 1-3 start.

Helton was hired Nov. 2 and allowed the coaching staff to continue doing the jobs they started through the completion of the schedule as he focused on evaluating the players and staff, recruiting and setting up his program for 2022.

Whitley's role on Helton's staff has not been determined, according to an athletic department spokesperson.

Helton and the department also will be announcing replacements for the remainder of the on-field staff and other positions amid a flurry of coaching hirings and firings in college football Sunday, Monday and beyond.

Assistant coaches not returning to the staff are Doug Ruse (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks; Scot Sloan (defensive coordinator, safeties), Victor Cabral (defensive line, recruiting coordinator), Travis Cunningham (inside linebackers), Jeremy Rowell (outside linebackers), Joe Graves (special teams, tight ends), Geep Wade (offensive line), Derrick Sherman (wide receivers) and Favian Upshaw (running backs).

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This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia Southern University football team coach Helton retains Whitley