Coaches

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

Jim Patchell -- Head Men's & Women's Track & Field Coach, Campbell University Camels

(as of track & field season 2008-09) Former Tulane and Arkansas assistant Jim Patchell was named head men's and women's track and field coach at Campbell University on August 27, 2003.
Patchell joins the Fighting Camel staff from Tulane, where he served the last three years as assistant track and field coach. He will direct Campbell's overall track program.
While at Tulane, Patchell coached both the men's and women's jumpers, hurdlers and multi-event athletes for each of his three seasons. He also assumed responsibility for the cross country program and distance events during the 2002-03 campaign. Patchell helped the Green Wave earn a pair of Conference USA team championships.
A native of Heber Springs, Ark., Patchell also served as men's assistant track coach at national power
Arkansas from 1996-99, where he coached pole vaulters and multi-event athletes. During his tenure with the Razorbacks, Arkansas won seven national championships ­ one in cross country, three indoors and three in outdoor track.
In 10 years in the collegiate ranks, Patchell has served on the staff of
some of the best track and field coaches in the country, including former Tulane head coach Ron Bazil and both John McDonnell and Dick Booth at
Arkansas.
Patchell graduated from Arkansas State in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. While at ASU, he was a sprinter and hurdler for the track and field team. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1994 and assisted with the training and coaching of sprinters and hurdlers. Patchell earned his M.S. in exercise science from Arkansas State in 1995.
Patchell then moved on to
Arkansas, where in addition to his coaching duties, he served as a graduate instructor in the physical education department while working toward a Ph.D. in Kinesiology.


Joe Pate -- Assistant Athletic Director, North Carolina State University Wolfpack

(as of football season 2010) Joe Pate, a 34-year veteran of the coaching ranks, moved into the administration side of NC State's athletic department in 2004. Pate now serves as the Assistant Athletics Director for Quality Control for Football.

Alma Mater:
Alabama `68
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
College - Linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at NC State (1997-2003); Linebackers coach at
Arkansas (1994-96); Defensive line coach at Arkansas (1992-93); Linebackers coach at Arkansas (1991); Defensive coordinator at Arkansas (1990); Defensive coordinator at NC State (1986-89); Defensive Coordinator at UT Chattanooga (1980-85); Linebacker coach at ETC (1979); High School - Head Coach at Kendrick (Columbus, Ga.) High School (1977-78); Defensive coordinator at Kendrick High School (1975-76); Assistant coach at Austin (Ala.) High School (1972-74); Assistant coach at Central (Ala.) High School (1970-71).
EDUCATION:
Earned a B.S. in physical education from Alabama in 1968; Earned an M.S. in education (school administration) in 1969.
PERSONAL DATA:
Born December 6, 1945 in Ashford, Ala.; Married to the former Leslie Russell of Madison, Ala.; Has three children: Katherine, Darrow and Jacquelyn.
NFL PLAYERS Coached:
NC State - Clayton White (NY Giants); Ray Agnew (New England Patriots, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams); Mike Jones (Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans); Bobby Houston (NY Jets);
Arkansas - Raylee Johnson (San Diego Chargers); Henry Ford (Tennessee Titans); Steve Conley (Pittsburgh Stealers).


