Feb. 28, 2007

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Coach Tommy West announced today that he has recommended to the Tennessee Board of Regents former Auburn standout James Joseph as the Tigers' running backs coach and former UL-Lafayette defensive coordinator Brent Pry as the defensive line coach.

Joseph has spent the last three seasons in the same capacity at Troy University. The Trojans captured their first-ever Sun Belt Conference title last season, 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. He helped lead the Tigers 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 played as a true freshman in 1986 and was injured in the third game of the season against Tennessee in 1987. He was granted a medical redshirt and regained his sophomore season for 1988. He is the only Auburn player in school history to participate in five Auburn-Tennessee football games.

"James was an outstanding player and I have known of him through his playing days," said West. "He has a great reputation as a recruiter in the state of Georgia and I am excited that he will be joining our staff."

In 1991, Joseph was selected in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played four seasons for the Eagles and one season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Upon completing his NFL career, Joseph returned to school and began his coaching career. He was an assistant football coach at Auburn High School for eight seasons and earned his bachelor's degree in human development from Auburn in 1997.

Pry joins the U of M staff after working the last five years at UL-Lafayette where he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He coached the Ragin' Cajuns linebackers for five years and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2004. ULL had its first winning record since 1995 when the Cajuns ended the 2005 season with a 6-5 record and a Sun Belt Conference title.

"Brent has a great deal of energy and enthusiasm," West said. "His knowledge of the defensive line position and his background, particularly at Virginia Tech, make him a great fit for our staff."

In 2005, ULL went on a five-game winning streak to close out the season. During that time, the defense allowed just 18 points per game. In 2004, the Cajuns allowed just 174.5 passing yards per game, which ranked 11th nationally. Under Pry, three ULL defensive players were selected in the NFL Draft.

A native of Lexington, Va., Pry was an assistant coach at Western Carolina for four years (1998-2001) before joining the ULL staff. He coached the defensive line for two seasons before moving to defensive backs and special teams the latter two years. In 1998, WCU finished ninth in Division I-AA in total defense. In 2001, he helped the Catamount defense to a No. 1 ranking in touchdown passes allowed with just five. In addition, Pry's secondary was ranked third nationally in pass defense.

Pry was a free safety at Maryville College in 1990 before transferring to Buffalo for the 1992 and 1993 seasons. He began his coaching career at East Stroudsburg University as an outside linebackers coach in 1993 and worked with defensive backs in 1994. From 1995-98, Pry was a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech. While there, the Hokies ranked No. 1 in the nation against the run and fourth in scoring defense en route to a Big East title and a Sugar Bowl victory.