Faulkner named OC
Buster Faulkner will leave Middle Tennessee to become Arkansas State's new offensive coordinator following the departure of Walt Bell.
"(Faulkner is a) great dude," said Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson. "He's sharp, young, and innovative. Kids will love him, and the offense under him."
Faulkner's offense averaged over 5,000 yards per year in three consecutive season's at Middle Tennessee, and put up 411 points in the 2015 season.
He also helped to coach several record breaking players in 2015, to include freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill who passed for 4,005 yards (66.7%), 327 completions on 490 attempts, and 30 touchdowns. Stockstill also had eight 300 yard games, to include four consecutive games.
Freshman wide receiver Richie James earned All-American honors after catching a school record 100 passes for 1,220 yards.
Faulkner's offense was also ranked 30th in the country for offensive production on 2014 after being ranked 31st in 2013.
Faulkner has had previous stops at Central Arkansas, Georgia, Murray State, and Valdosta State before coaching at Middle Tennessee.
Faulkner is married to his wife, Tia, and has three children. A son, Harrison, and two daughters, Hadley and Haisley.
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EDIT: Below is the media release from Arkansas State University's Sports Information department.
A-State Football Names Faulkner Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach
JONESBORO, Ark. (1/13/16) – Arkansas State head football coach Blake Anderson announced Wednesday that Buster Faulkner, an 11-year coaching veteran who has been a part of multiple bowl games and an NCAA Division II national championship, has been named the Red Wolves’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“We are excited to welcome Buster and his family to our Red Wolves family,” said Anderson. “He has an outstanding record of success throughout his career, is a proven leader and will be a fantastic addition to our staff. He is a young and energetic coach who shares the same goals we have for advancing our program, making him a great fit here.”
“I can’t wait to get to Arkansas State and start working with Coach Anderson and his staff,” said Faulkner. “I have worked with some of them previously, and the entire coaching staff has done an outstanding job with the program, so I’m looking forward to getting to Jonesboro and hitting the ground running.”
Faulkner most recently spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee, including the last four full years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He helped guide the Blue Raiders to 31 victories, numerous school records and a pair of bowl-game appearances from 2012-15.
Under his tutelage, the Blue Raiders amassed more than 5,000 yards of total offense in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history while averaging over 31 points a game. MT’s 2015 team amassed 5,946 yards and scored 442 points, both school records, helping the squad finish 6-2 in Conference USA and earn an invitation to the Bahamas Bowl.
Faulkner also led several record-setting individuals in 2015, as freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill led the way by setting new single season marks for passing yards (4,005), passing yards per game (308.1), completions (327), attempts (490), touchdowns (30), 300-yard games (8) and consecutive 300-yard games (4).
Freshman All-American Richie James caught a school record 108 passes for 1,346 yards, while senior wide-out Ed Batties brought down an MT-record 13 receiving touchdowns under Faulkner last season.
Stockstill and James became the first quarterback and receiver pairing in school history to amass 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
Prior to the 2015 season that saw MT rank 32nd in the nation in total offense and 35th in scoring offense, the 2014 unit ranked 30th nationally in rushing, while Austin Grammer became the first signal-caller in school history to throw for over 200 yards in each of his first seven games and finished 11th nationally in completion percentage.
Faulkner helped lead the Blue Raiders to an 8-5 overall record and appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2013 as his offense had the second most yards in school history, ranked 31st nationally in rushing and 25th in third down conversion percentage. The offense also registered seven games of 200 or more yards rushing and had five different players top the 100-yard rushing mark. Quarterback Logan Kilgore became the first signal-caller in school history to have three straight 2,000-yard seasons with all three years coming under Faulkner.
In 2012, the unit keyed the Raiders’ 8-4 season by re-establishing the running game and protecting the football. Middle Tennessee ranked 46th nationally in rushing and tied for 28th for fewest turnovers lost. The unit also had four games where they rushed for over 200 yards and produced three different 100-yard rushers. Wide receiver Anthony Amos and center Micah James both earned first team all-conference honors.
In 2011, Faulkner took over the play-calling duties as offensive coordinator the final seven games of the year while remaining quarterbacks coach. His unit went on to record the fifth most yards of total offense, complete a then-record 299 passes and became just the second offense in school history to amass over 3,000 passing yards.
Faulkner went to Middle Tennessee after serving the 2010 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Murray State. In his lone season at MSU, Faulkner’s offense broke 27 school records and finished first in the FCS in total plays, pass completions, and completion percentage. The Racer offense racked up nearly 5,000 yards and produced the first 500-yard passer, 200-yard rusher, and 200-yard receiver in the same game in FCS history. The Racers ranked fifth in total offense nationally in 2010, while the year prior to Faulkner’s arrival MSU had a ranking of 115.
The 2010 Racers offense ranked first in the OVC and fifth nationally with 36.09 points per game, while also leading the league in passing offense and ranking fourth nationally with 313.5 yards per contest. The MSU quarterbacks led the country in completions and completion percentage.
Under Faulkner’s guidance, quarterback Casey Brockman had just six starts in 2010 but earned second team all-conference honors and was twice picked as the National Player of the Week. Brockman also garnered three OVC Player of the Week awards en route to finishing first in the league and eighth nationally in passing yards per game. Brockman accounted for 313 yards of total offense per game.
Prior to joining the Racers staff, Faulkner spent the 2009 season as the quarterbacks coach at Central Arkansas. UCA’s offense averaged 26.2 points a game and 215.8 yards a game through the air and was ranked in the Top 25 nationally in every offensive statistic.
Senior quarterback Robbie Park finished the year going 217-for-358 for 2,434 yards and 12 touchdowns. The yardage total was seventh on the school’s all-time single-season list.
Faulkner’s coaching career began at Valdosta State, where he served as a student assistant helping with the quarterbacks in 2005. After one season with the Blazers, he served as an offensive graduate assistant at Georgia, working with the offensive line and quarterbacks.
Faulkner returned to Valdosta State in 2007 and served as the quarterbacks coach for two seasons. In his first season, the Blazers went 13-1 and captured the Division II National Championship as quarterback Willie Copeland passed for 2,903 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Faulkner took over as the offensive coordinator for the Blazers in 2008. VSU averaged 380.8 yards a game in advancing to the quarterfinals as quarterback Chris Hart earned Freshman of the Year honors. Hart accounted for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns.
As a player, Faulkner starred as a quarterback for Valdosta State from 2000 to 2003. In three years with the Blazers, he passed for 7,100 yards and 64 touchdowns while registering a 47-6 record.
As a sophomore, Faulkner earned first-team All-Gulf South Conference honors and honorable mention All-American accolades after going 327-for-503 for 3,941 yards and 44 touchdowns in leading the Blazers to a 14-1 record and a spot in the National Championship game.
He played his senior season at Texas A&M-Commerce, where he passed for 2,861 and 16 touchdowns, while setting 10 school records.
During his prep career, Faulkner started at quarterback as a sophomore and led Parkview High School to the 1997 Georgia state championship.
A native of Lilburn, Ga., Faulkner earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Valdosta State in 2005. Faulkner, and his wife, Tia, have one son, Harrison, and two daughters, Hadley and Haisley.