Travares Tillman Named Cornerbacks Coach
1/28/2021 3:54:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker announced on Thursday that Travares Tillman has been promoted to the program's cornerbacks coach. Tillman joined Tucker's staff last season in East Lansing as a senior defensive assistant.
Harlon Barnett, who is entering his 13th season overall on the Spartan defensive staff and second with Tucker, will transition from cornerbacks to secondary coach.
"Travares is an excellent defensive backs coach who has played and coached at the highest levels of football," said MSU head football coach Mel Tucker. "He played seven seasons in the NFL and has coached in the College Football Playoff. I was impressed with Travares when he was on our defensive staff at Georgia and have been working with him ever since. He connects with the players and will be dynamic and relentless on the recruiting trail. Travares has already spent one season on our staff here at MSU, so he understands our culture and what we're doing from a schematic perspective. He possesses the traits and skills we're looking for on our defensive staff."
Tillman, 43, played seven seasons in the NFL as a defensive back and has nine years of coaching experience, including five at the FBS level. Tillman followed Tucker to East Lansing after spending one season as the defensive backs coach at Colorado in 2019.
Tillman previously was at Georgia for three seasons (2016-18), where he also worked with Tucker. Tillman was a graduate assistant with the defensive backs the first two years before transitioning into a quality control role with the defense for the 2018 season. After Tucker accepted the CU job, Tillman helped the Bulldogs defensive backs prepare for their Sugar Bowl matchup against Texas.
At Georgia, he helped tutor first-rounder Deandre Baker, an All-American and the 2018 Thorpe Award winner given to the nation's top defensive back. Tillman worked directly with Tucker in coaching the safeties and assisted with recruiting along with coaching the offensive scout team, while his quality control duties included breaking down opponents and writing weekly scouting reports. Georgia was 32-10 when he was on staff, including a 13-2 mark in 2017 that included an SEC Championship, a victory in the Rose Bowl over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game. Georgia was the third-ranked pass defense in the nation that season.
Prior to joining Kirby Smart's staff at Georgia, he served as the defensive backs and head track coach for four years (2012-15) at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia; he was also the school's assistant athletic director his last two years there. He helped coach the team to a 41-8 record over those four seasons, advancing to the state quarterfinals all four years, the state semifinals twice and in the state championship game in 2013. Eight players earned collegiate football scholarships during his time there.
In 2013, Tillman was a recipient of the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He spent that summer working with the defensive backs at training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles under its first-year head coach Chip Kelly.
Tillman was a four-year letterman and two-time All-ACC performer at Georgia Tech playing defensive back, starting three years at safety and cornerback from 1996-99. He recorded 236 tackles in his Yellow Jacket career, fourth at the time of his graduation among defensive backs at the school and still eighth on GT's all-time chart. He also made seven interceptions, tying for the team lead with four his sophomore season. As a senior, he was named a team captain and also earned Academic All-ACC honors.
The Buffalo Bills selected Tillman in the second round of the 2000 National Football League Draft (No. 58 overall). He played two seasons with the Bills, primarily at free safety. After missing the 2002 season with an injury, he was in the Houston Texans' camp and made the final 53-man roster but was waived early in the season; however, the Carolina Panthers picked him up the very next day and he would spend the next two years (2003-04) in Charlotte, helping the team to the 2003 NFC Championship by defeating Philadelphia and gain a berth opposite New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Tillman then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Miami Dolphins (2005-07), where he would finish as a pro after a second knee injury ultimately ended his career. He started 18 of his 33 games in Miami, recording 115 tackles with three interceptions. In seven seasons in the professional ranks (74 games and 29 starts), he had 180 tackles, with four interceptions and 15 pass deflections.
He then returned to Georgia Tech to finish up his degree, graduating in 2010 with a bachelor's in business management.
Tillman was born Oct. 8, 1977, in Lyons, Georgia, and graduated from Toombs County High School in Lyons, where he lettered four years in both football and basketball and twice in golf. In football, he earned Class 3A All-State honors and was the 3A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He is married to the former Kiki Kirchner, and couple has three children, Atticus, Harper and Saint.
Tillman replaces longtime defensive assistant Mike Tressel, who was named the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati on Jan. 27. Tressel spent 14 seasons at Michigan State (2007-20).
"Mike Tressel is a tireless worker who put his heart and soul into the Michigan State football program the past 14 seasons," said Tucker. "I want to thank him for all of his contributions to Spartan football and helping build one of the best defenses in the country.
"I first had a chance to get to know Mike during our time at Ohio State coaching the defensive backs, where we won a National Championship together, and I was really excited he was able to be a part of our coaching staff during my first season back at Michigan State. He is a tremendous coach with a wealth of football knowledge. I wish Mike well during his next opportunity as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati."
THE TRAVARES TILLMAN FILE
(First name pronounced truh-var-es)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE: Three bowl games (2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose, 2019 Sugar) and 2018 CFP National Championship.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Defensive backs and head track coach at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia (2012-15)
Defensive graduate assistant at Georgia (2016-17)
Defensive quality control at Georgia (2018)
Defensive backs coach at Colorado (2019)
Senior defensive assistant at Michigan State (2020)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Georgia Tech (1996-99), including three bowl games (1997 CarQuest, 1998 Gator, 1999 Gator). Played seven seasons (74 games) in the NFL from 2000-07, including Buffalo (2000-01), Carolina (2003-04) and Miami (2005-07).
