SENATOBIA – Northwest Mississippi Community College has appointed Rashad Pittman as defensive line coach for the 2020 season, rounding out the Rangers' coaching staff.

"I am incredibly excited to be here," Pittman said. "I have heard nothing but great things about the Northwest coaching staff. This is a competitive conference and I feel that it is the best junior college conference in the nation. To be able to join this program and compete at an elite level is very enticing and I am ready to get on board."

Pittman is the third new assistant coaching hire for the Northwest football staff, joining defensive coordinator Paige Anders and defensive backs coach Charles Jones.

Pittman comes to Northwest after a two-year stint at the NCAA Division II level with Southern Arkansas University, where the Muleriders boasted one of the most robust defensive line units in the Great American Conference. Under Pittman's direction, the Muleriders ranked as one of the top three defensive units for rushing defense, sacks and total defense. 

Pittman specifically coordinated the rushing, third down and red zone defensive play-calling, producing five All-Great American Conference performers and two NCAA All-Americans over the previous two seasons. Pittman also helped develop Cliff Harris Award finalists DaVondrick Lison and Antonio Washington, along with the conference's runner-up in tackles-for-loss, Anthony Washington.

Prior to his time at SAU, Pittman held a stint at Northeastern State (Tahlequah, Okla.) as the RiverHawks' defensive line coach, helping guide a defensive line unit that totaled 48.5 tackles for lost yardage with 14.0 of those coming as sacks.
 
Before his stint with the RiverHawks, Pittman spent the 2016 season as the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends Coach at Carthage High School in Carthage, Mo., following a previous stint as the school's defensive line coach from 2011-13. During the 2016 season, Pittman helped Carthage win its first conference championship since 1987 and appear in the Class 5A Missouri State Quarterfinal game.
 
Pittman also spent two seasons at traditional Division II powerhouse Pittsburg State University during the 2014 and 2015 season. In his initial season with the Gorillas, Pittman served as a graduate assistant with the interior offensive linemen and helped coach the 2014 offense to lead the conference in total offense and first downs. The 2014 squad also was named co-champions of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
 
During the 2015 season, Pittman served as a defensive graduate assistant and coached the defensive tackles. The defensive unit finished with 33 sacks that season, 22 of those were attributed to the defensive line.
 
As a player, Pittman was an All-MIAA performer at Pittsburg State and a two-time captain and a four-year letterman. Additionally, Pittman received the Ronald Moore team award, which is presented to the most outstanding freshman.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., Pittman graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 2005. In his time as a prep player, Pittman played for two state championships. Additionally, he served as a team captain, was selected as an All-District Performer and was voted Co-District Offensive Lineman of the Year.
 
Pittman earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Pittsburg State University. He was also inducted into the collegiate honor society, Phi Kappa Phi.
 
Pittman and his wife, Allison, recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary. The couple have one child, Rashad, Jr. (2) and are expecting another child in December 2020.