Faulkner University

Entering his fourth full-time and fifth overall season on the staff, Payton Wasden keeps his roles as offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach and director of compliance. 

Originally a volunteer assistant in 2018 while the program was under the guidance of his uncle Shayne, he was hired to lead the receivers the next season after Shayne had handed off the reins of the program to his brother and associate head coach, Tommy. 

In fall of 2020, Payton Wasden was placed in charge of compliance efforts. After that school year’s spring season and his father’s departure, Wasden was promoted by Rob Gray to co-offensive coordinator in 2021, again in charge of receivers, and took over quarterback duties midseason. 

Under Wasden’s tutelage, wideout Jalen Browder soared to back-to-back all-conference selections in 2020 and 2021, including 55 receptions for 936 yards and ten scores in the latter campaign, with two games where he scored three touchdowns. 

Originally from Mobile, Alabama, he graduated from Troy in December 2016, and started coaching as a student assistant with the Trojans from 2012-14. He spent three years out of the profession before Shayne’s hiring at Faulkner. 

Wasden has been married to the former Abbi Sanders since July 2019, and they have a daughter, Ava Sims.