SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State head football coach Andy Thompson continued to add to his staff with the hiring of Jason Slowey and Donnel Pumphrey, it was announced today. Slowey will coach the team's edge rushers while Pumphrey will mentor the Hornet running backs.

Slowey comes to the Hornets after serving on the coaching staff at Western Oregon since 2014. With the Wolves, he was the linebackers coach from 2017-22 and also served as the Director of Operations. He previously coached tight ends in 2015-16 and was the assistant offensive line coach during his first season with the team.

"When Coach Thompson called me about this position, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Slowey said. "I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Hornet family, and can't wait to contribute to the championship culture here at Sac State."

In 2019, Western Oregon captured a share of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the first time in school history after ending the year with a 5-1 league record. The team's linebackers played a large role in the success as Nate Proctor, Jr. (70 tackles), Jaylin Parnell (68) and Tyler Whard (60) were WOU's three leading tacklers. The trio also combined for 23 tackles-for-loss (including 13 sacks), an interception, five pass breakups and four forced fumbles. All three were named all-GNAC.

During his final season at WOU, Parnell was named first team Div. II All-America by the AFCA and the Conference Commissioners Association. That season, he was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the leagues in tackles per game (8.5) and sacks per game (0.77). He finished the season with 94 total tackles, including 8.5 sacks, and added an interception, a forced fumble and blocked kick.

Slowey was a two-time All-American on the offensive line for Western Oregon from 2007-11. He started his final four years, earning three all-GNAC honors on top of being selected all-region. He capped his collegiate career by being named the GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.

In the spring of 2012, Slowey became the third Western Oregon player to be selected in the NFL Draft when he was picked the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round. He went on to play with the Oakland Raiders and BC Lions of the CFL before retiring due to a back injury.

"Jason brings experience and a great work ethic from a top Div. II team," Thompson said. "I'm excited to see what he can do recruiting and who he helps our defensive to continue to improve."

The NCAA's all-time leading rusher and a Super Bowl champion, Pumphrey comes to the Hornets after serving as a graduate assistant at San Diego State during the 2022 season where he coached cornerbacks.

Pumphrey was a standout at San Diego State from 2013-16 where he helped the Aztecs to a pair of Mountain West Conference titles and four bowl games. He appeared in all 54 games during his career and saw SDSU compile a 37-17 record. Pumphrey ended his career with 6,405 career rushing yards which is the most in NCAA FBS history. He also ranked fifth in in all-purpose yards (7,515), tied for eighth in touchdowns scored (7,515) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (62).

"This is a great opportunity to be a part of a championship program," Pumphrey said. "Watching what Sac State has accomplished over the last few years has been special. I am excited and I look forward to working with this staff to bring more championships to the city of Sacramento."

Pumphrey is the only player in NCAA FBS history with at least 5,000 rushing yards (or 6,000 yards) and 1,000 receiving yards. He also owns San Diego State career records in all-purpose yards (7,515), 100-yard rushing games (33), overall touchdowns (67), rushing touchdowns (62), overall points (402) and rushing attempts (1,059). Those numbers led to him becoming a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2015-16), three-time first-team all-MW pick (2014-16) and three-time SDSU most valuable player (2014-16)

As a senior in 2016, Pumphrey rushed for a then school-record 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns en route to finishing in a tie for 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting. Pumphrey was a finalist for the Doak Walk Award (top running back), semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (offensive player of the year) and Walter Camp Player of the Year, first-team All-America selection by Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated, and a second-team All-America pick by Associated Press, AFCA, USA Today and The Sporting News.
 
Pumphrey was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won Super Bowl LII that season over the New England Patriots.

"We are excited to welcome Donnel to the program," Thompson said. "He had a tremendous career and is now ready to lead and mentor a great group of running backs. He will coach toughness and bring great positive energy to our staff."

Slowey and Pumphrey join AJ Cooper (linebackers), Allen Perryman (safeties) and Tyson Prince (wide receivers/passing game coordinator) as the new members of the coaching staff. The team also returns Kris Richardson (associate head coach/off. line), Bobby Fresques (associated head coach/off. coordinator/quarterbacks), Jeremy LaPan (special teams coordinator/tight ends), Kraig Paulson (def. line) and Cherokee Valeria (def. passing game coordinator/cornerbacks).