J Pond’s familiarity with offensive coordinator Brad Smiley’s system has paid dividends in Pond’s first three seasons as Northwestern State’s offensive line coach.
Pond’s offensive line showed its versatility in the spring 2021 season, helping pave the way for running back Scooter Adams to finish second nationally in yards per carry (8.0) and leading the charge in a school-record 707-yard total offense performance at Incarnate Word in the season finale.
Anchored by All-Southland Conference selections Khalil Corbett-Canada and Jakob Sell, the Demon front stood tall in front of quarterback Bryce Rivers, allowing him to become the first NSU quarterback to turn in multiple 400-yard passing games.
In 2019, Pond’s offensive line produced a second-team all-conference selection in guard Chris Zirkle and saw tackle Jonathan Hubbard sign a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. Additionally, center Dustin Burns signed to play level-one arena football.
The trio was part of an offensive line that Pond molded into a unit that allowed the second-fewest sacks in the Southland Conference, helping quarterback Shelton Eppler rewrite the Demon passing record book in just two seasons.
Pond’s first NSU offensive line helped set the tone for the Demons’ record-breaking offense, a unit that broke or tied 20 school records in the 2018 season.
Pond spent eight seasons from 2009-16 working alongside head coach Smiley as his offensive line coach at Trinity Valley Community College where the pair built some of the most explosive offenses in the junior-college ranks, winning multiple conference and NJCAA titles.
Prior to arriving in Demonland, Pond spent the 2017 season at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.
As Trinity Valley’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Pond was part of an offensive staff that coordinated the nation’s highest-scoring team three straight seasons (2014-16). Along the way, the Cardinals established six team records and two national records – yards per game (656.1 in 2015) and season yardage (7,778 in 2014).
In six of his seven seasons at Trinity Valley, the Cardinals finished in the top 10 nationally in total offense. His rushing attacks also stood in the top five nationally in several categories during his tenure.
Pond coached three All-American offensive linemen at TVCC and had 19 all-conference selections on his watch.
A letterman at Texas A&M, Pond helped lead the Fightin’ Texas Aggies to a pair of bowl appearances – the 2004 Cotton Bowl and the 2006 Holiday Bowl. After his playing career, Pond was an assistant to the late Jim Bob Helduser, the Aggies’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Pond is a graduate of Texas A&M, earning his bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2007 and a master’s degree in physical education in 2009.