Mike Patrick -- Head Women's Tennis Coach, Tennessee Lady Vols

(as of tennis season 2009-10) A respected leader in the coaching community, Mike Patrick has established a reputation for his ability to elevate collegiate tennis programs and players to the highest level of performance. This season (2001), his efforts will continue to be bolstered by his wife, Sonia Hahn-Patrick, who returns for her fifth season as co-head coach. The union has proven to be very beneficial in all aspects of Tennessee women's tennis.
Last season, Patrick helped to guide the Lady Vols to one of their most successful campaigns to date. In the process he and his wife were named SEC, Regional and National Co-Coaches of the Year. The Lady Vols notched a 25-4 mark and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee opened the season ranked No. 17, but ascended as high as No. 2 before receiving the final ranking of No. 6. Patrick also tutored Alison Ojeda to All-America singles recognition for the first time in her career. In 2000, Patrick guided the Lady Vols to a 20-12 mark and their fourth straight NCAA Tournament and another ITA Top 25 ranking as the team finished ranked 17th. The squad advanced to the round of 16 and Alison Ojeda and Vilmarie Castellvi were invited to partake in the doubles version of the championship, while Ojeda also competed in the individual NCAA Championships. Patrick achieved his 200th win on February 5, 2000 when the Lady Vols netted a 6-1 decision over Illinois.
Now in his 15th season as mentor of the Lady Vols, Patrick has led 13 of his Tennessee teams to top 25 finishes and has made the Orange and White a fixture in the national spotlight. He guided the Lady Vols to their first-ever top 10 ranking in 1991-92 before the team finished 11th in the nation at the conclusion of the season. In 1995-96, the Lady Vols snared a second top-10 ranking when they appeared at ninth in the preseason. UT finished as the nation's 15th-ranked team. In 1998-99, he picked up Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors for the second time after guiding a youthful Lady Vol squad to an impressive 18-8 mark, including a berth in the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville, Fla. The 1998-99 edition of Patrick's team finished 14th in the final national poll.
The winningest coach in Tennessee history, Patrick revived the Lady Vol program from a Southeastern Conference cellar dweller into a national contender. He inherited a Lady Vol team that finished eighth in the conference and has transformed it into a perennial force in the SEC. His first Tennessee squad finished the season ranked 22nd in the country. Since then, the Lady Vols have enjoyed ten trips to the NCAA Championships and six berths in the ITA National Indoors and five 20-wins campaigns.
Patrick was named by his peers as the ITA Southeast Region Coach of the Year for the first time in 1992 after leading Tennessee to its first 20 win season since 1983. The 1991-92 squad also celebrated its first win in the main draw of a national team event with a 5-3 upset over then No. 7 Arizona at the ITA National Indoors. UT later followed that with a decision over 10th ranked Miami (Fla.) in the consolation round.
In 1993, Patrick earned his 100th win at Tennessee when the Lady Vols defeated Kentucky in their final regular season dual match. His record stands at 217-138 after 13 years of guiding the Orange and White. He has a 273-166 overall record in 15 years as a head coach.
Patrick began his coaching career at the University of Kentucky in 1984. He earned his reputation as a coach with the "Midas Touch" at UK. His first Lady Kat team still holds the school record for most wins in a single season with 25.
Kentucky enjoyed two 20 win seasons during Patrick's two-and-a-half year stint at UK. The Lady Kats were ranked as high as sixth in the country under Patrick, and his 1985-86 team finished second in the SEC, a feat which earned him SEC Coach of the Year honors.
He left Kentucky to become the head men's tennis coach at the
University of Arkansas. In what he calls one of his greatest accomplishments as a head coach, Patrick guided a Razorback team plagued by turmoil to a 9-16 record and finished fifth in the Southwest Conference.
Patrick's duties and success extend far beyond the UT campus. He is highly active in coaching on the national and international scenes as well as with the area's top junior talent. He has also served on various ITA committees.
Some of his previous tours of duty have included coaching U.S. Soisbaut Cup teams and serving as a coach for the USTA national team. In 1987, he served as head coach of the U.S. tennis team at the World University Games and coached the U.S. World Youth Cup and Continental Cup teams. He was also the coach of the U.S. Junior Federation Cup team in 1986 and 1987 and the U.S. national team from 1988 to 1992.
Patrick played collegiate tennis at Middle Tennessee State and was on two Ohio Valley Conference championship teams. He graduated from MTSU in 1979 with a B.A. in international relations and attended the Cecil C. Humphries School of Law at Memphis State. He is married to Sonia Hahn-Patrick, a former Kentucky tennis player who was a four time All-American and is now the first-ever co-head coach in Lady Vol history.


Jack Peavey -- Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line Coach, Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions

(as of football season 2010) Jack Peavey, who will serve as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach, is his first season ('09) at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
He comes to A&M-Commerce with experience as a former head coach (Southwest Baptist University, William Paterson University), an offensive coordinator (Mississippi College, Millsaps College) and a position coach (Alabama State University,
University of Arkansas, Brown University, Jacksonville State University, Millersville University and University of Rhode Island). As a high school coach at Bishop Feehan in Attleboro, Massachusetts, he advanced to four-consecutive state championship games, winning three in a row and posting a 44-4-2 record in a four-year span.
Peavey was also a successful student athlete, where he earned multiple honors and went on to play in the National Football League with the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
He has been involved with 13 different football programs as a player and as a coach, nine of those have played for state titles, ranked nationally, played in the post season, won conference titles, received bowl invitations, played for or won national titles as well as played in the Super Bowl.
Peavey has been involved in all phases of the game including offense, defense and special teams, as well as the academic and strength and conditioning of student-athletes.


