2024-present: (Arkansas State)
McCarley joined the A-State staff ahead of the 2024 season as linebackers coach and added defensive coordinator duties in 2025. In his two seasons he has heped the Red Wolves to back-to-back bowl victories, 38-31 over Bowling Green in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl and 34-28 over Missouri State in the 2025 Xbox Bowl. The 2024 team claimed eight victories that matched the third highest total in its 33-year history as an FBS member.
With McCarley’s guidance, the defense made notable strides from 2024 to 2025, improving in scoring defense (32.3 to 27.3), rush defense (225.5 to 178.5), total defense (460.3 to 414.8), and third-down efficiency (47.6% to 40.2%). The Red Wolves placed three defensive linemen on the All-Sun Belt teams for the first time since 2018 and third time in A-State’s Sun Belt Conference history. In total, the defense had seven all-conference selections: first team defensive end Demarcus Hendricks, second team defensive tackle Cody Sigler, third team defensive end Ethan Hassler, honorable mention defensive tackle Simeon Mitchell, honorable mention cornerback Avante Dickerson, honorable mention linebacker Kyle Taylor and honorable mention safety AG McGhee.Â
Under his direction in 2024, linebackers Marvin Ham, Charles Willekes and Justin Parks were the leading tacklers for the Red Wolves. Each of the trio accounted for 90-plus tackles and five or more tackles for loss while forcing eight turnovers. Ham was tabbed Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference, while Parks was an Honorable Mention selection. Â
2023: (Ole Miss)
Served as an analyst at Ole Miss, working primarily with inside linebackers. McCarley assisted with the implementation of a new defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Pete Golding and helped Ole Miss to a program-best 11 wins, including a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State.
2022: (Northern Iowa)
Served as linebackers coach. Under his direction, Spencer Cuvelier and Korby Sander earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) recognition. The pair each ranked inside the top 15 nationally in tackles.
2021: (Kansas State)
Worked as a defensive analyst helping the Wildcats trim 12.2 points per game off its average from the previous season. Allowing 21.0 points per game, it was the best mark for Kansas State since 2003 and ranked 23rd nationally.
2018-20: (Troy)
Worked with the inside and outside linebackers over three seasons. With his assistance, Troy posted one of the best turnarounds in the nation in 2020 with the Trojans improving 63 spots in scoring defense and 38 spots in total defense.
2015-18: (West Alabama)
Began coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater. Coached the linebackers and defensive line.
