Jordan Malone

Jordan Malone begins his fifth season at Washington State, and third coaching the safeties and nickels on Head Coach Jake Dickert’s staff. Malone began in 2020 as a defensive analyst before being named the cornerbacks coach Oct. 22, 2021 under Dickert.
 
In 2023, Malone’s safeties/nickels group accounted for two of the top three tacklers on the team as RS-sophomore Jaden Hicks was second with 79 tackles, six TFL’s and two interceptions. Senior Sam Lockett added 73 tackles, three TFL’s and two picks. Malone’s unit accounted for six of the team’s eight interceptions, taking two back for touchdowns. Under Malone’s guidance, Hicks became a fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
 
During the 2022 season, the Cougar defense ranked third in the Pac-12 Conference in scoring at 22.9 ppg, and second in red zone defense. Cougar safeties and nickels accounted for five of WSU’s 12 interceptions, while also having three of the top five tacklers in 2022. Malone mentored safety Jaden Hicks to Freshman All-America Third Team honors by College Football News, finishing second on team with 76 tackles, most among Pac-12 Conference freshmen defenders. He also guided redshirt-senior nickel Armani Marsh to All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention accolades for the second-straight season.
 
Malone finished his second year on the Cougar coaching staff in 2021, beginning the year as a defensive analyst before being elevated to cornerbacks coach on Oct. 22. During his seven games overseeing that unit, the Cougar pass defense showed dramatic improvement, allowing 193.7 yards per game over the final six contests, compared to 236.6 ypg in the first seven games. Under Malone, the Cougar defense picked off eight passes in the final six games.
 
Malone mentored senior Jaylen Watson, who garnered 2021 All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors for the second-straight season, while Watson and fellow senior Derrick Langford Jr. each had two interceptions in 2021. Watson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl title as a rookie.
 
Prior to WSU, Malone worked three seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Augustana University (S.D.) where he produced one of the top Division II defenses in the country in 2019; fourth in scoring defense, fifth in takeaways, eighth in the third-down defense, No. 12 in rush defense and No. 19 in total defense. In his three seasons leading the Augustana defense, Malone produced one All-American, one All-Region selection and 16 all-conference honorees.
 
Prior to Augustana, Malone worked the 2015 and 2016 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minnesota State University, Mankato where he coached the defensive backs, the punt and punt return teams and served as the recruiting coordinator. The 2015 defense finished among the top Division II defenses in the country including total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and fourth-down defense while the punt team led all of Division II in net punting. In 2015, Malone helped three players earn All-NSIC honorees, including an All-NSIC First Team selection in Jared Gillespie. Senior Justin Otto also went on to receive CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. In total, Maverick defensive backs tallied a total of nine interceptions and one fumble recovery.
 
In 2014, Malone served as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for Augustana (S.D.). The Augie defensive backs tallied eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Prior to joining the Vikings’ coaching staff, Malone spent the 2013 season with Augustana (Ill.) where he was responsible for the defensive backs and the strength and conditioning program. Malone boasted one all-conference player as the defense notched 24 turnovers.
 
Malone spent the 2010 season as the defensive coordinator and co-special teams coordinator at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Prior to his stint north of the border, he coached the outside linebackers and nickel backs at Central Arkansas in the 2008 and 2009 seasons where he guided three all-conference players. Malone also served as a graduate assistant working with the defensive backs at Emporia State University (Kan.) and Wayne State College (Neb.).
 
In the classroom, Malone earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from MSU in 2006, before completing his master’s degree in health, physical education and recreation at Emporia State in 2007.
 
As a player, Malone played in 44 games through four seasons with the Purple and Gold and received All-NCC First Team and All-American honors in 2004. For his career, he tallied 216 tackles, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries and ranked eighth all-time in solo tackles 141.