Kevin Peoples, a 29-year coaching veteran, joined the Mizzou staff in January 2022. He serves as assistant coach for the defensive line, working with the edge position. Peoples arrived in Columbia after two seasons at Indiana and four seasons at Tulane.
Under Peoples’ guidance, IU led the Big Ten in sacks for the first time in program history in 2020. Jerome Johnson, who signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, became the first Hoosiers defensive tackle to earn first-team all-conference honors since Hurvin McCormack in 1993.
The 2020 abbreviated season saw the Hoosiers post a 6-2 record with an undefeated conference showing and a trip to the Outback Bowl. IU finished 2021 at 2-10. Peoples’ top defensive linemen combined for 82 tackles and 15 tackles for loss of 55 yards.
He arrived in Bloomington after four seasons as Tulane's defensive line coach. Peoples was part of Green Wave teams that won consecutive bowl games for the first time in program history in 2018 and 2019. Three-time all-conference defensive end Patrick Johnson led the team in sacks both years and finished his career with 24.5, which sits atop the Tulane record book.
Johnson became just the third player in school history with 10 sacks in a season in 2018 (10.5) and his .082 sacks per game ranked 12th in the FBS. Tackle Cameron Sample (fourth round, Cincinnati) and Johnson (seventh round, Philadelphia) were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. The duo became the third and fourth NFL standouts he tutored over his stint in New Orleans.
Minnesota drafted end Ade Aruna in the 2018 NFL Draft, while the Los Angeles Rams locked up tackle Tanzel Smart in 2017. The 2018 line tallied 25.5 sacks, 42.5 tackles for loss, and 230 tackles. Tulane finished with the third-most sacks in program history and averaged 3.15 per game, which ranked eighth nationally. The Green Wave also finished 24th nationally in red zone defense.
Prior to Tulane, Peoples spent two campaigns at Georgia Southern University (2014-15). The Eagles won 18 games during his tenure with a win in the GoDaddy Bowl and a Sun Belt Conference Championship. His line guided GSU to the top spot in the league and 24th nationally in rushing defense (130.9), and second in the conference and 24th nationally in total defense (338.1). He mentored a pair of all-league honorees as Georgia Southern earned its first bowl win in its first bowl appearance.
Before a one-year stop as defensive line coach at UAB (2013), Peoples worked at the University of Arkansas (2010-12). He served as the director of high school relations in 2010 and then moved to the defensive line his final two seasons. The Razorbacks finished 19th in the country in rushing defense (124.1) and 24th in sacks (2.58) in 2012.
Arkansas collected consecutive 10-win campaigns for just the third time in school history and made back-to-back BCS bowl appearances in 2010 (Sugar Bowl) and 2011 (Cotton Bowl). The 2011 team capped an 11-2 campaign with a No. 5 national ranking.
In eight seasons at Arkansas State (2002-09), Peoples developed 11 All-Sun Belt Conference selections and several award winners, including Corey Williams (2002, 2003), Jon Bradley (2002, 2003) Myron Anderson (2005), Jonathan Najm (2006), Jammarrow James (2006), Alex Carrington (2008, 2009), and Bryan Hall (2009).
Carrington, the Sun Belt’s 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, while both Williams and Bradley spent multiple seasons in the NFL. Hall was a member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XLVII championship team.
He also spent time working with the defensive lines and special teams units at Northwestern State (2001, 1996), with the Las Vegas Outlaws (2000), at Northern Arizona (1999), Central Missouri (1997-98) and Blinn College (1995).
In 2003, Peoples was selected from 500 coaches as one of the recipients of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award, recognizing coaches who made a significant contribution to their teams.
A four-year starter at linebacker at Carroll College in Helena, Mont., Peoples was a two-time all-league pick and all-district selection as a senior. He led the Saints to the 1989 Frontier Conference crown and a berth in the NAIA playoffs before he launched his coaching career at his alma mater (1993-94).
Peoples is married to Rebecca Chilton, a former collegiate basketball coach and administrator.
