Rory Segrest enters his third season as the Jaguars assistant defensive line coach in 2024, having reached 30 years of coaching experience at the college and NFL levels.
In 2023, the Jaguars defense tied eighth in turnovers (27), ranked ninth in rushing yards per game (103.1) and eighth in third down defense (36.5 percent). In 2022, en route to an AFC South division title, he helped coach a unit that had the seventh-fewest opponent yards per rush (4.2) and had the 12th-lowest percentage of opponents rushes that resulted in a first down (24.3).
Segrest spent four seasons with the University of Louisiana (2018-21) as the assistant head coach/defensive line coach. In 2020, Louisiana's defensive line ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and 31st nationally in scoring defense (22.0) and 33rd in total defense (355.4). For the second straight season, Segrest helped DL Zi'Yon Hill to Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
During the 2019 season, Segrest coached Chauncey Manac, who earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors, while Hill earned a Second Team All-Conference nod. Under Coach Segrest's tutelage, the defensive line helped Louisiana finish the historic 2019 campaign with the top-ranked scoring defense (19.7 points allowed per game) and the second-best total defense (371.8 yards allowed per game) in the Sun Belt Conference.
Prior to his time with the Ragin' Cajuns, Segrest spent three seasons as the defensive line and specialists coach at Arkansas from 2014-16. Segrest helped the Razorbacks rank second in the Southeastern Conference and 12th nationally in rushing defense (116.5 rushing yards allowed per game) in 2015. He also helped develop DE Deatrich Wise, who led the SEC with 8.0 sacks during the 2015 season.
From 2011-13, Segrest served as the defensive line coach/special teams coordinator for Samford in his second stint with the school.
While with the Eagles, Segrest was the special teams quality control/assistant defensive line coach (2006-07), special teams coordinator (2007-09) and defensive line coach (2009-10). In 2006 and 2010, the Eagles won the NFC East and advanced to the NFC Championship game in 2008. Segrest also coached in the 2009 Pro Bowl.
In 2009 and 2010, the Eagles' defensive line units ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the NFL in sacks among defensive linemen. They ranked third (2010) and ninth (2009) in the league in tackles for loss by defensive linemen. Segrest also coached two-time Pro Bowler DE Trent Cole (2007, 2009) while with the Eagles.
Philadelphia's special teams finished third in the NFL in 2008 in field goals made, and Pro Bowl K David Akers broke franchise records with 33 field goals and 144 points scored. P Sav Rocca set a franchise record with his single-season net punt average of 37.9. Rocca and Akers were both named NFL Special Teams Player of the Month during the 2008 season.
Segrest's previous coaching stops include Samford from 2002-05 and Southeast Missouri State where he began in 1999 and added recruiting coordinator duties for 2000-01. He was also the defensive graduate assistant at Auburn University from 1997-99 working with the defensive line and special teams units.
His coaching career began under Gene Stallings as a student assistant at Alabama in 1994 after his playing career was cut short by an injury. He was a member of the Crimson Tide's 1992 National Championship Team and was also awarded the team's 1995 Co-Leadership Award.
A native of Waycross, Ga., and a graduate of Waycross High School, he earned his bachelor's degree in health-care management in 1996 from Alabama, where he met his wife, Jackie. They have one son, James.
