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James Joseph is entering his second season working with the Tiger running backs. A former Auburn standout, Joseph was hired in February 2007 to lead the ground game.
In 2007, Tiger backs accounted for 11 touchdowns, led by senior Joseph Doss' five scores. Doss tallied 806 yards on 174 attempts and registered two 100-yard games last season. Of the 332 total carries by Tiger backs, only two resulted in fumbles as Memphis ranked tied for third nationally in fumbles lost.
Joseph will have a relatively young group to work with this fall. Junior college transfer Curtis Steele, who redshirted in 2007, and junior T.J. Pitts are the veterans of the group. Steele had a productive spring and was named the co-MVP of the Blue-Gray Game. Pitts was unable to work out with the squad this spring as he was continuing rehabilitation on his ankle, which he broke in the New Orleans Bowl. Pitts was second on the squad in 2007 with 481 yards and one touchdown on 106 carries.
Also in the mix this fall could be Jeremy Longstreet who made the transition to running back from linebacker in the spring. The Tigers also added newcomers Charlie Jones, Greg Ray and Brandon Ross to the depth chart. Jones is a senior back who transferred from the University of Miami and is eligible in 2008. Ray is a JUCO standout from El Camino Community College and Ross signed with the Tigers from Auburn High School.
Prior to joining the U of M staff, Joseph spent three seasons (2004-06) in the same capacity at Troy University. The Trojans captured their first-ever Sun Belt Conference title in 2006, and defeated Rice in the 2006 R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
No stranger to big-time football, Joseph played five seasons in the NFL in the mid-1990s following a standout career at Auburn University from 1986-90.
At Auburn, Joseph holds the distinction of being the only Tiger player in school history to participate in five Auburn-Tennessee football games. He played as a true freshman in 1986 and was injured in the third game of the following season against Tennessee in 1987. He was granted a medical redshirt and regained his sophomore season for 1988.
Joseph helped lead Auburn to three-consecutive Southeastern Conference championships (1988-90) and still ranks ninth in school history in rushing yards with 2,264 yards on 452 carries. He also scored 16 career touchdowns for the Tigers. Auburn participated in five bowls games during his career: Citrus (1986), Sugar (1987 and 1988), Hall of Fame (1989) and Peach (1990).
In 1991, Joseph was selected in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie, he tallied 440 yards on 135 carries. Joseph played four seasons for the Eagles and one season with the Cincinnati Bengals, amassing 823 yards and three touchdowns on 250 carries. Upon completing his NFL career, Joseph returned to school and began his coaching career.
In 1996, Joseph began working as an assistant football coach at Auburn High School. He worked there through the 2003 season before accepting his first collegiate coaching post at Troy.
Joseph, 40, earned his bachelor's degree in human development from Auburn in 1997. He has three children: Jonathan, Jeremy and Jamey.
Born
October 28, 1967
Phenix City, Ala.
Alma Mater
Auburn, 1997
Bachelor's degree in human development
Collegiate Playing Experience
1986-90: Auburn (Running Back)
Family
Children - Jonathan, Jeremy & Jamey
Coaching Experience
2007-Present: University of Memphis
2004-06: Troy University
1996-03: Auburn HS
Recruiting Area
Fulton County, Ga., South Florida & East Central Alabama