Russ Pennell -- Head Men's Basketball Coach, Grand Canyon University 'Lopes

(as of basketball season 2009-10) Russ Pennell was named Grand Canyon University's 12th men's basketball coach April 9, 2009.
Pennell guided the University of Arizona to a 21-14 record and Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09, while serving as the interim head coach. He assumed the role of interim head coach at Arizona on Oct. 24, 2008, a day after Lute Olson announced his retirement. Pennell was hired as an assistant at Arizona on May 5, 2008.
Pennell served as an assistant coach for Arizona State from 1998-2004 under Rob Evans. While at ASU, the Sun Devils went 108-103 with one trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and three trips to the National Invitation Tournament.
Prior to his assistant coaching job at Arizona State, Pennell served on Evans' staff at the University of Mississippi for six seasons from 1992-98. In that span, the Rebels went 86-81, advancing to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998. The Rebels went 42-16 in those two seasons, and were ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation. It was the first time Ole Miss posted consecutive 20-win seasons in 60 years.
He began his coaching career at Oklahoma State University from 1990-92. In those two seasons, the Cowboys went 52-16 under coach Eddie Sutton. During the 1990-91 season, the Cowboys shared the Big Eight Conference championship with a 24-8 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The following year, OSU posted a 28-8 record, and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Cowboys advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in both of Pennell's seasons in Stillwater.
Pennell also coached with Evans in the summer of 2001 on the USA Basketball preliminary staff, assisting in the selection of the Junior World Championship team.
Pennell provided color commentary for the Arizona State University radio network during the 2007-08 season. He also ran the Arizona Premier Basketball Academy, offering instruction to high school and youth players in the Phoenix area.
Pennell played collegiately at
Arkansas under Eddie Sutton in 1979-80. The Razorbacks finished second in the Southwest Conference that year. Pennell transferred to Central Arkansas in 1981, and was a two-year starter at point guard. As a senior, he led the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference with 8.2 assists per game. He was a teammate of former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen in 1983-84.
Before joining the coaching profession, Pennell played for the Spirit Express, a traveling exhibition team based out of Memphis, Tenn., from 1984-88.


Chuck Peterson -- Safeties Coach, University of North Texas Mean Green

(as of football season 2010) Chuck Petersen is in his second season ('08) with the Mean Green as safeties coach.
Prior to North Texas, Petersen spent 17 years at Air Force. While with the Falcons, Petersen served as offensive coordinator for seven seasons and quarterbacks coach for 10 seasons. He also coached wide receivers from 1991-1996.
He was awarded the honor of assistant coach of the year for Division I in 2003 by the American Football Coaches Association, the highest honor that an assistant coach can earn.
While offensive coordinator, he oversaw the Falcons as they captured the school's first national rushing title in 2002 while leading the conference in scoring.
A 1985 Air Force graduate, Petersen honed his defensive prowess as a four-year letterman at defensive back. While there he was part of two postseason bowl victories and helped the academy capture two Commander-in-Chief's trophies.
After graduation, he began work with the Air Force junior varsity program. While being stationed at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, Petersen served as a volunteer assistant coach at Choctawhatchee High School in 1986-1987. Petersen also worked a season as the scout coordinator at
Arkansas before making the move back to Air Force.


