Clay Helton is 32-29 at Georgia Southern since 2022 and 78-53 in his career.
Updated Nov 9, 2026Sources: school staff directories, TransferPortl coaching tenures, CFBD
2026 season5-4Conf 4-1
At Georgia Southern32-29Conf 20-17 · since 2022
Last 3 seasons20-15Conf 14-7
Career78-53Conf 67-41 · 13 seasons
Source: ESPN standings; Hot seat tracker through 2025, ESPN standings for 2026; Hot seat tracker
Georgia Southern won 52.8% of its games before he arrived (56.4% in conference). His career win rate is +6.7 pts against that (+5.6 pts in conference).
Bio
- Hired
- Nov 2, 2021
- Alma mater
- Houston
- Calls plays
- Yes
- Background
- Offense
- First-time head coach
- No
- Agent
- Jimmy Sexton
- Agency
- CAA
Head Coaching Seasons
12 seasons| Year | School | W-L | Conf | SRS | SP+ | SP+ Off | SP+ Def | AP Final | Titles and Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Georgia Southern | 7-6 | Sun Belt | -8.6 | -9.4 | 28.3 | 37.7 | - | W 29-10 JLab Birmingham Bowl vs App State |
| 2024 | Georgia Southern | 8-5 | Sun Belt | -2.5 | -1.7 | 26.5 | 30.1 | - | L 26-31 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs Sam Houston |
| 2023 | Georgia Southern | 6-7 | Sun Belt | -8.6 | -5.2 | 30.8 | 36.5 | - | L 21-41 Myrtle Beach Bowl vs Ohio |
| 2022 | Georgia Southern | 6-7 | Sun Belt | -4.8 | -6.4 | 34.3 | 40.3 | - | L 21-23 Camellia Bowl vs Buffalo |
| 2021 |  USC | 1-1 | Pac-12 | 0.4 | -0.6 | 32.3 | 33.4 | - | - |
| 2020 | USC | 5-1 | Pac-12 | - | 12.4 | 38.0 | 25.5 | 21 | Conference champion |
| 2019 | USC | 8-5 | Pac-12 | 9.5 | 13.1 | 39.0 | 26.7 | - | L 24-49 SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL vs Iowa |
| 2018 | USC | 5-7 | Pac-12 | 1.3 | 9.7 | 31.7 | 22.5 | - | - |
| 2017 | USC | 11-3 | Pac-12 | 11.9 | 17.9 | 38.5 | 20.0 | 12 | Conference champion; L 7-24 bowl vs Ohio State |
| 2016 | USC | 10-3 | Pac-12 | 19.4 | 23.6 | 39.2 | 17.1 | 3 | W 52-49 ROSE BOWL GAME PRES. BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL vs Penn State |
| 2015 | USC | 5-4 | Pac-12 | 13.6 | 16.8 | 38.6 | 23.3 | - | L 21-23 NATIONAL FUNDING HOLIDAY BOWL vs Wisconsin |
| 2013 | USC | 1-0 | Pac-12 | 15.7 | 22.5 | 36.6 | 12.5 | 19 | W 45-20 ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL vs Fresno State |
Georgia Southern Staff, 2026
17- Clay HeltonHead Coach
- Ryan AplinOffensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
- Mike MutzDefensive Coordinator
- Blake WilsonSpecial Teams Coordinator
- Darius SaffordAssistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach
- Anthony Beck IIAssistant Special Teams Coach/Specialists
- Kevon BeckwithDefensive Line Coach
- Jack WitteInside Linebackers Coach
- Damion WillisInside Receivers Coach
- Zach LankfordOffensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator
- Andrew NeupertOutside Linebackers Coach
- Zak MizellOutside Receivers Coach
- Andre CrenshawRunning Backs Coach
- Prather HudsonSafeties Coach
- Taylor ReedTight Ends Coach
- James HeissHead Strength & Conditioning Coach, Football
- Trey ToledoStrength & Conditioning GA, Football
Transfer Portal at Georgia Southern
Roster average Transfer Vulnerability Score (TVS): 15
| Cycle | In | Out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 | 22 | -1 |
| 2025 | 17 | 18 | -1 |
| 2024 | 6 | 9 | -3 |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
Staff History by Season
1 stint- 2022-2026Georgia SouthernHead Coach