By Bennett Conlin and Jack Fitzpatrick

JMU linebackers coach Zach Sparber is a top contender to land the Dukes’ open defensive coordinator position, according to a source. The Dukes are still strongly considering former Alabama co-defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler for the job.

Sparber spent 2024 as JMU’s linebackers coach, leading a room with Jacob Dobbs, Trent Hendrick, Taurus Jones, Ray Scott and Gannon Weathersby, among others. He’s extremely familiar with JMU’s defensive 2024 scheme, previously working under former JMU defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill at Duke.

Sparber spent 2021-23 in various roles with Duke’s defense. He also worked under now Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko at Duke in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Sparber learned from legendary former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Sparber was a graduate assistant with the Hokies from 2018 to 2020.

While he has never been a defensive coordinator in his coaching career, Sparber has learned from some of the best defensive minds in the college game. He’s spent numerous seasons at the ACC level, and he knows JMU’s current personnel as well as any candidate in the mix for the opening. He would likely keep the defensive scheme similar to Hemphill’s in 2024, which led to significant success for the Dukes. JMU led all Sun Belt defenses in scoring defense, yielding just 20.5 points per game. The Dukes led the conference in sacks and pass efficiency defense.

JMU’s current linebackers coach spent 2017 working at Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, filling a few roles for his alma mater. He was a strength coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. The program ranked in the top-25 nationally this season, and the group’s entire starting offensive line went on to play college football.

The up-and-coming coach guided Stonehill College’s defensive line in 2016, his first coaching gig after ending his college playing career at Brown. Sparber played defensive line at Brown.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications