In the cases of Bart Tatum and Daryl Daye, the student has bested the master.

Missouri Southern’s department of athletics announced Friday morning that it had hired the former defensive coordinator on Tatum’s staff to be the 11th football Head Coach in University history.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be the new head football coach at Missouri Southern,” Daye said.

“Very much looking forward to the challenges and the opportunities ahead. My wife and I are both excited about moving back to the area, and I’m equally excited about working at an excellent University with a very high-quality administration.”  

Daye served as the Lions’ defensive coordinator, defensive line and special teams coach from 2006-09, after which he left Southern to take the position of Assistant to the Head Coach with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football league.  

A former linebacker at Louisiana State University, Daye also has more than 20 years of experience as a football coach.  

Daye said he plans to hire two proven, experienced coordinators, and complete his staff with several younger coaches whom he hopes to emphasize with recruiting. He also said that under his leadership, the schemes of his team, offensive and defensive, will hinge on what type of players are already on the roster at Southern, as well as what type of talent he is able to recruit.   

“Sooner or later you’ve got to be true to yourself,” he said. “I’ve very much enjoyed my time here [in Buffalo], it’s been a grand experience, at the peak of the profession. But ultimately being true to myself, my vision and my personal goals to make a difference in young men’s lives and to train young men to be better people, better men, quality people, at the end of the day that’s really the reason I wanted to have another opportunity to be a Head Coach and to make a difference.”  

Daye’s first official day on the job at Southern will be Jan. 2. Southern’s athletics department has scheduled a formal press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, more information is expected then.