The Valparaiso University football program has welcomed two new members to its coaching staff prior to the start of the spring season as head coach Landon Fox has named former NFL offensive lineman Michael Brewster the team’s offensive line coach and welcomed alum Jack Jarnigan back to the program as tight ends coach.

Brewster joins Valpo’s staff after serving as the tight ends coach at Tennessee State University from 2022-2023, where he signed 15 players (10 tight ends and five offensive linemen) in four signing periods. He was on staff at the University of Cincinnati for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, helping the Bearcats to a pair of American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships. Cincinnati reached the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Brewster’s first season on staff in 2020 before earning a place in the College Football Playoffs and facing No. 1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl national semifinal in 2021.

Brewster was an offensive line graduate assistant at Bowling Green in 2019 and Western Michigan in 2018 after getting his start in coaching by instructing the offensive and defensive lines at Orangewood Christian School in 2017.

“We’re excited to have Coach Brewster join our staff,” Fox said. “He has experience at a variety of levels and played at a high level collegiately at Ohio State and in the NFL. He has worked his way up the coaching ranks with stops at Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Cincinnati and most recently, Tennessee State. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from a coaching standpoint.”

Brewster’s playing career began to take off during his prep days at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Fla., when he earned All-American honors by USA Today, Parade and EA Sports. Brewster was listed as the No. 1 center in the class of 2008 and was a five-star recruit on his way to playing collegiately at The Ohio State University. Jim Tressel’s 2008 recruiting class was known as the “Brew Crew” because Brewster played a crucial role in bringing together the class, which was rated the fourth best in the country.

While playing for the Buckeyes, Brewster started 49 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in program history, and earned a variety of awards and honors. He was a Freshman All-American in 2008, garnered All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2011 and was the only junior to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center in college football, in 2010, when he was also named a First Team All-American.

While playing at Ohio State, the 2011 team captain helped lead his team to three Big Ten championships and victories in both the 2010 Rose Bowl and 2011 Sugar Bowl. After his collegiate career came to an end, Brewster was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and made his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2012 season. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars – seeing action in 26 games and making 10 starts – and later had stints with the Miami Dolphins (2014) and New Orleans Saints (2015).

Brewster’s offensive line coach with the Jaguars was Andy Heck, who has filled that same role with the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and owns three Super Bowl rings. Brewster played with current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman at Ohio State and they later coached together at Cincinnati.

“I’m extremely excited and grateful to be joining Coach Fox’s staff at Valparaiso as the Offensive Line Coach,” Brewster said. “Coach Fox has built an impressive culture and mindset within the team, and I feel confident I can execute on his vision of style of play and physicality he expects to see from the guys up front. I was born in the trenches, played at the highest levels and played for some incredible teachers and people, guys who have won National Championships and Super Bowls. My passion is not only to develop guys from a blocking and striking perspective, but to develop them as young men, make sure they earn a meaningful degree and to teach them how discipline and accountability will spill over into all areas of their lives.”

Jarnigan returns to his alma mater after spending the last two seasons on staff at New Mexico State University (FBS) as an offensive line graduate assistant under head coach Jerry Kill. His first season in Las Cruces in 2022 saw the program win the Quick Lane Bowl, completing a turnaround after the Aggies had gone 2-10 the previous season. New Mexico State boasted a 10-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Conference USA play in 2023, a season that culminated with appearances in the Conference USA Championship and the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.

Prior to joining the Aggies, Jarnigan served as the offensive line coach, tight ends coach and running backs coach at Wisconsin-River Falls (Division III). UW-River Falls boasted an offense that led its conference and ranked third nationally in 2021. Jarnigan oversaw three all-conference selections, including First Team All-American tight end Ben Beise, who inked a training camp deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jarnigan also helped lead the Falcons to their first ever postseason win.

Jarnigan spent time on the defensive side of the ball at Marian University (NAIA) in Indianapolis, where he oversaw the development of two first team all-conference defensive linemen and led a position group that finished second in NAIA in sacks per game during the 2021 spring season. Jarnigan began his coaching career at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. as a quality control coach, working with the offensive line.

“It is an honor to join the coaching staff at Valparaiso University,” Jarnigan said. “I spent four and a half years here as a student-athlete, and had so many people impact my life in a positive way. I want to be able to do the same for the young men in this program and help bring a Pioneer League championship back here.”

Jarnigan was a four-year starter at Valpo, where he was a fixture on the offensive line from 2016-2019 after redshirting as a true freshman in 2015. The Los Gatos, Calif. native was a fifth-year senior and team captain during Fox’s maiden voyage as Valpo head coach in 2019, when he was named All-PFL Honorable Mention. During his time with the Brown & Gold, Jarnigan spearheaded the team’s community service efforts and earned both his undergraduate degree in sport management (December 2018) and his master’s in sports administration (December 2019).

“Jack is a tremendous addition to our staff,” Fox said. “He’s a guy who played here for five years and laid the foundation for our staff when I became the head coach in 2019. He was a team captain, which says a lot about his leadership. He’s a guy who has elevated quickly in the coaching profession, which says a lot about his relationships, intelligence and understanding of the game, both recruiting and schematically. His awareness and intentionality behind things that he does is very high. He knows the Valpo way, and he understands what we’re looking for in recruiting. He has good experience at all levels of college football.”

What They’re Saying About Coach Brewster

Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator: “Mike Brewster is a driven individual who cares about his players, builds relationships and will have a positive impact not only on the offensive line, but the entire Valpo football community.”

Max Warner, Bowling Green Co-Offensive Coordinator: “Mike Brewster will bring instant credibility to Valpo’s offensive line room. His exceptional playing career and coaching experiences make him more than qualified to lead the most important position on the field. Mike has been a leader who is extremely detailed in his work, always learning and looking for ways to improve, and his personality will attract the top student-athletes to Valparaiso. I look forward to watching how hard the Valpo offensive line plays for Coach Brewster.”

Scott Baumgartner, Tennessee State Assistant Coach: “Michael Brewster is an excellent football coach and a better person. He’s a great recruiter, outstanding relationship builder with student-athletes and a very knowledgeable coach. Valpo is getting an excellent coach and person.”

What They’re Saying About Coach Jarnigan

Andrew Mitchell, New Mexico State Offensive Line Coach: “Coach Jarnigan played a big role in us turning around the program at NMSU. He brings great passion and energy to his work and I know he’ll do the same for his alma mater.”

David Elson, Wake Forest Defensive Analyst: “Jack is one of the best young coaches I have ever worked with and he comes by it honestly because he is from a great coaching family. Valparaiso football got better with the addition of Jack. He will rise fast in our profession.”