Lane Powell brings a wealth of coaching experience, especially when it comes to defense, as he begins his 19th season in coaching and his second season as the linebackers coach with the defending SCAC champion Majors.

The Shreveport, La., native joined the staff in the spring, after spending the previous season as a regional scout for the 2005 Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Powell handled all free agents, workouts and tryouts for the Eskimos in the United States.

A 1988 graduate of Missouri State in physical and health education, Powell played wide receiver and coached three seasons for the Bears. Powell was a member of two Gateway Conference Championships, while coaching running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs.

Powell left Missouri State after the 1991 season and embarked on a 14-year football journey around the South. Powell worked with wide receivers/tight ends at Northwestern State, outside linebackers at Southeast Missouri State, defensive line at Minden high school and Austin Peay State University, outside linebackers at McNeese State (Co-National Champions) and Mars Hill College, defensive line/running backs/recruiting coordinator at Alabama State (2001, SWAC Eastern Division Champs) and prior to the Edmonton Eskimos, a defensive line coach at Clarion University in Clarion, Pa.

“I’ve been fortunate to always have good coaches everywhere I’ve been,” Powell said. “I had great leaders in Jesse Branch at Missouri State and Sam Goodwin at Northwestern, who are two of the winningest coaches in Div. I-AA.”

With the leadership of great coaches, Powell has in turn coached and molded a handful of professional talent in the CFL, AFL and NFL. There are currently nine former players playing professionally, including 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers free agent Chris Jackson.

Powell resides in Pearl while his son, Brandon (13) lives in Louisiana.