Petty joined the staff ahead of the 2020 season as special teams coordinator and secondary coach before he took over the defensive coordinator role in 2021.
The 2020 season ended up being played in the spring due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The special teams unit averaged 32.9 yards per punt with three downed inside the 20 and another two going for over 50 yards. The kickoff team also averaged 49.4 yards per kick on five tries, while the Javelina secondary picked up two interceptions in the contest against UT Permian Basin on March 20.
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.
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