A coaching veteran with over 20 years' experience, Buggs returns to his alma mater to serve as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Buggs most recently served as head coach at King's Fork High School in Suffolk during the 2019 season, his second stint as a high school head coach in the Commonwealth.
Before King’s Fork, Buggs spent 16 seasons in the college ranks. From 2014-18, Buggs was the safeties coach at Old Dominion. He also held the title of assistant defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at the end of his tenure. While at ODU, Buggs helped lead the Monarchs through their transition to the Division I FBS level, which included a 10-win season and the school’s first-ever bowl berth and win in 2016.
He coached one Conference USA honorable mention and one CUSA All-Freshman Team selection at ODU. In 2015, Buggs' safeties at ODU were responsible for 10 turnovers.
Buggs’ prior collegiate stops include a year as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at UConn (2013), defensive coordinator at Lock Haven (2012) and a lengthy stint at Penn State from 2003-11. Buggs started his career at Penn State as an offensive graduate assistant, working with the tight ends and running backs. He then served as coordinator of player personnel and development in 2006 before assuming the role of safeties coach from 2007-11.
In his lone season coaching the Nittany Lion tight ends in 2003, two of his players, Matt Kranchick and Sean McHugh, were taken in the NFL Draft.
Buggs was in charge of the running backs from 2004-06, mentoring Tony Hunt to one of the best careers ever by a Penn State running back. Hunt rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice in his career and was a third round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Penn State went 11-1 in 2005 and defeated Florida State in the Orange Bowl and was 9-4 the following season, capping the year with a 20-10 win over Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
He was hired as the coordinator of player personnel development at PSU in 2006 and moved to coaching the secondary in 2007.
He coached safeties Drew Astorino, Anthony Scirotto and Nick Sukay to All-Big 10 honors as well as returner Derrick Williams, when he oversaw the punt and kick return units.
Buggs was part of two 11-win teams while coaching the secondary and helped the Nittany Lions win a pair of bowl games, including a 19-17 win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl. In all, he coached in seven bowl games at Penn State.
Buggs began his career as a high school coach, leading Surry County to a 14-0 record and state championship in his first season (1999). He was chosen Region A Coach and VHSCA Coach of the Year that season. He also led Surry to the Region A Division I championship in 2000 and guided the team to the semifinals in 2002. He produced a 34-14 record in four years (1999-2002) as head coach at Surry.
A 1995 graduate of NSU and native of Hampton, Buggs left NSU as the school’s all-time leading passer. He still ranks sixth in passing yards (3,874) and third in passing touchdowns (37) in Spartan history. He was the University's 1992-93 recipient of the Vince Lombardi Award for leadership and academic achievement.
Buggs earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and exercise science from NSU in 1995 and a master's degree in educational administration from Penn State in 2005.
