From defensive backs to coaching staff
Chadron State’s football team welcomed two previous players to its coaching staff as former defensive backs Deandre Barthwell and Ryan Wood joined the Eagles as defensive coaching assistants in the summer.
Wood, of Stockton, California, came to Chadron in 2012 when he redshirted as a freshman. By the end of his first season in 2013, Wood was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year after recording 53 tackles, 10 passes defensed and three interceptions. Through the remainder of his time as a safety for the Eagles, Wood added 265 tackles, four fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
Upon graduating at CSC in 2017, Wood saw time in the Canadian Football League after trying out for multiple teams during training camp. However, Wood took his talents south and played in the International Arena Football League in Mexico City where his team won a championship.
Following that success, Wood signed with the Australian Football League, but the season folded due to COVID-19. He also signed with the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, but that league also found the same result as the AFL.
Now, Wood is coaching the defensive backs and assists with special teams at Chadron State, where he grew as a player and person under then Special Teams Coordinator, now Defensive Coordinator Craig Jersild.
“It’s been amazing, Coach Jersey has been like a father figure to me,” Wood said about his return to CSC. “When I first got here, I was a wild-child man, but he straightened me up. I feel like I owe a lot to him, so I always told myself when I was done playing ball I’d come back and help here and try to win a championship. This football program means a lot to me. I’m not just here for coaching, I’m here because I care about this program and I want them to win as well.”
Wood also credits his experiences on special teams under Jersild as a bridge toward playing safety, where he went on to rank as CSC’s sixth all-time leading tackler. Despite his achievements, Wood instead stresses off-the-field fundamentals toward the Eagle’s secondary.
“Playing as a defensive back is not all about how talented you are, it’s about mastering things that require no talent because you have to be really disciplined as a defensive back,” Wood said. “You have to be a student of the game, I learned early in my career that I can’t just rely on my athletic ability, I had to really get down and study the playbook and learn offenses.”
Along with Wood, Barthwell, of Westland, Michigan, brings his experience as a renown Eagle defensive back to CSC’s coaching staff as an assistant for the team’s defense.
Starting 35 games for the Eagles since 2015, Barthwell logged 116 tackles, eight interceptions and one defensive touchdown through four seasons at Chadron State. Barthwell was an All-RMAC and All-Nebraska Div. II First Team selection in 2019.
“First off, coaching as a whole is just a lot different,” Barthwell said. “It’s a lot more time being put in and I’d say it’s a lot more work. With the players, I just finished up last year so I can relate to them a little more. I give them advice where I see it fit and just make sure they’re doing OK, make sure they’re where they’re supposed to be and know what to do.”
Having played corner, Barthwell understands the mindset defenders must have to succeed at the collegiate level and hopes to pass his knowledge to current Eagle defensive backs.
“As a defensive back, you just want to see a competitor, a guy with a short memory who competes no matter the caliber of a receiver he’s up against. It’s really just the competitive nature of a person and their mindset out there on the field because sometimes you’ll go against somebody that’s better than you, but you rely on what you did in practice.”