Paul Petrino -- Offensive Coordinator, University of Illinois Fighting Illini

(as of football season 2010) Paul Petrino was named offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois on December 14, 2009. He brings with him 18 years of collegiate experience and an impressive offensive background, which includes national top-10 rankings in scoring and total offense.
Petrino coached at Louisville from 2003-06 and in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was the receivers coach in Atlanta after working the four previous years as offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Louisville. Petrino was the offensive coordinator at
Arkansas from 2008-09.
His teams at Louisville averaged 41.1 points per game over his four seasons--34.6 in 2003, 49.8 in 2004, 43.3 in 2005 and 37.8 in 2006. While he was at Louisville, the Cardinals and Texas Tech were the only two schools in the nation to rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense for four straight seasons (2003-06). In 50 games at Louisville, Petrino's teams went 41-9 and scored 40 or more points 28 times, 50 or more 14 times and 60 or more seven times.
Petrino began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Carroll College, in his hometown of Helena, Mont. He worked for his father, Bob, Sr., at Carroll in 1990 and 1991.
He coached at Idaho for the next three years (1992-94), where he tutored receivers (1993-94), running backs (1992) and special teams. As running backs coach in '92, he coached Sherriden May, who earned All-America honors and led all I-AA players with 150 points scored while rushing for 1,111 yards.
He moved to Utah State for the next three seasons (1995-97) as receivers coach and special teams coordinator. In '95, receiver Kevin Alexander finished second in the nation in receptions and third in receiving yards.
In 1998, Petrino went to Louisville for two years in his first stint on the Cardinal staff.
From 2000-02, he was the quarterbacks coach at Southern Mississippi. In his three seasons, the Golden Eagles went 8-4, 6-5 and 7-6 with two bowl bids.
Born in Butte, Mont., Petrino was a four-year starter at quarterback for his father at Carroll College from 1985-88. He set 16 school records, earned Kodak All-America honors and was named the Football Gazette NAIA Division II Player of the Year as a senior. In Petrino's four seasons, Carroll was 36-6 and won four Frontier Conference titles. He was an all-conference and all-region selection all four years and was a two-time All-American.


Bradley Dale Peveto -- Head Coach, Northwestern State University Demons

(as of football season 2010) Former LSU co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto was named Northwestern State's head coach on December 18, 2008.
Peveto returns to NSU after serving four years on the LSU staff ­ three as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach and this past season as co-defensive coordinator while still heading up the linebacker duties.
In his first stint at Northwestern State, Peveto served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for three years from 1996 to 1998 under head coach Sam Goodwin.
While he was in Natchitoches, Peveto helped the Demons capture back-to-back Southland Conference Championships and NCAA FCS (formerly Division I-AA) playoff berths. Peveto's "Purple Swarm" defense was ranked nationally in several statistical categories during each of his three seasons.. The 1998 Northwestern State team went 11-3, reached the FCS semifinals, and was ranked third nationally.
Peveto joined the Tigers in the spring of 2005 after a two-year stint at Middle Tennessee State. Peveto served as secondary coach in 2003 before being elevated to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 2004. Peveto led a Blue Raider defense that ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing defense.
Prior to his arrival at Middle Tennessee, Peveto spent four years (1999-2002) at Houston as the Cougars' co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Before his stint at Northwestern State, Peveto spent two seasons on Danny Ford's staff at
Arkansas, while the Razorbacks won the SEC Western Division title with an 8-5 overall mark and played in the Carquest Bowl in 1995. While at Arkansas, Peveto served as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
Prior to going to Fayetteville, Peveto was the outside linebackers and special teams coach at Southern Miss in 1992 and 1993. He also coached the defensive line, linebackers and secondary at Stephen F. Austin from 1988 to 1991, serving as the special teams coordinator all four years as the Lumberjacks led the nation in punt returns in 1989. SFA also won the Southland Conference and advanced to the 1989 I-AA championship game. His secondary was nationally ranked in passing efficiency defense in 1990 and 1991.
A 1987 graduate of SMU, Peveto began his coaching career as a secondary coach at Trinity Valley Community College. Peveto was a four-year letterman for the Mustangs and played in four bowl games (Cotton, Sun, Aloha and Mirage).
Peveto served as team captain in 1986 and earned the Wild Mustang Special Teams Player of the Year award and the Mike Kelsey Award for attitude, hustle and desire as a senior. He also was a member of the 1984 SWC All-Academic team.