Harlon Barnett, who is entering his 13th season overall on the Spartan defensive staff and second with Tucker, will transition from cornerbacks to secondary coach.
"Travares is an excellent defensive backs coach who has played and coached at the highest levels of football," said MSU head football coach Mel Tucker. "He played seven seasons in the NFL and has coached in the College Football Playoff. I was impressed with Travares when he was on our defensive staff at Georgia and have been working with him ever since. He connects with the players and will be dynamic and relentless on the recruiting trail. Travares has already spent one season on our staff here at MSU, so he understands our culture and what we're doing from a schematic perspective. He possesses the traits and skills we're looking for on our defensive staff."
Tillman, 43, played seven seasons in the NFL as a defensive back and has nine years of coaching experience, including five at the FBS level. Tillman followed Tucker to East Lansing after spending one season as the defensive backs coach at Colorado in 2019.
Tillman previously was at Georgia for three seasons (2016-18), where he also worked with Tucker. Tillman was a graduate assistant with the defensive backs the first two years before transitioning into a quality control role with the defense for the 2018 season. After Tucker accepted the CU job, Tillman helped the Bulldogs defensive backs prepare for their Sugar Bowl matchup against Texas.
At Georgia, he helped tutor first-rounder Deandre Baker, an All-American and the 2018 Thorpe Award winner given to the nation's top defensive back. Tillman worked directly with Tucker in coaching the safeties and assisted with recruiting along with coaching the offensive scout team, while his quality control duties included breaking down opponents and writing weekly scouting reports. Georgia was 32-10 when he was on staff, including a 13-2 mark in 2017 that included an SEC Championship, a victory in the Rose Bowl over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game. Georgia was the third-ranked pass defense in the nation that season.
Prior to joining Kirby Smart's staff at Georgia, he served as the defensive backs and head track coach for four years (2012-15) at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia; he was also the school's assistant athletic director his last two years there. He helped coach the team to a 41-8 record over those four seasons, advancing to the state quarterfinals all four years, the state semifinals twice and in the state championship game in 2013. Eight players earned collegiate football scholarships during his time there.
In 2013, Tillman was a recipient of the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He spent that summer working with the defensive backs at training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles under its first-year head coach Chip Kelly.
Tillman was a four-year letterman and two-time All-ACC performer at Georgia Tech playing defensive back, starting three years at safety and cornerback from 1996-99. He recorded 236 tackles in his Yellow Jacket career, fourth at the time of his graduation among defensive backs at the school and still eighth on GT's all-time chart. He also made seven interceptions, tying for the team lead with four his sophomore season. As a senior, he was named a team captain and also earned Academic All-ACC honors.
The Buffalo Bills selected Tillman in the second round of the 2000 National Football League Draft (No. 58 overall). He played two seasons with the Bills, primarily at free safety. After missing the 2002 season with an injury, he was in the Houston Texans' camp and made the final 53-man roster but was waived early in the season; however, the Carolina Panthers picked him up the very next day and he would spend the next two years (2003-04) in Charlotte, helping the team to the 2003 NFC Championship by defeating Philadelphia and gain a berth opposite New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Tillman then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Miami Dolphins (2005-07), where he would finish as a pro after a second knee injury ultimately ended his career. He started 18 of his 33 games in Miami, recording 115 tackles with three interceptions. In seven seasons in the professional ranks (74 games and 29 starts), he had 180 tackles, with four interceptions and 15 pass deflections.
He then returned to Georgia Tech to finish up his degree, graduating in 2010 with a bachelor's in business management.
Tillman was born Oct. 8, 1977, in Lyons, Georgia, and graduated from Toombs County High School in Lyons, where he lettered four years in both football and basketball and twice in golf. In football, he earned Class 3A All-State honors and was the 3A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He is married to the former Kiki Kirchner, and couple has three children, Atticus, Harper and Saint.
Tillman replaces longtime defensive assistant Mike Tressel, who was named the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati on Jan. 27. Tressel spent 14 seasons at Michigan State (2007-20).
"Mike Tressel is a tireless worker who put his heart and soul into the Michigan State football program the past 14 seasons," said Tucker. "I want to thank him for all of his contributions to Spartan football and helping build one of the best defenses in the country.
"I first had a chance to get to know Mike during our time at Ohio State coaching the defensive backs, where we won a National Championship together, and I was really excited he was able to be a part of our coaching staff during my first season back at Michigan State. He is a tremendous coach with a wealth of football knowledge. I wish Mike well during his next opportunity as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati."
THE TRAVARES TILLMAN FILE
(First name pronounced truh-var-es)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE: Three bowl games (2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose, 2019 Sugar) and 2018 CFP National Championship.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Defensive backs and head track coach at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia (2012-15)
Defensive graduate assistant at Georgia (2016-17)
Defensive quality control at Georgia (2018)
Defensive backs coach at Colorado (2019)
Senior defensive assistant at Michigan State (2020)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Georgia Tech (1996-99), including three bowl games (1997 CarQuest, 1998 Gator, 1999 Gator). Played seven seasons (74 games) in the NFL from 2000-07, including Buffalo (2000-01), Carolina (2003-04) and Miami (2005-07).
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