West Virginia University Athletics

Jordan Lesley, a nominee for the 2020 and 2021 Broyles Award, is in his sixth year on the Mountaineer Football coaching staff and fourth year as the defensive coordinator. Under Lesley’s guidance, the Mountaineer defense competes each year as one of the best units in the Big 12 Conference and in the nation.

In 2023, West Virginia’s defense produced 6.5 tackles for loss per game, ranking No. 2 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 14 among Power Five schools. The Mountaineers showed an improvement of 40 places from 2022 (No. 67) to No. 27 in 2023. It also ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in sacks, averaging 2.5 per game, tying for No. 19 in Power Five. The 33 sacks were the most since 2019 and WVU held 11 of its last 12 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing.

Cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., an All-Big 12 Conference First-Team honoree, earned a spot on 10 different All-America teams in 2023. He became WVU’s 13th consensus All-American and 112th All-American, including the 49th since 2002. He led the nation in passes defended (24) and breakups (20), was second in forced incompletions (17) and was tied for No. 19 in interceptions (4). He finished No. 2 in WVU history for single-season pass breakups (20).

In 2022, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Dante Stills finished as the school’s all-time leader in games played (59) and tackles for loss (52½) and was fourth in sacks (23½). He finished his career earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors twice (2021, 2022) and second team twice (2019, 2020). He earned a spot in the 2023 NFL Combine and was drafted in the sixth round by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Safety Aubrey Burks was named an All-Big 12 Conference Second Team selection by the Associated Press, Phil Steele named linebacker Lee Kpogba to the all-conference second team and defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson to the third team.

The defense finished with three touchdowns, ranking No. 12 nationally and the rushing defense finished No. 4 in the Big 12, improving three spots from the previous year. 

In 2021, WVU finished No. 5 nationally in red zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and in fourth-down percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6 1/2), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season.

The WVU defense had an outstanding year in 2020, leading the nation in pass defense and ranking No. 4 in in total defense (291.4), No. 21 in scoring defense (20.5), No. 23 in interceptions (11), No. 24 in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and No. 28 in rushing defense (131.8).

Darius Stills was named the program’s first Consensus All-American since 2006 and 12th in school history. He was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, an All-Big 12 Conference First Team lineman for the second straight year and was signed as a free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his final two years, he finished with 10.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss.

Akheem Mesidor was an All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honoree and also earned freshman All-America honors, and Dante Stills earned All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honors by the AP.

In 2019, his defensive line enjoyed a successful season for the Mountaineer defense, finishing No. 25 nationally in sacks and No. 35 in tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Darius and Dante Stills were tied for No. 2 in the Big 12 in sacks and Darius was No. 5 in tackles for loss and Dante was No. 10. The Stills brothers earned All-Big 12 Conference honors, Darius (first team) and Dante (second team).

Lesley joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the defensive line coach in 2019. He came with Neal Brown after serving as an assistant coach at Troy for three years (2016-18), the first two years as the defensive tackles coach and the 2018 season as the defensive line coach.

From 2016-18, Troy’s defense allowed 20.8 points per game, ranking No. 4 nationally among non-power 5 schools. Three of Lesley’s defensive linemen were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team, including Trevon Saunders, who earned first-team honors. 

Prior to Troy, Lesley was the defensive coordinator at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi (2013-15), before serving two stints at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi, first as defensive line coach in 2010 and then as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2012. He also spent two stints at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas, first as the linebackers coach from 2007-09, and as the defensive coordinator in 2011. He spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at Troy in 2006.

While at East Mississippi, Lesley’s defenses allowed an average of just 10.3 points and 232.1 yards per game as the Lions posted a combined 32-1 record with national titles in 2013 and 2014. Additionally, the Lions tallied 149 quarterback sacks and 57 interceptions in his three seasons.

In his first season at East Mississippi, the Lions recorded an NJCAA-best 67 sacks and finished second nationally with 30 interceptions and allowed just 9.8 points per game.

The 2012 NWCC squad claimed the school’s first bowl victory in 20 years and earned a No. 9 NJCAA final ranking.  The 2010 Northwest team posted an undefeated regular season on the way to finishing with a No. 6 national ranking.

Lesley helped lead Kilgore to the 2007 Southwest Junior College Football Conference Championship en route to an appearance in the Heart of Texas Bowl. During his four seasons at Kilgore, Lesley helped direct the Rangers to three consecutive playoff appearances while helping tutor 11 players that went on to sign at four-year schools, including six NJCAA All-Americans.

As a graduate assistant at Troy, he began his coaching career on the 2006 Sun Belt Conference championship team. The Trojans won seven of their last eight games that season, including a 41-17 victory over Rice in the New Orleans Bowl.

Lesley was a versatile player for the Trojans and was a key part of teams that successfully made the transition to the FBS ranks. A two-year starter at tight end, Lesley helped lead Troy to the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl and was named a team captain.

A native of Fulton, Mississippi, Lesley was a three-time all-district performer at Itawamba Agricultural High School, earning Class 4A All-State Second Team as a senior in 1999.        

Lesley and his wife, Ann-Katherine, have two daughters, Mary Kate and Mae Blake and a son, Jordan Blake Jr.