Chris Brasfield joined the Mustang staff as running backs coach in January of 2018, and transitioned into the role of assistant head coach and special teams coordinator in February of 2020.
In his first season as special teams coordinator, Brasfield saw kicker Chris Naggar earn American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Naggar was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and on the Watch List for the Ray Guy Award. He finished the season as the conference leader in scoring (9.4; 17th, NCAA) and field goals per game (1.70; 12th NCAA) and was one shy of the SMU single-season record for field goals made at 17. Naggar was selected to play in the NFLPA and Hula Bowls.
The Mustangs ranked ninth nationally in kickoff return defense at 16.95, with Tyler Page finishing the season fourth nationally in punt returns at 15.2 yards per return.
In 2019, Brasfield mentored Doak Walker semifinalist and all-conference selection Xavier Jones to top FBS statistical honors for points per game (11.5) and rushing touchdowns (23). Jones was also second nationally in total TDs with 25 and third nationally in total points scored with 150. His rushing yards (1,276) and rushing yards per game (98.2) were also in the FBS top 25. Jones’ season points, rushing TDs and total TDs were all SMU records.
Jones went on to sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.
In his first season at SMU, Brasfield mentored Paul Hornung Award Watch List member Braeden West, who led the Mustangs with 138 carries for 589 yards and six touchdowns and finished his career 10th all-time at SMU with 2,519 career-rushing yards and seven career 100-yard games.
Prior to SMU, Brasfield spent three seasons at Nebraska, where he most recently served as the Associate A.D. for Student-Athlete Recruitment and Experience, after previously working as the football program's Director of High School Relations. He transitioned to Nebraska with Head Coach Mike Riley after four seasons together at Oregon State. He served as OSU's running backs coach from 2011-14. In 2012, he was recognized as one of the top 50 recruiters in the country.
He spent 2010 as a graduate assistant at Oregon following three seasons as the running backs coach at Samford. He also served in various assistant coaching roles at TCU, Midwestern State and Southwest Texas State.
A member of the NFL Minority Coaching Internship Program, Brasfield spent time with the Tennessee Titans in 2009. He also served as an intern with the Oakland Raiders in 2000 and was an area scout for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-02).
Brasfield has also coached at the high school level in Texas and Illinois.
Brasfield earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from TCU. He and his wife, Sherresa, have three children, Tyson, Taylor and Truman.
