Tom Allen
	Position: Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Alma Mater: Maranatha Baptist College, 1992

Tom Allen, a 21-year coaching veteran at both the collegiate and high school levels, is in his second season at Ole Miss as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

Allen helped guide kicker Bryson Rose to two SEC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and rank as the SEC's top scorer during league play (8.5 points per game) in 2012. He also helped freshman Jaylen Walton rank fourth in the SEC and 33rd in the nation in kickoff return average (24.7 ypr).

As linebackers coach, Allen assisted defensive coordinator Dave Wommack in a much-improved Rebel defense. After ranking last in the SEC in total defense in 2011 (419.3 ypg), Ole Miss improved to seventh in 2012 (375.8 ypg). The Rebels finished first in the SEC and fourth nationally in tackles for loss (7.9/game) and second in the SEC and 11th nationally in sacks (2.9/game).

Under Allen's tutelage, redshirt-freshman Denzel Nkemdiche broke onto the scene by leading Ole Miss in tackles (82), TFLs (13.0), forced fumbles (4) and interceptions (3) and was a first team Freshman All-American and second team AP All-SEC selection.

Over the last 19 years of his coaching career, the teams Allen has coached have posted a combined 191-49 record for a .796 winning percentage. That record covers stops at seven different schools in Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa and Mississippi, and six of those schools had a losing record the season prior to Allen's arrival.

In 2011 with the Arkansas State Red Wolves, Allen assisted a defense that led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense (331.46 ypg), scoring defense (20.77 ppg) and ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA in both categories. Arkansas State also led the league and ranked eighth in the nation in tackles for loss (7.62 pg) and tied for 15th in the NCAA in QB sacks (2.69 pg).

Allen coached first-team all-conference selection Demario Davis and second-team pick Nathan Herrold in 2011. Davis was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

Allen came to ASU after spending the 2010 season as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Drake, where he led the Bulldogs to an NCAA FCS No. 36 national ranking in total defense. Under his direction, Drake allowed just 330 yards per game while also ranking No. 6 nationally in rush defense (94.2 ypg), No. 8 in sacks (33), No. 17 in tackles for loss (81), No. 25 in scoring defense (20.4 ppg) and No. 28 in red zone defense. While at Drake, Allen mentored seven All-Pioneer Football League players, one All-America selection and the PFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The New Castle, Ind., native had equally impressive results as Lambuth's assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2008 and 2009 while the program was under the leadership of Hugh Freeze. He was part of two Mid-South Conference championships, and Lambuth's 2009 squad produced the school's first undefeated regular season (11-0). Nationally, his 2009 defense ranked No. 4 in scoring defense, No. 7 in pass defense and sacks, No. 9 in total defense and No. 12 in third down conversions.

While at Lambuth, Allen mentored eight first team all-conference players, one NAIA All-America selection and a Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year.

Allen made a stop at Wabash (Ind.) College as its secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 2007, helping the team win the NCAC championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs. He coached three defensive backs that were named to the All-NCAC Team and tutored Wabash's First Team All-NCAC punter.

Prior to joining the college coaching ranks, Allen served as the head football coach at Ben Davis (Indianapolis) High School from 2004-06 and was also the head coach at Temple Heights (Tampa) High School from 1992-94. In between his time at Temple Heights and his elevation to head coach at Ben Davis, Allen was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Armwood (Sefner, Fla.) High School from 1995-96 and held the same positions at Marion (Ind.) High School in 1997 and at Ben Davis from 1998-2003.

He led Ben Davis to the 2004 and 2006 IHSAA Sectional 6 championship as head coach and was part of three state championships as the school's defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.

Allen's only year at Marion saw his defense rank No. 1 in the conference in scoring and run defense, helping the team post an undefeated season and a final ranking of No. 7 in the Indiana state poll.

The Armwood defense allowed just 7.3 points per game during Allen's final year at the school, which qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in school history in 1996 and posted an 8-2 record in 1995.

Allen began his coaching career at Temple Heights, where as head coach he led it to the state playoffs for the first time in 18 years in 1994. He was named a 1994 "Coach of the Year" finalist in Hillsborough County, which was home to 22 high schools.

A 1988 graduate of New Castle High School, Allen earned his bachelor's degree from Maranatha Baptist College in 1992 before going on to earn his master's degree from Indiana University.

Allen and his wife, Tracy, have three children, Hannah, Thomas and Brittney.