The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
New Defensive Staff Brings Over 40 Years of NFL Experience
3/28/2025 8:58:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – As spring practice ramps up into high gear for the next month, UAB's new defensive staff has deep NFL roots to help them influence schemes heading into the 2025 season.
Trent Dilfer named Steve Russ as UAB's new Defensive Coordinator in December of 2024, and the two have since assembled a defensive staff that has NFL flavor all over it.
Russ, who played in the NFL for four years and coached in the league for six, tapped into two familiar faces in Secondary Coach Brent Vieselmeyer and Defensive Line Coach Sam Mills III, who all three coached together with the Washington Commanders. Vieselmeyer coached in the NFL for seven+ seasons, while Mills III spent 17 years in the NFL overall with 15 of them coming in Carolina.
Also in December, Cornerbacks Coach Ryan Lewis Sr. was hired from Alabama State where he served as the Defensive Coordinator for three years. He turned the Hornets into an FCS national powerhouse on defense, finishing third nationally in total defense each of the last two seasons. Lewis spent time with the Miami Dolphins earlier in his career.
Most recently, nickels coach Tee Mitchell and linebackers coach Jonathan Celestin joined the staff in March of 2025. Mitchell was the Defensive Coordinator at Edward Waters University in 2024, and prior to that spent 2019, 2022 and 2023 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is Mercer's all-time leading rusher.
Celestin was a standout linebacker at the University of Minnesota and had a three-year playing career in the NFL. He most recently was a graduate assistant at the University of Virginia where he coached linebackers.
Additionally, Special Teams Coordinator John Jones was retained and promoted to the defensive ends coach. In 2024, Jones developed Desmond Little into a First Team All-AAC performer, while in his first season as Special Teams Coordinator, his unit improved 74 spots and finished 35th nationally which included a First Team All-American punter returner and the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
UAB DEFENSIVE STAFF:
Steve Russ – Defensive Coordinator (10 years NFL experience)
Sam Mills III – Defensive Line (17 years NFL experience)
John Jones – Special Team Coordinator/Defensive Ends
Jonathan Celestin – Linebackers (3 years NFL experience)
Brent Vieselmeyer – Secondary Coach (7 years NFL experience)
Ryan Lewis Sr. – Cornerbacks Coach (1 year NFL experience)
Tee Mitchell – Nickels (3 years NFL experience)
For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
2025 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS:
2025 UAB Football season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Learn more about football season tickets, pricing and tailgating options here, or by contacting the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Fans may also request additional information here.
Trent Dilfer named Steve Russ as UAB's new Defensive Coordinator in December of 2024, and the two have since assembled a defensive staff that has NFL flavor all over it.
Russ, who played in the NFL for four years and coached in the league for six, tapped into two familiar faces in Secondary Coach Brent Vieselmeyer and Defensive Line Coach Sam Mills III, who all three coached together with the Washington Commanders. Vieselmeyer coached in the NFL for seven+ seasons, while Mills III spent 17 years in the NFL overall with 15 of them coming in Carolina.
Also in December, Cornerbacks Coach Ryan Lewis Sr. was hired from Alabama State where he served as the Defensive Coordinator for three years. He turned the Hornets into an FCS national powerhouse on defense, finishing third nationally in total defense each of the last two seasons. Lewis spent time with the Miami Dolphins earlier in his career.
Most recently, nickels coach Tee Mitchell and linebackers coach Jonathan Celestin joined the staff in March of 2025. Mitchell was the Defensive Coordinator at Edward Waters University in 2024, and prior to that spent 2019, 2022 and 2023 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is Mercer's all-time leading rusher.
Celestin was a standout linebacker at the University of Minnesota and had a three-year playing career in the NFL. He most recently was a graduate assistant at the University of Virginia where he coached linebackers.
Additionally, Special Teams Coordinator John Jones was retained and promoted to the defensive ends coach. In 2024, Jones developed Desmond Little into a First Team All-AAC performer, while in his first season as Special Teams Coordinator, his unit improved 74 spots and finished 35th nationally which included a First Team All-American punter returner and the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
UAB DEFENSIVE STAFF:
Steve Russ – Defensive Coordinator (10 years NFL experience)
Sam Mills III – Defensive Line (17 years NFL experience)
John Jones – Special Team Coordinator/Defensive Ends
Jonathan Celestin – Linebackers (3 years NFL experience)
Brent Vieselmeyer – Secondary Coach (7 years NFL experience)
Ryan Lewis Sr. – Cornerbacks Coach (1 year NFL experience)
Tee Mitchell – Nickels (3 years NFL experience)
For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
2025 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS:
2025 UAB Football season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Learn more about football season tickets, pricing and tailgating options here, or by contacting the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Fans may also request additional information here.
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