FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Defensive Coordinator Corey Batoon has resigned to accept a position at Arkansas State University, Head Coach Jerome Souers announced.

Batoon coached 11 seasons at Northern Arizona University after joining the program as an original member of head coach Jerome Souers' staff in 1999. Batoon served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach and also spent time as the special teams coordinator.

“It is with mixed emotions that I accept this new challenge,” said Batoon. “I have been very fortunate to work at NAU and with Jerome for so many years. I have had the opportunity to be a part of many great teams in the past eleven seasons. The three playoff teams, in particular the 2003 season was very special. But most importantly, thru my tenure I have been afforded the unique opportunity to be a part of so many different lives. Watching kids mature within the program thru graduation and into adulthood has been the most rewarding.”

Batoon developed the Lumberjacks into one of the top defensive units in the Big Sky Conference while earning NAU a reputation nationally for its defensive play. He tutored 42 student-athletes to all-conference honors 61 times during his tenure, while his unit ranked among the top two units in the conference and top 20 in the country against the run three times. He also developed four NFL players, including All-Big Sky first-team selection Jeremy Thornburg in 2004. He was a free agent signee of the Philadelphia Eagles and played with the San Francisco 49ers.

In his final season in Flagstaff, Batoon's defense led the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing yards allowed at 59.8 yards per game while leading the nation in sacks. NAU's rushing yards allowed per game and total yards allowed both set Big Sky Conference single-season records.

One of Batoon's top prodigies was NFL product K.J Gerard, who he coached to back-to-back All-America seasons in 2007 and 2008. He earned All-America First-Team honors from the Associated Press, College Sporting News, The Sports Network and the Walter Camp Foundation in 2008 after being named to the 2007 Associated Press (third team) and The Sports Network All-America teams. Gerard set the school record for interceptions with 19, the fifth-best total in Big Sky history, and finished his career ranked tied for first in interceptions among active career leaders in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Division I overall with 19. He highlighted his senior season with selection as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award Finalist List for the best defensive player at the FCS level.