Draft:Skyler Cassity

Skyler Robert Hartman Cassity (born April 14, 1994) is an American football NCAA Division 1 FBS coach who is the defensive coordinator of the Sam Houston Bearkats. For the 2024 season, Cassity is the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS, at the age of 29 upon hiring, and one of the youngest coordinators in all of college football. In 2024, Cassity was named to the Our Coaching Network 30 Under 30, and in 2023, 247Sports’ annual 30Under30 and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football's annual 40 Under 40.

Early years
Before he was five-years old, Skyler Cassity was drawing plays and watching cut-ups with his father, now-retired, college defensive coordinator Mike Cassity. Hanging around the football office and the practice field was commonplace. As a first grader in 2001, Skyler Cassity was lining up the neighborhood kids in his formations and even drew up a play for then-Illinois head coach Ron Turner. Cassity wanted it delivered to his father's boss; it was.

Understanding the game well, Cassity ended up a quarterback, first playing tackle football in pads in the fall of 2004 in Louisville for the Middletown Eagles where he found a hard-nosed, tough coaching mentor in now-deceased Mike Bennett, a former Penn State football player and Army Ranger. Bennett's old school, military-like style was something Cassity handled successfully as team leader for Bennett, his head coach for four seasons, 2004-2007.

High school & career-ending surgery
While in public high school in Atlanta at Riverwood International Charter School, 2008-2012, Cassity was a two-sport lettered athlete in football and lacrosse. A quarterback for the Raiders under then-head coach Robert Ingram, Cassity’s football playing career was cut short in 2010 due to career-ending surgery to correct his pectus excavatum with the Nuss Procedure. The initial surgery was performed at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA, the original and leading hospital for the innovative surgery with his chest bar removed via a second surgery in the summer of 2013. While his football playing career was over, Ingram, still a mentor today, immediately elevated the young Cassity to a coach thus officially kicking off his coaching career.

Cassity was cleared to continue to play high school lacrosse and did so under then-head coach and USA Lacrosse Southeast leader Lou Corsetti. Corsetti quickly tapped Cassity to coach for a youth travel team, the Atlanta Coyotes, and referee for Atlanta Youth Lacrosse. He is still a mentor to Cassity today.

Auburn University
Cassity attended Auburn University for his undergrad degree from 2012-2016 as an engineering major turned business administration management major. He played club lacrosse as a four-year starter long stick midfielder for the Tigers while also growing his coaching and recruiting experience in the Southeastern Conference with the Tigers’ football team thanks to then-head coach Gus Malzahn and then-director of player personnel Casey Woods hiring him as a student assistant coach after an introduction via then-athletic director Jay Jacobs. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the primary offensive assistant for SEC veteran then-running backs coach Tim Horton, Cassity worked with star SEC running backs Cameron Artis-Payne, Peyton Barber and Kamryn Pettway. Upon graduation in May 2016, Cassity left Auburn and switched to the defensive side of the ball going forward.

Texas State University
For the 2016 season, Cassity coached at Texas State as the primary defensive graduate assistant to then-defensive coordinator Randall McCray under then-head coach Everett Withers. The Bobcats had the 2017 top recruiting class in the SunBelt Conference before Cassity left San Marcos for Lubbock in the summer of 2017.

Texas Tech University
While working on his master’s degree in sports management at Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference, Cassity was an outside linebackers analyst and defensive graduate assistant for the Red Raiders’ 2017 and 2018 seasons for then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury and then-defensive coordinator David Gibbs. When Kingsbury was fired by his alma mater, Cassity stayed on for the 2019 season for then-head coach Matt Wells and then-defensive coordinator Keith Patterson.

Missouri State University
Cassity spent two seasons, 2020 and 2021, coaching outside linebackers, nickels and safeties at Missouri State under then-head coach Bobby Petrino and then-defensive coordinator Ryan Beard. The Bears' defense assisted in ending the school’s 30-year postseason drought. A Missouri Valley Conference team, they finished the 2020 season ranked sixth nationally in turnovers forced, and in 2021, 11th in interceptions, and 11th in defensive touchdowns while making their second consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The Bears faired #13 and #14 in the FCS Coaches Poll in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Abilene Christian University
Joining the Abilene Christian staff in 2022 as a first-time coordinator, Cassity was again working for Keith Patterson, now in his first head coaching role. As an FCS defensive coordinator for the 2022 season in the Western Athletic Conference and the 2023 season in the United Athletic Conference, Cassity was one of the youngest coordinators in all of college football at 28 and 29-years old respectfully who is also known to have strong opinions with a sense of humor. The Cassity-led defense produced Abilene Christian’s winningest season in D1 program history as the WAC Co-Champion, most wins in a two-year period in D1 program history, highest-ranked recruiting class in program history, held 14 of 19 FCS teams under their season scoring averages, generated 129 tackles for loss over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, best defense in D1 program history, and coached the conference leader in pass deflections in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

While at Abilene Christian, in 2023, two major publications highlighted Cassity’s success and bright future. 247 Sports named him to its annual 30 Under 30 list as did Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in its annual 40 Under 40.

