Jonathan Fletcher added to Tigers football coaching staff

From OBU Athletics

Ouachita Baptist University Head Football Coach Todd Knight has announced the hiring of Jonathan Fletcher as the team’s new offensive run game coordinator and offensive line and tight ends coach.

Fletcher, who has been on staff at Delta State University since 2013, replaces Brett Shockley, who was recently hired as the head football coach at El Dorado High School. Shockley had served on staff at Ouachita since 2006.

“I am so thankful for the 20 years that Coach Shockley gave our football program,” said Knight. “He leaves a great legacy as someone who was instrumental in helping our program reach high levels of success. I want to congratulate him on becoming a head coach and wish him all the best in his new opportunity.”

Knight said Fletcher is a perfect fit to fill the role. For the last 13 years, he has worked his way up the ranks on the coaching staff at Delta State, most recently serving as assistant head coach since 2022. He started as a graduate assistant tight ends coach and strength coach in 2013, moved to running backs and tight ends coach in 2015, became the team’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach in 2019, and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2020.

“I am excited to have someone with Coach Fletcher’s caliber joining our program here at Ouachita,” said Knight. “His work at Delta State has been incredible, helping build and sustain a championship-level team at a top 25 program.”

Throughout his tenure with the Statesmen, Fletcher has coached 15 all-conference offensive lineman, three All-Americans, and a Gene Upshaw D2 Lineman of the Year Award finalist. He was a part of eight winning seasons with the Statesmen, three Gulf South Conference championships, and three NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

“I’m extremely thankful for Coach Knight and the entire Ouachita family for giving me this opportunity to come to a program with such great tradition,” said Fletcher. “Under Coach Shockley, Ouachita was known for prominent offensive lines, and I can not wait to work on continuing that tradition. I am extremely excited to work with this great staff and a great group of young men on this roster.”

With Fletcher calling the plays, the 2025 DSU offense averaged 36 points and 411 yards of offense per game. The offensive line had a successful season rushing for 1,804 yards on 380 attempts and scored 27 touchdowns blocking for all-conference running back Nick Clark. Delta State was ranked sixth in the nation in sacks allowed, allowing seven sacks on 306 passing attempts. The 2025 season also saw Gabe Schweitzer (tackle) and Logan Browning (guard) being named first team All-GSC.

In 2024, the DSU offense averaged 32 points and 417 yards per game. The offensive line continued to impress on the ground, totaling 1,830 rushing yards on 383 attempts on the season. The team averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns. Leading the way was all-conference running back Kelvin Smith, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry and found the endzone six times. Jaelon Brown was a first team all-conference offensive line selection as well as an AP All-American.

The Statesmen offense had an historic two-year run during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, averaging 42 points and 461 yards per game combined. Both years the offense ranked top five in Division II in points per game, first downs, and third down percentage. In 2023, the Statesmen gave up a mere seven sacks on 327 pass attempts, ranking in the top 10 in the nation. In 2023, the Statesmen offensive line had three all-conference offensive linemen, while 2022 saw four all-conference picks, including All-American Nic Melsop who was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award. Quarterback Patrick Shegog was also awarded the GSC offensive player of the year in both seasons.

In the 2021 season, Fletcher’s offensive line made room for the two-headed rushing attack of Rico Owens and Deion Damper, who combined to average more than 112 yards per game. 

The 2019 season marked Fletcher’s first year as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. His offensive line paved the way for a rushing attack that ranked third in the GSC with 197.5 yards per game. The “thunder and lightning duo” of Owens and Dampier ranked second and 10th, respectively, in the GSC, averaging 69.7 and 52.5 yards per game on the ground. Owens and Dampier joined starting center Innis Claud V as All-GSC selections on offense.

In 2017, Fletcher coached LaDarion Peterson, who was named second team All-GSC and set a new career kick return yardage record of 1,786 yards. Fletcher also coached Chris Robinson, who was a two-time All-American, two-time all-conference selection, and Harlon Hill Trophy nominee. 

Prior to joining the DSU staff, Fletcher served as the assistant offensive line/tight ends coach at Presentation College in 2012 en route to a 1,200-yard rushing season, in only the program’s second year. He also served as an intern with the strength and conditioning coach for Mount Saint Joseph University’s football team in 2011 and assistant hitting coach for the Knox College baseball team in 2012.

Fletcher was awarded Knox College’s Dean S. Trevor Memorial Award in 2012 and was a two-sport athlete as a four-year letterman for the baseball team and a three-year letterman for the football team, while earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education social sciences.

In the spring of 2014, Fletcher completed his strength and conditioning certification through USA Weightlifting, the official certification program of the United States Olympic Training Committee.

Fletcher is married to the former Caroline George, of Selmer, Tenn. The two were married on May 20, 2017 and have two daughters, Harper and Palmer.