Terry Don Phillips -- Athletic Director, Clemson University Tigers

(as of school year 2010-11) Terry Don Phillips, former athletic director at Oklahoma State University since October 1994, became Clemson University's director of athletics effective July 1, 2002.
Phillips came to Clemson with strong athletic, administrative and academic credentials and a proven track record in building championship-level programs, generating private funding, and improving athlete academic performance. He has been associated with programs that have won several national championships. At OSU, there were 10 individual national champions, and 13 Big 12 Conference championships, placing OSU fifth among the 12 schools.
With a doctorate in education and a law degree, Phillips also will teach courses in legal studies at Clemson, as he has done at OSU.
Phillips, a native of Longview, Texas, earned his bachelor's degree in 1970 from the
University of Arkansas, where he lettered in football for three years and was honorable mention Academic All Conference. During that time, Arkansas played in the Sugar Bowl twice and participated in the 1969 Texas-Arkansas game that produced the national champion.
Phillips earned his master's and doctor of education degrees from Virginia Tech, where he served as an assistant football coach from 1971-1978. His dissertation was on Title IX issues. He earned a J.D. degree from the
University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996 and is a member of the Arkansas Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Sports Lawyers Association.
At Oklahoma State, Phillips managed a $22.9 million budget, and recently OSU completed almost $65 million worth of facility improvements which included the following: an athletics center that includes academic facilities, lounges, offices and Heritage Hall; a reconstructed arena that more than doubled seating capacity; an equestrian center; softball field and stadium; women's soccer complex; baseball/softball indoor hitting facility, and a golf training and club facility. CBS Sportsline.com named the renovated arena "the number one college basketball venue in America."
A renovation project of up to $50 million in improvements to the football stadium is scheduled to begin during the 2002-2003 academic year.
At OSU, Phillips led a team of coaches, staff and student-athletes whose accomplishments include raising approximately $20 million in private gifts, improvement in student-athlete retention rates with 53 Academic All Americans, 13 conference championships, and almost 40 post-season appearances, including two national championships in golf, a Final Four appearance, and two World Series trips.


Jamie Pinkerton -- Assistant Softball Coach, Iowa State University Cyclones

(as of softball season 2009-10) Pinkerton was named an assistant coach at Iowa State on July 1, 2009.
The Broken Arrow, Okla., native will coach infield and hitting in addition to taking over the responsibilities of recruiting coordinator.
Pinkerton was at
Arkansas for five seasons, leading the Razorbacks to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. Under Pinkerton's guidance, the Razorbacks set numerous single game, single season and career records, including single-season records of 65 home runs and 291 runs in 2008.
During Pinkerton's tenure, three players were named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team as well as the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association South Region First Team. He had 31 student-athletes garner SEC Academic Honor Roll honors and the team was recognized by the NFCA for its GPA.
Pinkerton was selected to the USA Softball National Coaching Pool and will serve from 2009-12. He is one of 14 coaches responsible for the training and preperation of the Women's National Team program.
Prior to his tenure at
Arkansas, Pinkerton coached four years at Tulsa, turning the Golden Hurricanes into a winning program. He coached Tulsa to three-straight 30-win seasons and back-to-back 40-win campaigns. He was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the year in 2002 and 2004.
A total of 13 Golden Hurricane players captured all-conference honors under Pinkerton, who was also an assistant with the program from 1994-97. He has also assisted at Virginia (1998-2000) and Louisiana-Monroe (1997-98).
Pinkerton was born in Fort Smith, Ark., and grew up in Broken Arrow, Okla. He graduated from Tulsa in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in secondary education.


Chris Poole -- Head Volleyball Coach, Florida State University Seminoles

(as of volleyball season 2009) Chris Poole was named the head volleyball coach for the Florida State Seminoles on June 10, 2008. Poole came to FSU after 14 seasons as the head coach at the University of Arkansas, where he literally built a nationally prominent program from the ground up.
Poole started the
University of Arkansas' volleyball program in 1994 and was not only successful, but led the Lady Razorbacks to 11 Southeastern Conference Western Division titles. Add to that, 11 postseason appearances - two NIVC and nine NCAA - along with the SEC Tournament title and numerous individual player honors.
With head coaching stints at
Arkansas, Arkansas State and Arkansas Tech, Poole holds a 550-230 career record in 21 seasons and has been named conference coach of the year seven times and was pegged the South Region Coach of the Year in 1997. In 24 years of collegiate coaching, including three seasons as an assistant coach at Arkansas Tech, Poole has won 19 conference or divisional championships and has been to the finals 17 times in 22 conference tournaments. He has also taken his teams to a postseason tournament in 19 of his 24 years.
During his 14 seasons at
Arkansas in which he compiled a 316-161 record, Poole produced two AVCA All-Americans, three AVCA honorable mention All-Americans, 24 players with 44 All-SEC honors, three SEC Freshmen of the Year and 25 AVCA All-District/All-Region honorees.
In his last season at ASU, the Lady Indians were 41-6 and received an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament in 1992. ASU entered the 32-team NCAA field with the most wins of any team, but lost a tough four-game match to the Northwest Region's top-seeded team, Long Beach State.
Prior to ASU, Poole was an assistant and later head coach at Arkansas Tech. In two seasons as head coach at ATU, he posted a 53-20 record, winning the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference title in 1985 as co-head coach and finishing runner-up as head coach in 1986. He started his collegiate career in 1983-84 as a graduate assistant for the nationally ranked Arkansas Tech Golden Suns. Tech was 58-9 and a perfect 24-0 conference mark in two seasons with Poole as an assistant coach.
A native of Heber Springs in north-central Arkansas, Poole is a 1983 graduate of Arkansas Tech and earned a master's degree from Tech in 1989.


