Before the start of the 2018-19 season, South Alabama had been led by the same head coach for all nine years the program had been in existence. Former head coach, and current Mississippi State special teams coordinator, Joey Jones announced his resignation last season. Shortly after he announced he resigned, the Jaguars hired former Central Arkansas head man Steve Campbell.
Campbell has a decorated background in multiple different levels of college football, winning championships in Division II and the junior college ranks, along with having a very successful career in his time at Central Arkansas. His teams have always had very talented, high-powered offenses and his scheme has mainly been an up-tempo, spread system.