STATESBORO - Elwyn "Rip" Rowan, who has deep roots in the state of Georgia and also has Power 5 coaching experience, has been named the defensive line coach for the Georgia Southern Eagles, as announced Friday by head coach Clay Helton.

"We are very excited to welcome Rip Rowan as our new Defensive Line Coach," Helton said. "Rip is one of the bright young stars in college football today. Having worked alongside new defensive coordinator Will Harris at Washington, his defensive line units are extremely physical and disruptive. The staff chemistry between Will, Rip, and new linebackers coach Aaron Schwanz was evident during the interview process. They do an amazing job of tying the defense's back end to the defensive front. Being a Georgia native with tremendous southeast ties, he becomes another great addition to our recruiting team. We look forward to a lot of tackles for loss in our future from Coach Rowan and his defensive line unit!"

"I'm fired up for this opportunity to join Coach Helton's staff at Georgia Southern," Rowan said. "I can't wait to get back to my roots in the great state of Georgia! I know the tremendous pride and traditions of this program run deep, and I am honored to be able to get this program back to the championship level that Eagle Nation is accustomed to."

Rowan spent the 2021 season as the defensive line coach at the University of Washington, working with one of the stingiest defenses in the country. The Huskies allowed just 22.7 points per game and averaged over five tackles per loss per game. The pressure his line generated helped lead to the success of the secondary, which led the FBS in the fewest passing yards allowed per game and was third in pass efficiency defense.

He went to the UW as a defensive analyst in March of 2019 and was named the Huskies' defensive line coach in February of 2021 after two seasons as an analyst.

Rowan was listed on 247Sports' "30 Under 30" listing of "rising stars" in college football in 2019.

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Rowen went to Washington after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Florida Atlantic in 2017 and 2018.

After working as a history teacher and assistant football coach at Northwest High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, he began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Southern Miss in 2015 and 2016, where his attention was focused on the defensive line.

A four-year letterman defensive lineman and linebacker at Austin Peay, Rowan made the Dean's List numerous times and received his bachelor's degree in history and education in 2014. He earned a Master's degree from Southern Miss in 2016.