Haas Pratt -- Hitting Coach, Kane County Cougars (A-) -- Oakland A's

(as of baseball season 2010) Former Kane County (midwest league) player Haas Pratt became the youngest coach in franchise history when he was named hitting coach on March 18, 2008.


Brett Prosek -- Head Softball Coach / Head Women's Golf Coach, Marian University Sabres

(as of softball season 2009-10) Prosek was named head coach at Marian University on July 14, 2006. She spent one year (2006) as an assistant at Kentucky after spending the previous two years as a special education teacher and coach at Neenah High School in Neenah, Wisc.
After two years at the high school level, Prosek is breaking into the collegiate coaching ranks with the Wildcats. Schmidt served as an assistant on the
Arkansas staff during Prosek's playing career in Fayetteville.
Prosek was part of the first-ever recruiting class at
Arkansas, which was started by Carie Dever-Boaz in 1996. She was named All-SEC twice and was a two-time member of the SEC All-Tournament team.
Prosek, then known as Brett Erickson, rewrote the records books while at
Arkansas, setting the record for hits in a season with 80 in 2000. The Appleton, Wisc., native also holds single-season records for doubles (20) and total bases (106) and is tied for the most games started with 75. Prosek ranks among career leaders several categories, including assists (2nd ­ 459), triples (3rd ­ 5), walks (3rd ­ 49), batting average (4th ­ .294), hits (4th ­ 184), doubles (4th ­ 35) and RBIs (5th ­ 56). She graduated from Arkansas in 2003 with a degree in Kinesiology.
Prosek was also a standout at the high school level. She graduated from Appleton West High School where she was a three-year letterwinner in softball, basketball and volleyball.


Tom Pucci -- Athletic Director, California University Vulcans

(as of 2009-10 school year) Pucci guided the Arkansas Razorbacks tennis program from 1976 to 1984, compiling an overall 218-60 dual match record. Six of his teams finished in the top 10 with the highest ranking being a sixth on the 1981 26-4 team. His teams won Southwest Conference titles in 1980, '81 and '84.


George Pugh -- Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator, Georgia State Panthers

(as of football season 2010) Veteran assistant coach George Pugh joined Georgia State's first football staff as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator in 2008. He also coaches receivers.
In addition to 25 years in college coaching, Pugh has strong ties to the Atlanta area after serving as the head coach at Columbia High School (1978) and Meadowcreek High School (2003-04). As a college coach, he has recruited the Atlanta area throughout his career.
Pugh also has head coaching experience, directing the Alabama A&M program from 1989-91. In his three seasons, the Bulldogs posted a 19-10 record, winning three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and reaching the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1991.
In 2007, Pugh served as receivers coach at the University of Houston, helping the Cougars reach the Texas Bowl and coaching Donnie Avery, who was selected in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2008 National Football League draft by the St. Louis Rams.
Prior to that, Pugh served two seasons (2005-06) at UAB. That was his second tour of duty with the Blazers, where he also worked from 1995-2000, both times working under head coach Watson Brown. In his first UAB stint, Pugh helped the Blazers in their transition to NCAA Division I-A.
He worked as an assistant coach at
Arkansas in 2001-02.
Pugh began his coaching career in 1976 as an assistant coach at Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga., where he served one season as an assistant coach and one year as head coach. He then moved to the college ranks, serving as receivers coach at UT-Chattanooga (1978-79) and then New Mexico (1980).
He then spent one season at Pittsburgh, helping the Panthers reach the 1982 Sugar Bowl, before a seven-year stint at Texas A&M (1982-88). The Aggies won three Southwest Conference titles and played in three Cotton Bowls during his time there.
Pugh also coached high school football in Alabama at Selma High School (1992-93) and Luverne High School (1994).
A four-year letterwinner as a tight end, Pugh played at Alabama under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. During his four years (1972-75), the Crimson Tide lost just one game, highlighted by a national championship in 1973. He earned his bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Alabama in 1976.


 

Page last updated: 8/1/10