JACKSON - David E. Saunders has been named the 19th head football coach at Millsaps College. Saunders replaces former head coach Bob Tyler, who retired in November after three years at the Majors' helm.

"We are pleased to welcome Coach Saunders to Millsaps," said Athletic Director Ron Jurney at a Monday afternoon press conference. "He is well respected in football circles and carries with him a wealth of knowledge. We look forward to the Saunders' era of our program."

Saunders, 44, comes to Millsaps after a four-year stint at the University of Mississippi as the director of recruiting. While at Ole Miss, Saunders established an acclaimed recruiting program and was lauded as one of the top nine recruiters in the nation by ESPN. Saunders joined the Ole Miss athletic staff in December 1998 after working at the University of Tennessee, where he was responsible for on-campus recruiting.

Prior to joining the Volunteers, Saunders served two years as assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro (1996-97). He spent the 1995 season coaching safeties and special teams at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

During the 1993 and 1994 seasons, Saunders was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Nicholls State University in Louisiana. While at Nicholls State, Saunders coached defensive back Darryl Pounds, who played for the Washington Redskins of the NFL.

From 1990 to 1992, Saunders coached the defensive line at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and helped lead the Eagles to the 1990 Division I-AA national championship.

From 1984 to 1989, Saunders coached defensive backs and receivers while serving as recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. While at Jacksonville State, Saunders coached defensive back Eric Davis, who earned All-Pro honors in the NFL and played for the 1995 Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers. Saunders also coached receiver Keith McKeller, who played in three Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, and defensive back Darrel Malone, who played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.

Prior to entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Saunders was an assistant football coach at Andalusia High School in Alabama from 1982 to 1983.

Saunders, a native of Douglasville, Ga., graduated from Auburn University in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree and was a walk-on lineman for the Tigers. While at Auburn, Saunders also assisted with the junior varsity, working with the offensive and defensive lines.