Another one of McNeese’s all-time greats and Hall of Famer, Zach Bronson, is in his second season on staff in his second stint, and coaches the cornerbacks.
His expertise and experience at the position allows him to give top-notch teaching to the Cowboys’ secondary.
In 2016, that teaching came to fruition as McNeese picked off eight passes with three being returned for touchdowns. CB Jermained Antoine stepped in for three of those pics and returned two for scores.
A native of Jasper, Texas, Bronson is the only 4-time first team all-Southland Conference player from McNeese - one of just six in the history of the league.
A 1996 consensus all-American and 2007 McNeese Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Bronson spent the 2007-2009 seasons as a graduate assistant on the Cowboys’ coaching staff, helping the team to back-to-back conference championships.
Following his GA stint at McNeese, Bronson coached football and track at Westside High School in Houston from 2009-12 and spent the last two seasons on the staff at Beaumont-Kelly.
As a player for the Cowboys from 1993-96, he won two conference championships and was a member of that memorable 1995 team that finished the season 13-1 with an appearance in the 1-AA (now FCS) semifinals.
Following his collegiate career, Bronson signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 1997, and during his rookie season, recorded 24 tackles with an interception. He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL, seven with the 49ers (1997-2003) and one at St. Louis (2004). He ended his career with 247 tackles, 19 interceptions and two touchdowns.
His 346 interception return yards with the 49ers is ranked as the 10th-most in franchise history and currently holds the franchise record with the longest interception return of 97 yards.
Bronson recruits the Beaumont and Golden Triangle areas.
ABOUT COACH BRONSON
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 28, 1974
HOMETOWN: Jasper, Texas
HIGH SCHOOL: Jasper HS
COLLEGE: McNeese, 2008
FAMILY: Wife-Ericka
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
MCNEESE:
• Defensive back at McNeese 1993-96.
• Only player in school history to be named 1st team all-SLC all four years
(1993-96) and 1 of 7 in SLC history.
• 1st team All-Louisiana 1993, 94, 95, 96.
• 1996 team captain.
• 1993 SLC Rookie of the Year.
• 1996 team MVP.
• 1996 Consensus All-American -
AP, Walter Camp, FCA.
• 1995 All-American - Walter Camp,
Sports Network.
• Currenlty ranks 3rd on school’s career
interception list with 19.
• Current career record holder with 455
interception return yards.
• Currently 5th on career tackles list with
347 stops.
• 2007 McNeese Hall of Fame inductee.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers:
• Played eight seasons with the 49ers and a total of 84 games, starting in 43 of those.
• Recorded 228 total tackles, 193 of those solos.
• 19 career pass interceptions with 346 return yards and two touchdowns scored.
• Franchise record holder with a 97-yard interception return for touchdown against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 28, 2001.
• His 97 interception return yards in a game ranks as the second most in franchise history.
• 2 career interception TDs ranks as the third most in franchise history while both of those coming in the 2001 season, ranks as the second most in a season in franchise history.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-Present: McNeese (Cornerbacks)
2013-15: Beaumont-Kelly HS, Beaumont
2009-12: Westside HS, Houston
2007-09: McNeese Graduate Assistant
