Source: JMU To Hire Belin

HARRISONBURG – James Madison coach Mike Houston will add an assistant with NFL and Power Five experience to his staff.

A source said Tuesday that JMU is set to hire Vanderbilt’s Warren Belin as its next inside linebackers coach. Belin will replace Byron Thweatt, who left the Dukes last month for the same job at Marshall.

Belin coached outside linebackers at Vanderbilt this past fall, which was his second stint at the school. He was there initially from 2002 through 2009 before leaving for Georgia, where he spent one season ahead of jumping to the NFL.

In 2011 and 2012, he worked with Carolina Panthers linebackers. Under Belin’s watch, Luke Kuechly was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Before joining Derek Mason’s staff at Vanderbilt, he spent four seasons at Wake Forest, his alma mater.

This hire will complete Houston’s staff. In January, he hired Steve Shankweiler to coach the offensive line. Shankweiler steps in for Bryan Stinespring, who departed for the same job at Maryland.