STATESBORO - Georgia Southern interim head football coach Chad Lunsford announced Tuesday the promotion of Andrew Dodge to an on-field coaching role, effective immediately. Dodge will serve as the special teams coordinator and the nickels coach, taking Lunsford's place in the press box on game day.

"I am excited to add Andrew Dodge as an assistant coach to our staff," Lunsford said. "He brings a lot of energy and knowledge to our staff and I can't wait to see him on the field working with our guys."

Dodge makes the move to the coaching ranks from his role as the director of student-athlete development. Under his guidance, the squad had one of its most successful years in the classroom and in terms of community service hours.

Lunsford was named Georgia Southern's interim head coach for the remainder of the season on Sunday.

"I am thankful and extremely excited about the opportunity to coach special teams and the nickels," Dodge said. "Our players have done an outstanding job with their effort and enthusiasm in special teams and on defense and we want to continue to build off of that."

Dodge is in his first season at Georgia Southern after spending two seasons with the Colorado State football program. In 2016, he served as the Rams' defensive quality control assistant, helping the Rams to a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl berth.

Dodge went to Fort Collins to join Mike Bobo's staff from the University of Central Florida, where he served for two years as a graduate assistant. At UCF, Dodge assisted the defensive staff for a unit that ranked in the top 10 among FBS schools in 2014 total defense (5th, 298.5), rushing defense (6th, 104.3), scoring defense (9th, 19.2) and red zone defense (6th, 71.4%).

Dodge began working at UCF in 2008. He received his bachelor's degree in 2012 and his master's degree in sport and exercise science in 2014.

Georgia Southern will take on Troy this Saturday in Sun Belt action.