Billy Napier is wasting no time putting his stamp on James Madison football. Just days after officially taking over as head coach, Napier made his first significant move-bringing in Kaden Semon as the Dukes’ new Director of Player Personnel.
It’s more than just a staff hire. It’s a clear signal that Napier is building a program with structure, vision, and long-term purpose.
Semon joins JMU after handling defensive scouting duties at Colorado State, but his résumé stretches beyond Fort Collins. He’s had stints at Ole Miss and Tennessee, and now he steps into a pivotal role in what’s expected to be a fully developed and modern personnel department in Harrisonburg. This isn’t just about filling a position-it’s about building infrastructure that can sustain high-level recruiting and player development for years to come.
Napier made it clear during his introductory press conference that he’s prioritizing organization, accountability, and alignment. And the Semon hire fits that mold perfectly.
This is a foundational move, not a flashy headline-grabber. It’s about setting up the systems that will allow JMU to compete not just this year, but every year.
“The game of football is about people, and that’s what makes it special,” Napier said during his introduction. He thanked athletic director Matt Roan and university president Jim Schmidt for their belief in his vision, calling the hiring process “first-class” and emphasizing the professionalism throughout. That tone-focused, appreciative, and process-driven-has already carried over into how he’s building out his staff.
But Napier didn’t stop at Semon.
He also brought in Cam Aiken to run the offense as the Dukes’ new offensive coordinator. Aiken comes to JMU with a solid background, most recently calling plays at East Tennessee State, where his offense averaged 32.5 points per game this season.
He also worked under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, and before that, spent nearly a decade at Clemson, his alma mater. He’s no stranger to high-level football environments, and he’s coached running backs at USF as recently as 2021 and 2022.
Even though Napier and Aiken haven’t coached together before, they share a common thread: both came up through the Dabo Swinney pipeline at Clemson. That kind of shared football DNA matters when you’re trying to build a cohesive staff.
According to reports, Aiken was Napier’s top target for the OC job, and it’s easy to see why. He’s young, experienced, and has proven he can produce results with limited resources.
As of now, Aiken is also advising Ole Miss as they prepare for their College Football Playoff matchup against Tulane, giving him a front-row seat to postseason football at the highest level-experience that can only help as he transitions into his new role at JMU.
So, what does all this mean for James Madison football?
It means the Dukes are entering a new chapter-one built on structure, strategic hires, and a clear identity. Napier isn’t just filling out a staff.
He’s laying the groundwork for a program that wants to win now and build for the long haul. And with hires like Semon and Aiken, he’s already showing that he knows how to do both.