KINGSVILLE, Texas - Fresh into his first month at the helm of the Texas A&M-Kingsville football program, first-year head coach Mike Salinas announced the appointment of four newcomers on staff as assistant coaches for the Javelinas.

Joining the Blue and Gold ahead of the 2020 season include Javelina Hall of Famer Neal LaHue, Chris Jones, Jonathan Petty, and Keith Wagner as the quartet will all take to the sideline this coming fall.

"We're excited to welcome our new staff to Javelina football," said Salinas. "These coaches bring a wealth of experience that will positively impact our program in all aspects, especially in recruiting due to their strong Texas ties and relationships with the Texas High School Coaches Association.

"Not only are they high-quality coaches, but they are even better people. They believe in the development of the complete student-athlete and will work to build champions on and off the field."
  Neal LaHue - Offensive Coordinator

LaHue, a former member of the Texas A&I football team and a Javelina Hall of Famer inducted in 2011, brings over 35 years of coaching experience to the staff. His most recent stop was at Texas Lutheran University where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bulldogs that compiled a 15-5 record over the past two years.

While at TLU following the 2019 season, the program averaged 424.1 yards per game on offense along with a 33.4 scoring average for an 8-2 mark overall after closing the year with a 57-14 win over McMurry on November 16. The 2018 season saw the team go 7-3 during the regular season with a total offense average of 421.7 yards per game while averaging 35.5 points per contest. His time on staff saw 10 student-athletics on the offensive half of the ball named to the All-American Southwest Conference teams, another three land on the D3Football.com All-South Region squads, and one D3Football.com All-American.

Prior to his time in Seguin, Texas, LaHue coached in the prep ranks at Hays High School in Buda, Texas, from 2013 through the 2017 seasons as the head coach. He guided the Rebels to an appearance in the District 25-6A state playoffs in 2017 as well as a 27-4A District Championship and state playoff appearance. He also spent the 2006 through 2012 seasons as the head coach for Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, led the Rough Riders to four District 26-5A state playoff appearances in his last five years at the helm of the program, and was named the Marvin Gustafson Coach of the Year for his efforts following the 2012 season.

LaHue's collegiate experience also featured a stop at Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2002 where he spent four years alongside Salinas under Richard Cundiff as the offensive coordinator and helped guide the Javelinas to a 30-7 mark from 2002-04, two NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearances, two West Region Championships, and three Lone Star Conference Championships.

Before his return to Kingsville in 2002, LaHue spent time as the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, from 1997 to 2001, eventually named San Angelo Standard Times Coach of the Year in 2000. The Antlers made the playoffs in each of his five years, were a four-time Bi-District finalist, and once made the Regional semifinals in 2000. The team was a District 28-4A and District 27-4A finalist in 1997 and 2000, respectively, finished third in District 28-4A in 1998 and District 27-4A in 2001 and claimed the District 28-4A Championship in 1999.

Another prestigious stop during LaHue's career in the coaching ranks includes a four-year stint at Westlake High School as an offensive coordinator from 1993-96. The Chaparrals reached the state quarterfinals all four years with him on staff, including a runner-up finish after the 1994 season, and finally reached the pinnacle for the first time in program history in 1996 as the Class 5A Division II Champions behind future NFL player Drew Brees. Overall, the team compiled a 56-3-2 record with La Hue on the sidelines, including a perfect 40-0 record in the regular season.

Previous stints among the prep ranks include one year at Seguin High School as an offensive coordinator where LaHue helped the team to a District Championship, as well as two years at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, as a wide receivers coach that saw the team reach the state quarterfinals in 1990 and 1991, and two years at Ingleside High School in Ingleside, Texas, in 1988 and 1989.

LaHue's first coaching stop dates back to 1985 for Texas A&I as he spent three years on the sideline under Ron Harms as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach that saw the program claim two LSC Championships and a three-year record of 27-5 before graduating with his master's degree in secondary education in 1987.

A native of Austin, Texas, LaHue was a four-year letter winner from 1981-84 for the Texas A&I football program as he graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health in 1985. He was a three-time All-LSC honoree and named to the AFCA All-America first team in 1984 as a placekicker for the Javelinas, currently sixth all-time in program history in career PAT kicks made at 109, and fourth in career PAT kick percentage at 94.8% (109-115).

Chris Jones - Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach

Jones comes to Kingsville after a ten-year stint at Hardin-Simmons University as the defensive line and developmental coach for the Cowboys. The 2019 season saw HSU finish 8-2 overall with Hunter Creasey and Kyle Zavala named Second Team All-ASC, the second time the two were honored by the league office following the regular season.

During his 10 years on the sideline, the Cowboys saw 16 All-ASC honorees from the defensive line under Jones, including the 2010 ASC Defensive Player of the Year in Hank Hornsby and a 2012 Second Team D3Football.com All-American in Undra Hendrix. Hendrix also set a program record with 11 sacks and was named ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year for his efforts.

Prior to his time at HSU, Jones was a graduate assistant coach at Sam Houston State from 2008 through 2009 and spent two years at Hardin-Simmons from 2006 through 2007 in the same capacity. His playing career spanned four years for the Cowboys from 2003-06 where he played in 41 straight games, finished his career with nine sacks and 126 tackles, including 22.5 for loss, and was a Second Team D3Football.com All-American following the 2006 season.

