Get to Know a Coaching Candidate: Tommy Tubberville
Well looks like the hat just got a bit heavier as another big one just threw his name in. Tommy Tuberville was interviewed by the KC Star in an article this morning expressing his interest in the Kansas Jayhawk coaching position. Tuberville discussed the attractiveness of the opening, his qualifications and how he’s been staying fresh in his year away from the game.
No doubt Tuberville is the type of hire that lends instant credibility to the job. Is he however the right man for the job? Another wrench in the process I’d say. A process that is beginning to enter it’s second week and hopefully one that will come to a close in the near future.
Let’s get to know a little more about Tommy Tuberville though, shall we.
Tommy Tuberville was born in 1954 in the natural state, Arkansas. That makes him 55 for those scoring at home and likely the oldest candidate we’ve seen on the radar to date. Tuberville has strong ties to the SEC but has recently found himself out of work and in the analyst chair for the 2009 season.
In terms of his playing days and collegiate career, Tuberville started out at Southern Arkansas as a safety where he would letter with the team. From their he began his coaching career directly out of college as a high school assistant at Hermitage (Ark.) High School. Tuberville would spend two years as an assistant and two as a head coach with Hermitage. After three straight four-win seasons, Tuberville guided HHS to a 7-3 mark in 1979 before moving on to Arkansas State.
At Arkansas State Tuberville coached various segments of the Indians’ defense over five seasons. Tuberville coached defensive backs, nose guards and linebackers. During his final year at ASU, the Indians advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
At the start of the 1986 season Tuberville would take a positions assistant spot with the Miami Hurricanes.
Tuberville served as a member of the University of Miami staff for eight seasons from 1986-93, taking over as defensive coordinator in 1993.
While serving on the staffs of Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson at Miami, Tuberville was a defensive coach on teams which won three national championships, posted an 87-9 record and played in nine consecutive New Year’s Day bowls. Not bad company to keep and a pretty impressive.
RockTalkChalk.com
12/11/9
Magnolia Tribune
