Jeremy DeSoto will enter his tenth year on the Evangel University coaching staff and eighth as the Valor defensive coordinator. He was also elevated to assistant head coach prior to the 2019 season.
DeSoto led one of the best defenses in the nation in 2023, helping the Valor go undefeated in the regular season. The Myers Brothers (Zach & Bradley) were both named AP All-Americans in the 2023 season, behind DeSoto's guidance. For his work as defensive coordinator, DeSoto was named the KCAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.
DeSoto helped Evangel rank near the top of the conference in each of his first three seasons as the defensive coordinator. Helping the Evangel defense rank near the top in the nation in nearly every defensive category, DeSoto has seen a pair of All-Americans in Josh Evange and Andreas Moeller in 2017 and 2018.
Following the 2017 season, the Louisiana native was recognized as the Heart Co-Assistant Coach of the Year with Evangel offensive coordinator Dennis Darnell. Eight players were named all-conference in 2017 led by All-American and Defensive Player of the Year, Josh Evans. Evans was also a two-time Cliff Harris Award Finalist after leading the conference in sacks and finishing second in the nation in sacks and fourth in tackles for a loss.
Prior to coming to Evangel, DeSoto served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Millsaps, an NCAA-III program, in 2013 and 2014. He was part of their conference championship and 9-1 season two years ago. He spent five years at Mississippi College (NCAA-III) from 2008-12 as a linebackers coach in addition to serving as director of football operations and video coordinator.
During his tenure at Mississippi College, DeSoto also had stints as a defensive backs coach, special teams coordinator, and defensive line coach. The team won a conference title in 2009 and advanced two rounds into the NCAA-III national tournament going 9-3 for the season.
DeSoto played collegiately at Louisiana College where he earned four varsity letters. Following his playing career, DeSoto stayed at LC for three more seasons as an assistant coach working as a linebackers coach, a special teams assistant and he was the assistant director of football operations.
The Shreveport, Louisiana native is a product of Evangel Christian Academy where, during his junior year, the team went 15-0, won the Louisiana Class 5A state championship, and ended the year ranked number one in the nation by USA Today and Fox Sports. In his four-year high school career at Evangel Christian Academy, DeSoto's team went 60-0 with four State Championships, along with a National Championship in 1999.
DeSoto has a degree in General Studies from Louisiana College and a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Mississippi College.