Jones graduated from Hardin-Simmons with his bachelor of behavioral science in 2008 and finished his master of science in kinesiology, sport, and recreation in 2018.

Jonathan Petty - Special Teams Coordinator / Secondary Coach

Petty makes the trek to Kingsville following his last six years spent at Hardin-Simmons University as the secondary coach and director of football operations. He helped the defensive unit become the best scoring defense in program history after the 2019 season as the program averaged 13.1 points allowed per game en route to an 8-2 record, as well as the top pass defense in the conference at 131.1 passing yards allowed per contest. He coached nine All-ASC honorees in his last three years as a full-time member of the staff, including Dedrick Strambler who earned consecutive All-ASC honors, a Third Team All-Region accolade with 10 interceptions in two seasons, and was a 2019 D3Football.com Preseason All-American.

Petty's first three seasons on staff for HSU were spent as a graduate assistant coach for the defensive backs and linebackers following his playing career for the Cowboys from 2009-13. He was a three-time All-ASC selection, was named All-Region following the 2012 season and was a 2013 Lindy's Division II Preseason All-American. His career ended as the program leader with 11 forced fumbles, finished in the top 15 all-time with 30.5 tackles for loss, and was top 20 all-time with 202 tackles.

Petty graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in 2013 and finished his master of education in 2016, both at HSU.

Keith Wagner - Offensive Line Coach

Wagner joins the staff after nearly 20 years between varying levels as a coach, including a stint among the professional ranks, as well as a player in the NFL and NFL Europe. His most recent outing was at Alabama A&M from 2016 to 2017 where he spent two years coaching the offensive line for the Bulldogs.

Prior to his time at AAMU, Wagner coached the offensive line at North Carolina A&T State from 2011 to 2015 that saw the Aggies compile a 36-18 record with him on staff as well as two Co-MEAC Championships in 2014 and 2015. NCAT saw plenty of success in the trenches as Brandon Parker was the 2015 MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year while Ronald Canty was a First Team All-America selection by the AFCA following the 2014 season.

Under the guidance of Wagner, the Aggie offensive line saw three HBCU All-Americans and five All-MEAC selections, while the running back corps produced three MEAC Players of the Year and the 2013 MEAC Freshman of the Year.
Before making his way to NCAT, Wagner coached at Grambling State in 2010 where the Tigers went 9-2 and had Bennie Peoples and Sanford Banks named First Team All-SWAC. The two also paved the way for Frank Warren to take the SWAC Player of the Year award as the offense averaged over 30 points per game.

Wagner's most recent stop in the state of Texas came at Abilene Christian in the 2009 season as a special teams coordinator and running backs coached. His effort allowed Daryl Richardson and Reggie Brown to land on the All-LSC second team as running backs, while Kendrick Johnson was a First Team All-LSC as a return specialist.  He also spent three years coaching at Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, that saw the football team reach the 5A State Playoffs from 2006 to 2008 while six of his players were named First Team All-District.

Throughout his coaching career, Wagner had 10 different student-athletes reach the NFL, the most recent in 2005 while he was the defensive line coach at Central Arkansas as Jacob Ford was an All-GSC selection before landing on the Tennessee Titans. UCA went 11-3 and was the GSC Champion in 2005 as the defensive line held opponents to 2.3 yards per rush while Caleb Bateman joined Ford as an All-GSC honoree.

Two more student-athletes to reach the NFL came during Wagner's time at Trinity Valley Community College in 2004 as Ahtyba Rubin and Drew Coleman ended up reaching the professional ranks, with Rubin continued his collegiate career at Iowa State before going to the Cleveland Browns while Coleman went to TCU before joining the New York Jets. TVCC ended up ranked in the top 20 in the NJCAA in 2004 as the top-ranked offense in the conference while 10 student-athletes were named All-SWJCFC.

Before Wagner was on staff for the Cardinals, he had his first outing for NCAT in 2001 as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach, where four student-athletes ended on NFL squads. Maurice Hicks, Qasim Mitchell, Junious Costin and Curtis Deloatch all reached the professional level, with Mitchell as the most-decorate of the quartet as he was named First Team All-American, the 2001 MEAC Lineman of the Year, and one of three on the First Team All-MEAC.

Wagner also spent one year as the offensive line coach, special teams coordinator and run game coordinator at Midwestern State, where Bryan Gilmore and Dominic Rhodes ended up in the NFL, while his first coaching stop came at Ranger College that saw Tywon Breaux reach the NFL for the Chicago Bears after he was named All-American and Lineman of the Year under his tutelage.

Wagner's time in the NFL includes a three-year coaching stop with the San Diego Chargers as part of the Minority Internship Program where, under the direction of head coach Marty Schottenheimer, he was selected to assist in the daily practice and meetings during training camp sessions from 2002-04. His playing experience includes stops with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Washington Redskins and the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as a World League Championship in NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores in 1996 and a World League Championship appearance with the Rhein Fire in 1997 while also named two-time All-World League.

Collegiate playing experience for Wagner features three years at TCU and one at Abilene Christian, the latter of which he was named First Team All-American in 1994, the LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year and landed on the Team of the Decade.

Wagner prepped at Mary Carroll HS in 1988 where he was a three-year letter winner in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from MSU Texas in 2000 with a bachelor's of applied arts and science.
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