Sam Houston State University
January 2024 brought a Texas-size career move for Cassity that also kept him in the Lone Star State. At 29-years old, he was hired by Sam Houston head coach KC Keeler as his defensive coordinator making Cassity the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS for 2024 and one of the youngest coordinators in all of college football at any level. "Skyler first landed on our radar after we faced him during the 2022 season," Keeler said upon Cassity's hire. "He is a bright, young mind who has spent his whole life around the game. We are excited to have him leading our defense and playing a fast and aggressive brand of football."

February 5, 2024 on the Sam Houston Football Signing Day Special, head coach KC Keeler commented on hiring his new coordinator, "I remember being so impressed, not only how Abilene played on defense, but all schematically. And also the chess match that was going back and forth with the coordinators. I remember talking to Matt Merkens who called the game that day...and he said coach you're probably going to hire this guy [Skyler Cassity] some day. So he was always on our radar. Really impressive. He is an old soul. Was involved in coaching as a student at Auburn under Gus Malzahn. His dad [Mike Cassity] has been a college football coach for 40 years. When you interview him, you think you're talking to a veteran, because he really is with all the experiences he has."

The Bearkats open the 2024 season against Rice and Conference USA play in their fourth game.

Parents
Studying under his father, now-retired, college defensive coordinator Mike Cassity, the younger Skyler Cassity was a toddler when the love for coaching was first apparent. His father played Kentucky football in the 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 seasons starting his final two seasons at safety. He received the Kiwanis Club 110 Percenter Award for his effort and dedication. On the mat wrestling for Kentucky, he placed third at the 1974 Southeastern Conference meet at 190 pounds. At Fort Campbell High School, he was a member of the 1971 Kentucky state high school wrestling championship team, winning the individual title in the 167 pound class. His father Herman Cassity was a US Army sergeant major.

Now retired, Mike Cassity went on to coach football at Kentucky (1975) ; Paducah Tilghman High School (1976-1979); Kentucky (1979, 1980, 1981) ; Morehead State (1982) ; Western Kentucky (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988); Northeast Louisiana now Louisiana-Monroe (1989); East Carolina (1990, 1991); Georgia Tech (1992, 1993); Cincinnati (1994); Wisconsin (1995, 1996); Baylor (1997, 1998); Oklahoma State (1999, 2000) ; Illinois (2001, 2002, 2003) ; Louisville (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) ; Marshall (2009, 2010, 2011) ; Kentucky (2012) ; Western Kentucky (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) ; and Purdue (2017).

Mother Colleen Hartman Rambusch, nee Colleen Cassity, who worked for Oklahoma State athletics in radio and TV plus for various NFL agents, is now a global marketing and public relations executive for Zeno Group. Her now-deceased father Robert F. Hartman, a former US Marine and federal agent, had a major influence on Skyler Cassity as his maternal grandfather.

Stepfather Harold "Bit" Rambusch IV, an executive currently for Philips in healthcare, lettered in football and baseball for Army West Point at the United States Military Academy (1985, 1986, 1988, 1989).

Siblings & Blended Family
Skyler Cassity now comes from a large blended family of siblings.

Brother Braden Cassity played varsity football at Westlake High School in the 2015-2018 seasons for the legendary Texas high school coach Todd Dodge. Going on to play 61 games for Oklahoma State, Braden Cassity was a defensive end turned tight end, fullback, special teams player and captain. With several All-Big 12 academic and athletic honors, Cassity played a pivotal role in Jaylen Warren's 1,200 rushing yard season in 2021 and in the 2023 Doak Walker campaign for Ollie Gordon II. Cassity also won the university's prestigious Loyal and True award, a top honor chosen from all athletes at Oklahoma State. He is currently training in Austin, Texas for Big 12 Pro Day and the 2024 NFL draft.

Brother Hunter Cassity was a Samford football safety, plus he has a sister Brooke Cassity.

Stepbrother Blake Rambusch was an Auburn baseball infielder, playing in the 2022 College World Series, and is currently playing for the Seattle Mariners’ organization.

Stepbrother Harold "Bit" Rambusch V is an US Army special forces officer who played hockey for Texas A&M while also serving as a member of the Corps of Cadets.

Also has a stepbrother Ryan Rambusch.

Spouse
In 2023, Skyler Cassity married Kori Peek, a multi-generational Texan, who grew up in Lubbock and graduated from Texas Tech University in 2017. The two met in 2017 while both were living in Lubbock. She works as a talent recruiter and human resources lead.

Personal interests
In his free time, Skyler Cassity enjoys waterfoul hunting and being on a lake fishing or wakesurfing.

Education
Due to moving around as a football coach's son, Skyler Cassity attended four public elementary schools in three cities, Sangre Ridge Elementary (1999-2001); Robeson Elementary (2001); Dr. Howard Elementary (2001-2004); and Bowen Elementary (2004-2005); plus Westport Middle School (2005-2008), where he grew his math skills and even tested into the Duke TIP program leading to a summer studying at the University of Kansas.

Upon his parents divorcing in July 2008, he moved with his mother Colleen Hartman Rambusch, nee Colleen Cassity, to Atlanta to start high school at Riverwood International Charter School. He graduated in May 2012.

In the fall of 2012, Cassity enrolled at Auburn University as an engineering major turned business administration management major, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He was a student from 2012-2016.

In the fall of 2017 while coaching at Texas Tech University, Cassity began his Master of Science in Sports Management, which he completed in the spring of 2019.