Coach Whitley joined the Northgate family in February 2024. Former Georgia Southern All-American and professional player Kevin Whitley coached the previous five seasons as the cornerbacks coach at Georgia Southern University after spending the previous decade as a highly successful high school coach in the Atlanta area. He was promoted to interim head coach at Georgia Southern University for the final eight games of the 2021 season and retained on staff by head coach Clay Helton as the assistant head coach.
In 2020, Derrick Canteen tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions to earn Freshman All-America and first-team all-conference honors. In all, the cornerbacks combined for 122 tackles, eight interceptions and 20 pass break ups as the Eagles finished first in the country in total interceptions. In 2021, Whitley’s group had five different starters go down for the season or miss significant time due to the injury. In 2020, Derrick Canteen tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions to earn Freshman All-America and first-team all-conference honors. In all, the cornerbacks combined for 122 tackles, eight interceptions and 20 pass breakups as the Eagles finished first in the country in total interceptions. In 2021, Whitley’s group had five different starters go down for the season or miss significant time due to the injury. The 2022 defensive backs were led by Canteen, who was a third-team all-conference selection, and safety Anthony Wilson, who posted 101 tackles on the season. The defense posted 11 interceptions and 65 pass break ups, as well.
While new to the college coaching scene in 2019, Whitley brought a strong coaching resume to Statesboro as well as a familiarity to the Georgia Southern program. His senior-heavy group of Kindle Vildor, Monquavion Brinson ands Jessie Liptrot combined for three interceptions and 22 pass break ups. Vildor was named a first-team all-conference selection and was taken in the fifth round of the NFL Draft while Brinson set a new conference record for career passes defended and a new school record for career pass break ups.
Most recently, Whitley compiled a 99-28 overall record with five region titles over 10 years at Stockbridge High School, four of which were in a row from 2014-2017. Stockbridge had never won a playoff game prior to his arrival.
In his final four seasons at SHS, he posted a combined 49-5 record (.907) with three regional titles and 18 all-state players.
Stockbridge was 24-76 in the century’s first decade but went 97-20 from 2010-2018. The improvement of 73 victories is by far the largest of any school in the state among schools that have fielded teams each year since 2000.
Prior to his decade at Stockbridge, Whitley coached at Creekside High for six seasons and led the Seminoles to three 10-win seasons. He posted an overall record of 52-16 with 10 all-state players, most notably Eric Berry, who was a two-time unanimous All-American at the University of Tennessee and was named to the NFL’s Pro Bowl five times and first-team All-Pro three times.
Over 80 of his players continued on to play in college, including former GS safety Kenderick Duncan Jr. He also coached Ken Webster, a seventh-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019, as well as future professional players Terrance Parks, Channing Crowder, Efrem Hill, Joshua Holsey, Travis Harris, Sean Dillard and Rokevious Watkins.
He began his head coaching career at North Springs High, where he coached for two seasons. In 18 seasons as a high school head coach in Georgia, he compiled a record of 160-55 (.744), winning seven region championships. He coached five players named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11, 39 players named all-state and he himself was named a region coach of the year eight times.
Whitley participated in the prestigious Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship in 2018 with the Seattle Seahawks. As part of the Walsh Fellowship, he was immersed with the Seahawks’ coaching staff for two weeks during offseason training activities and mandatory minicamp.
A native of Decatur, Georgia, Whitley earned honorable mention All-America honors for GS in 1991 after posting 48 tackles, two interceptions and six pass break ups. Whitley was a four-year starter, helping lead the Eagles to two national championships.
He went on to play professionally for four years, signing a free agent contract in the NFL with the New England Patriots and later in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts as a defensive back where he intercepted two passes in three seasons. He was named the Rookie of the Year for the Argonauts in 1993.
Whitley graduated from Georgia Southern in 1993 with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and his Master’s in business education from West Georgia in 2000. He earned an educational specialist certification in leadership from Nova Southeastern in 2009.
Whitley and his wife, Star, have a daughter, Camryn, and a son, Avery.
Personal
Hometown: Decatur, Ga.
Born: Feb. 26, 1970 in Greenville, N.C.
College: Georgia Southern (1993); West Georgia (2000); Nova Southeastern (2009)
Family: wife, Star; daughter, Camryn; son, Avery
Playing Experience
Georgia Southern (1988-91)
New England Patriots (1992)
Toronto Argonauts (1993-96)
Coaching Experience
2022- Georgia Southern (assistant head coach/cornerbacks)
2021 Georgia Southern (cornerbacks/interim head coach)
2019-20 Georgia Southern (cornerbacks)
2009-18 Stockbridge (Ga.) HS (head coach)
2003-08 Creekside (Ga.) HS (head coach)
2001-02 North Springs (Ga.) HS (head coach)
1998-00 North Springs (Ga.) HS (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator)
1996-97 Redan (Ga.) HS (defensive backs)
College Bowl/Postseason Experience
Coach
2022 Camellia (GS vs. Buffalo)
2020 New Orleans (GS vs. Louisiana Tech)
2019 Cure (GS vs. Liberty)
Player
1990 NCAA I-AA National Champions (GS)
1989 NCAA I-AA National Champions (GS)
1988 NCAA I-AA National Runner-Up (GS)
Prominent Players Coached
Kindle Vildor (CB): Chicago Bears
Eric Berry (S): Kansas City Chiefs
Ken Webster (CB): New England Patriots
Terrance Parks (LB): Kansas City Chiefs
Channing Crowder (LB): Miami Dolphins
Efrem Hill (WR): Carolina Panthers
Joshua Holsey (CB): Washington Redskins
Travis Harris (LB): Tennessee Titans
Sean Dillard (WR): Washington Redskins
Rokevious Watkins (OL): St. Louis Rams
Darrell Baker Jr. (CB): Indianapolis Colts
NaJee Thompson (CB): Minnesota Vikings
Brenton Cox Jr. (DE): Green Bay Packers
Khadry Jackson (LB): Tennessee Titans
Shemar Bartholomew (CB): New York Jets
Donovan Manuel (LB): Minnesota Vikings
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