March 20, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENN. --- University of Memphis football coach Tommy West announced today he has recommended Arkansas State co-defensive coordinator Jack Curtis to be the safeties coach for the Tigers.
Curtis has spent the last seven seasons in Jonesboro as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at ASU. He helped the Red Wolves improve greatly in his first season as the squad, which had ranked 61st nationally in pass defense in 2001, ended the 2002 campaign ranked 16th nationally in pass defense and 39th in total defense. In four of his seven seasons, the Red Wolves ranked in the top 30 in the country in pass defense and in the top 50 in total defense. In 2007, ASU was the leading defensive unit in the Sun Belt Conference.
"We are very fortunate to have Jack Curtis joining out staff," said West. "Jack brings experience, knowledge and energy to our defense. He has coached some outstanding players and I feel fortunate to have him as part of our program."
Several ASU players have enjoyed success under Curtis' tutelage. He has coached back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Defensive Players of the Year, including the 2008 honoree Alex Carrington. Tyrell Johnson was named the 2007 SBC Defensive Player of the Year and was a second round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. In addition, 16 ASU defenders have earned Sun Belt all-conference honors since 2002.
Prior to arriving at ASU, Curtis coached defensive backs for five seasons at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana. While at NSU, he coached six players who went on to play in the NFL.
Curtis began his coaching career in 1987 as a student coach at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. Upon graduation, he served as a graduate assistant coach at Henderson State. He later moved to Starkville, Miss., and worked as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State until being named a volunteer assistant coach in 1990. In 1991, he helped coach the Bulldogs to an appearance in the Liberty Bowl post-season game. He also helped guide MSU's defense, which at that time was the top-ranked pass defense in the Southeastern Conference.
Following his MSU stint, Curtis spent the 1993 season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Western New Mexico. That year, the team went 7-3 and ranked third in the NAIA final rankings, while the defense led the nation with 29 interceptions.
In addition to his New Orleans Bowl and Liberty Bowl experience, Curtis also coached teams which continued on to the 1993 NAIA national playoffs and three NCAA I-AA national playoffs (1997, 1998, and 2002). He has coached 12 players (six drafted, six free agents) who ended up in NFL camps as well as six first-team All-Americans.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Curtis played defensive back for four seasons at Evangel University. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1988, and received his master's degree from Henderson State in 1990.
