Carl Balls joined the Southeastern coaching staff prior to the 2023 season and works primarily with the team's defensive linemen.

Balls was last in the coaching ranks in 2021 when he served as a volunteer assistant at Missouri S&T and prior to that as a volunteer assistant at Delta State in 2018.

He assists with the defensive linemen and coordinates injured player workouts and preparing defensive staff meetings.

Balls transitions into coaching after 20 years working in the criminal justice field, retiring in 2018 after serving 15 years as a Deputy Probation Officer.

He was inducted in the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and was a letterwinner for the Statesmen from 1983-1986 for coach Jimmy "Red" Parker, while earning All-American honors on the defensive line in 1986. A two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection at defensive tackle, Balls helped lead the Statesmen to 22 wins during his tenure and an undefeated stretch against in-state rival Mississippi College. In 1984, he finished with 9.5 sacks to rank second in single-season history, while his 19.5 career sacks still rank fifth in program history.

Balls graduated from Delta State in 1987 with a degree in criminal justice.