Berry College football coach Tony Kunczewski announced Wednesday that Nathan Masters has accepted an offer to serve as the Vikings’ defensive backs coach.

The Vikings will play their inaugural season of football in the fall of 2013.

Masters, an All-Conference defensive back as a student-athlete at LaGrange College, formerly served with Kunczewski on the LaGrange staff from 2009-11.

Kunczewski was tabbed as the first football coach in Berry history this past April.

Masters will also serve as the strength and conditioning coach for Berry’s athletics department.

“Nate will be a great fit at Berry,” Kunczewski said. “I’ve had a chance to get to know him extremely well over the years, both as a player and coach. He brings a lot to the table in terms of intelligence, enthusiasm and high character.

“He’s a native of Georgia and has used his knowledge of the southeast to his advantage in recruiting.

“He brings the unique experience of having been a part of a start-up program as a player to his new role here, and I am thrilled to bring him on our staff.”

According to Masters, the unique atmosphere at Berry and his familiarity with Kunczewski were two of the determining factors in his decision to join the Vikings’ staff.

“All you have to do is step on this campus one time and you know that Berry College is a special place,” Masters said.

“Couple that with the chance to work with Tony Kunczewski again, and it makes for a great opportunity.

“I’m excited to be a part of this program as it is being built.”

Masters spent the past two years as LaGrange’s running backs coach and was also in charge of the Panthers’ kickoff unit and assisted with special teams.

Under his guidance, LaGrange’s running backs scored 10 more touchdowns in 2010 than in the previous season, and the team’s rushing offense improved in each of his two years as the running backs coach.

He gained further experience calling offensive plays for LaGrange’s junior varsity team, and serving as the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.

In 2009, Masters was LaGrange’s videographer.

As a student-athlete, Masters earned All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as a senior in 2008. He played three years for the Panthers, transferring to LaGrange from Maryville College in 2005, and taking part in the inaugural season of LaGrange football in 2006.

Along with his individual accolades, Masters helped LaGrange put together a 9-2 overall record en route to a SLIAC title and an appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs. It marked the third fastest trip from startup to national playoffs in NCAA Division III history.

That season, Masters was an integral part of a defensive unit that ranked fifth in the nation in pass defense, sixth in tackles for loss, 15th in quarterback sacks and 18th in total defense.

A four-year letter winner (three letters at LaGrange, one at Maryville), he was a three-year starter at LaGrange. Masters served as a team captain in LaGrange’s inaugural season.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in history in 2009, and a Master’s degree in Teaching in 2012, both from LaGrange College.