The SMU Mustangs are losing defensive coordinator Scott Symons, who is taking a leap to the NFL. However, head coach Rhett Lashlee might not have to cast a wide net, thanks to the presence of a budding defensive assistant.

Maurice Crum Jr., who is the Mustangs’ linebackers coach, is emerging as a top prospect to replace Symons as DC. He has more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience and has been with SMU since 2023. In 2024, he was named co-defensive coordinator for the team, which gives him an added advantage.

The potential new Mustangs DC had a brief stint at the position during his time at Western Kentucky. In 2021, he led the Hilltoppers as defensive coordinator for the first time. But that debut did not fare well, as the WKU finished 109 in the country in total defense. He ran a 4-2-5 base defense that season.

However, Crum Jr. really made an impact in SMU’s spread 4-3 system. Linebacker play has been a key part of the Mustangs’ defensive identity. They go after the running backs in 1 vs 1 battles, trying to throw them off their routes. With the impactful trio of Brandon Booker, Alexander Kilgore, and Brandon Miyazono returning, fans can continue to see some disruption from linebackers if Crum Jr. becomes SMU’s new DC.

A look at Maurice Crum Jr.’s career

Maurice Crum Jr. began his journey at Kansas as a graduate assistant and rose to be the director of high school relations. In 2015, he joined his alma mater, Notre Dame, as a graduate assistant. After one season with the Irish, Crum Jr. moved to Indiana State to be their defensive backs coach. In 2017, he arrived at Western Kentucky, where he spent the majority of his career as a coach.

With the Hilltoppers, he helped set a program record in 2019 when the defense hauled in a 20.1 points allowed per game average – the 22 best in the country. Crum Jr. also helped develop star linebackers like Ben Holt and Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Crum Jr., having created a name for himself by now, was hired by Ole Miss in 2022. A year later, he arrived at SMU.

Here, he’s found some pretty important playmakers at the position. Mustang LBs Ahmad Walker, Kobe Wilson, and Alexander Kilgore have been trained by him. Wilson’s magnificent 82-yard pick-six against Florida State in 2024 will be a memorable moment in his career as LB coach. Linebackers were a key part of SMU’s defensive identity in 2024. They were among the top 5 in the country in defensive touchdowns.

Crum Jr.’s linebackers, despite being down with injuries, made an impact in the 2025 season, too, with LB Brandon Booker finishing third in the defense in tackles. Kilgore followed at fourth with 60 tackles.

Maurice Crum Jr. was a standout player in college

Before Crum Jr. began coaching, he was one of Notre Dame’s most prolific linebackers in the 2000s. His career total of 306 tackles is the 11th highest on the Fighting Irish leaderboard. He was the team captain for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

The former Irish LB’s most memorable game was against UCLA in 2006. He pretty much singlehandedly orchestrated the win, with 7 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and a sack. Crum Jr. also recorded a school-high four turnovers in that game, and sealed the deal with an important fumble returned for a 34-yard touchdown.

Unfortunately, Crum Jr. had a short-lived pro career. He played for the now-defunct Sacramento Mountain Lions in the UFL from 2009 to 2011.

Maurice Crum Jr. has football in his blood

The 39 year old SMU coach is a Florida native, and is the son of Miami Hurricanes Hall of Famer, Maurice Crum Sr. He was a standout LB for the program, and helped bring home its two National Championships. The elder Crum led the team in tackles from 1988 to 1990, and was also a finalist for the Butkus Award.

Crum Sr. played in a variety of leagues after his Miami stint. He was in the NFL as a Buccaneer, a part of AFL as a Orlando Predator, and in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He then joined the Orlando Country Sherriff, where he is now a deputy.

Maurice Crum Jr.’s immediate competiton is co-defensive coordinator Rickey Hunley Jr., who is the Mustangs’ cornerbacks coach. But given the defensive turnaround that the program has to make this year and the clear strength in linebackers, Crum Jr. makes for the best possible replacement for Scott Symons.