GOLDEN – Following a three-plus year stint in the NCAA Division I ranks, former Colorado School of Mines assistant football coach Jason Semore returns to Golden as the program's new Defensive Coordinator, head coach Bob Stitt announced Tuesday. 

A linebacker for Adams State (2001-05) during his playing days, Semore returns to Mines following a one-year stint as a defensive assistant at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. Under Semore's assistance, the Cowboys ranked inside the top-25 nationally in five defensive categories, including the No. 14 scoring defense and the top scoring defense in the Big XII. He helped lead the team to the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl and 2014 Cotton Bowl. The 2013 version of the Cowboys finished 10-3 overall and ended the season ranked No. 17 in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll. 

Prior to his time in Stillwater, Semore spent a year and a half at the University of Tulsa as an outside linebackers coach. He helped lead the Golden Hurricane to the No. 2 rushing and total defense in Conference USA, as well as the national lead in interceptions and turnover margin. The squad advanced to the 2010 Hawai'I Bowl and the 2011 Armed Forces Bowl under Semore's assistance. 

Before his time in Division I, Semore served as the co-defensive coordinator, secondary coach and special teams coordinator for Adams State for four seasons, including helping the defensive unit lead the RMAC in passing, rushing and total defense in 2008. 

He got his collegiate coaching start at Mines where he served as a secondary coach with the Orediggers in 2007. That season, Mines finished second in the RMAC in rushing and total defense and led the nation in sacks. 

He got his coaching start in 2006 as the defensive coordinator for Round Valley High School in Springerville, Arizona. His defense led the Arizona 3A class in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. 

He earned his B.A. in History, Government and Philosophy from Adams State in 2005, before securing a M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2007. He later received his M.A. in Educational Methods from the University of Tulsa in 2012. 

He and his wife, Brittany, have two daughters, Paityn and Palmer. 

He will begin his duties immediately.