Buster Faulkner

Buster Faulkner begins his second season on Rick Stockstill’s staff and first as the programs offensive coordinator after being elevated to the post in February 2012. Faulkner will also serve as quarterbacks coach for the second straight season.

In his first season at Middle Tennessee, Faulkner took over the play-calling duties the final seven games of the year following the resignation of Willie Simmons. Faulkner’s unit went on to record the fifth most yards of total offense, complete a record 299 passes, while becoming just the second offense in school history to amass over 3,000 passing yards.

Faulkner came to Murfreesboro after serving the 2010 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Murray State.

In his lone season at MSU, Faulkner’s offense broke 27 school records and finished first in the FCS in total plays, pass completions, and completion percentage. The Racer offense racked up nearly 5,000 yards and produced the first 500-yard passer, 200-yard rusher, and 200-yard receiver in the same game in FCS history. The Racers ranked fifth in total offense nationally in 2010 and the year prior to Faulkner’s arrival MSU had a ranking of 115.

In 2010, the Racers offense ranked first in the OVC and fifth nationally with 36.09 points per game, while also leading the league in passing offense and ranking fourth nationally with 313.5 yards per contest. The MSU quarterbacks led the country in completions and completion percentage.

Under Faulkner’s guidance, quarterback Casey Brockman had just six starts in 2010 but earned second team all-conference honors and was twice picked as the National Player of the Week. Brockman also garnered three OVC Player of the Week awards en route to finishing first in the league and eighth nationally in passing yards per game. Brockman accounted for 313 yards of total offense per game.

Prior to joining the Racers staff, Faulkner spent the 2009 season as the quarterbacks coach at Central Arkansas. UCA’s offense averaged 26.2 points a game and 215.8 yards a game through the air and was ranked in the Top 25 nationally in every offensive statistic.

Senior quarterback Robbie Park finished the year going 217-for-358 for 2,434 yards and 12 touchdowns. The yardage total was seventh on the school’s all-time single-season list.

Faulkner’s coaching career began at Valdosta State, where he served as a student assistant helping with the quarterbacks in 2005.

After one season with the Blazers, he served as an offensive graduate assistant at Georgia, working with the offensive line and quarterbacks.

Faulkner returned to Valdosta State in 2007 and served as the quarterbacks coach for two seasons.

In his first season, the Blazers went 13-1 and captured the Division II National Championship as quarterback Willie Copeland passed for 2,903 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Faulkner took over as the offensive coordinator for the Blazers in 2008. VSU averaged 380.8 yards a game in advancing to the quarterfinals as quarterback Chris Hart earned Freshman of the Year honors. Hart accounted for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns.

As a player, Faulkner starred as a quarterback for Valdosta State from 2000 to 2003. In three years with the Blazers, he passed for 7,100 yards and 64 touchdowns while registering a 47-6 record.

As a sophomore, Faulkner earned first-team all-Gulf South Conference honors and honorable mention All-American accolades after going 327-for-503 for 3,941 yards and 44 touchdowns in leading the Blazers to a 14-1 record and a spot in the National Championship game.

He played his senior season at Texas A&M-Commerce;, where he passed for 2,861 and 16 touchdowns, while setting 10 school records.

During his prep career, Faulkner started at quarterback as a sophomore and led Parkview High School to the 1997 Georgia state championship.

A native of Lilburn, Ga., Faulkner earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Valdosta State in 2005.

Faulkner, and his wife, Tia, have one son, Harrison, and one daughter, Hadley.

THE FAULKNER FILE
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Season at MT: 2nd
Date Hired: January 26, 2011
Recruiting Area: Northeast Georgia, Midwest Tennessee, Southwest Florida

PERSONAL
Birthdate: September 19, 1981
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
Spouse: wife Tia
Children: Harrison, Hadley

EDUCATION
High School: Parkview, 1999
College: Valdosta State, Bachelor of Arts and History, 2005

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Quarterback at Valdosta State (2000-2003)
Quarterback at Texas A&M-Commerce; (2004)

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2005: Valdosta State (student assistant)
2006: Georgia (GA)
2007: Valdosta State (quarterbacks)
2008: Valdosta State (offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2009: Central Arkansas (quarterbacks)
2010: Murray State (offensive coordinator Quarterbacks)
2011: MT (quarterbacks)
2012: MT (offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks)

BOWL EXPERIENCE
2006: Chik-Fil-A Bowl (coach)
2007: Division II National Championship (coach)