Paige Anders enters his fifth season as the Rangers' defensive coordinator in 2024.
Last season, Anders' defense ranked 19th in the NJCAA for fewest points allowed (22.6 points per game), but was one of only 15 teams to hold opponents to an average of less than 300 yards per game (14th; 290.0).
In 2022, Anders' defensive unit ranked 15th in the NJCAA for fewest points allowed, holding opponents to 20.4 points per game. The Rangers also racked up 34 sacks last season, ranking 10th in the nation, and 17 interceptions, good for fifth nationally.
Much like his first season on the Northwest coaching staff, Anders commanded another stout defense in 2021, helping Northwest to its second consecutive MACCC championship and to the inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs. The Rangers' defense ranked top five in the nation and No. 1 in the MACCC for fewest yards allowed, limiting opponents to an average of 243.7 yards per game. Only 87.2 of those yards came on the ground and the Rangers averaged 59.2 tackles a game.
Additionally, Northwest collected 10 interceptions in 2021, the most in the conference and tied for seventh in the nation. The Rangers' 24 sacks and six fumble recoveries were also among the top 20 nationally.
In his first season in Senatobia, Anders' defense ranked in the top five nationally, averaging 13.8 points per game and a conference-low 243.7 yards allowed per game. His defense raised eyebrows during the final three games of the season, as the Rangers outscored their opponents 125-32 and held a nationally ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast offense to just 13 points in the MACCC and National Community College Football championship game.
For the last four seasons, Anders' defense has been chock full of talent, including NJCAA All-American Jykeveous Hibbler (NC State), Stephen Hall (Washington State), Byron "Tank" Pearson (Ohio), Dimonyai Lacey (Temple) and Rod Daniels (Liberty).
Prior to his time at Northwest, Anders spent two seasons in the same position at Northeast Mississippi Community College. While at Northeast, he coached one of the toughest defensive units in the MACJC, a group that included NJCAA All-American and MACJC Defensive Player of the Year Sam Williams (Ole Miss). In 2019, Anders' pass defense at Northeast ranked No. 1 in the nation (126 yds. per game).
Before joining Northeast, Anders spent a year at Arkansas Tech University and three at Ouachita Baptist. In his lone season at ATU in 2014, he performed the duties of safeties coach and recruiting coordinator, helping the Wonder Boys become the third ranked defense in the GAC.
Shai Kobayashi blossomed during his senior season under Anders' tutelage. He became a NCAA Division II All-American after compiling 80 tackles, 10 passes defended and one fumble recovery for Arkansas Tech.
During his tenure with Ouachita Baptist, Anders served as defensive coordinator and helped guide the Tigers to their third Great American Conference (GAC) championship. Ouachita Baptist combined a high-powered offense with a stingy defense to outscore its opponents by an average of 44-27 over a five-game winning streak to close the regular season.
The Tigers qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for just the second time in program history by virtue of its GAC title. Anders' men did their job in the opening round by holding Ferris State (Mich.) University well below their average of 34.1 points per game, but Ouachita State was eliminated with a tough 24-19 road loss.
Anders had six student-athletes receive All-GAC recognition during his final season with the Tigers. Most notably were linemen Jon Rachal and Ernest Reed plus linebackers Luke Holt and Elijah Jones, who were each second team selections.
Ouachita Baptist finished in the top 20 nationally in turnover margin at plus-one and placed third in the GAC in scoring defense at 26.2 points per game under the watch of Anders in 2017.
The Tigers went a combined 14-8 during Anders' initial two seasons in Arkadelphia, Ark. Anders instructed nine all-conference standouts during that time, including two-time honoree Kendrick Henderson at linebacker.
Prior to his stint at ATU, Anders worked as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech for the 2011 spring semester.
Anders got his start in the coaching business at Valdosta State (Ga.) University in 2003. His primary responsibilities over a four-year stint included assisting with the secondary and linebackers as well as film breakdown for the entire defense.
It was during his stay with the Blazers that Anders captured his inaugural national title. Valdosta State secured the NCAA Division II championship in 2004 with a 36-31 triumph over Pittsburg State (Kan.) University.
Anders and the Blazers made three NCAA Division II playoff appearances. Among his pupils at Valdosta State was Maurice Leggett, who played a pair of seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Anders is well versed with football inside the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) after previously working at two separate schools in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC).
His first taste of the two-year level was at Butler (Kan.) Community College from 2007-10. He helped the Grizzlies claim back-to-back NJCAA national championships while teaching their defensive backs.
Butler downed Snow (Utah) College 56-27 to clinch the title during Anders' opening campaign with the team. One year later, the Grizzlies finished off the repeat with a thrilling 37-30 double overtime victory over Snow in their second straight Top of the Mountain Bowl.
Anders won his third KJCCC crown with Butler in 2010 and had the opportunity to earn a third national title. But the Grizzlies fell to Navarro (Texas) College by a narrow 13-12 margin in the Citizen's Bank Bowl to come just short of that goal.
Butler led the KJCCC in total defense and scoring defense during each of Anders' four seasons while racking up an incredible 42-5 record in that span. The Grizzlies also topped the league in interceptions in all but one year with Anders on their staff.
His most recent job in the NJCAA ranks was as the defensive coordinator at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. The Red Ravens allowed only 139.1 rushing yards per contest and were a solid 6-3 in home games during his stretch with the program from 2012-13.
Anders developed Martrell Spaight, who was named a first-team All-American by the NJCAA and was the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year. Spaight later signed with the University of Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Coffeyville lost to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in the KJCCC semifinals to the end the 2012 campaign with a 6-4 record. The 2013 edition of the Red Ravens improved upon their numbers defensively, but narrowly missed qualifying for the postseason.
Overall, Anders has won five league championships and reached the playoffs eight times during his prominent career. Six of his pupils have garnered NJCAA All-American status while 13 have inked with NCAA Division I institutions in conferences such as the SEC and Big 12.
Anders earned his Bachelor's degree in general studies from Valdosta State in 2006. He and his wife Erin have three sons, Beau (15), Jake (10) and Will (7).
