The William Peagler coaching journey is coming full circle - and it’s returning to the role that helped launch his name into the national conversation. According to reports, Peagler is set to become the new running backs coach at James Madison, a move that reunites him with head coach Billy Napier and puts him back in a position where he’s already proven he can make a major impact.
If Peagler’s name rings a bell for Michigan State fans, it should. He was the position coach behind Kenneth Walker III’s breakout 2021 season - a campaign that saw Walker take home the Doak Walker Award and finish sixth in Heisman voting.
That year, Peagler helped turn a relatively unheralded transfer from Wake Forest into one of the most electrifying players in college football. And in the process, he gave then-head coach Mel Tucker the kind of offensive weapon that elevated Michigan State to a Peach Bowl win and an 11-2 record.
Walker’s instant success in East Lansing wasn’t by accident. Peagler and the offensive staff had identified his potential early.
Despite Walker splitting carries at Wake Forest, the Spartans saw something special - and Peagler was instrumental in closing the deal. From the first carry of the 2021 season - a long touchdown run that set the tone for what was to come - Walker looked every bit the star Peagler believed he could be.
Peagler’s coaching résumé is dotted with notable stops. Before arriving at Michigan State, he held roles at Clemson, Georgia, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Colorado, where he initially worked under Tucker.
After the 2021 season, as Michigan State’s momentum slowed and Tucker’s tenure began to unravel for reasons off the field, Peagler continued to climb. He joined Florida’s staff as the tight ends coach and later spent time in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals before returning to Gainesville as an offensive assistant in 2025.
Now, he’s heading to James Madison, a program that’s been making waves of its own in the college football landscape. The Dukes recently brought in Billy Napier as their new head coach - a familiar name and a familiar face for Peagler.
The two go back to their days at Louisiana, and this reunion feels like a natural fit. Napier knows what Peagler brings to the table, and Peagler steps into a role where he’s already shown he can develop elite talent.
The big question now is: can Peagler find and mold another Kenneth Walker III? That’s a high bar, no doubt. But if history is any indicator, James Madison’s backfield is in good hands.