The Associated Press reports that Junior Smith, East Carolina's career rushing leader, is the Pirates' new running backs coach.
As Smith arrives in Greenville, former ECU offensive coordinator Noah Brindise is departing. UNLV announced Monday that Brindise is the school's new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Brindise spent only one season in Greenville before being jettisoned with most of former head coach John Thompson's staff after the Pirates' final game this year.
Smith, starring at ECU from 1991 to 1994, gained 3,745 yards in his Pirates career.
He returns to Greenville after a one-year stint as running backs coach at Louisiana-Monroe.
"We couldn't have brought a better role model and person of high character and class back to East Carolina University," head coach Skip Holtz said in a statement. "From a recruiting standpoint, Junior will certainly bring our staff and program a wealth of ECU and Eastern North Carolina knowledge. He was a great student and athlete and obviously knows what it takes to succeed here."
Before going to Louisiana-Monroe, Smith coached at Army and Illinois State. He also played in the CFL in 1995 and '96.
Dec 14, 2004
Junior Smith Returns
I love this hire. Junior Smith was at ECU every year I was there and he was great to watch. The little guy (5-7, I think) was tough as nails.
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3 comments:
I'm luke warm with this hire. I like Junior a lot and I share your love for his heart and ECU loyalty. However, I would like to have seen a little more experience in the hire. Not only in years, but also in programs. While you would think that being a RBs coach at Army would be an amazing learning experience given the history of the program's running game, don't forget that Junior coached under Berry who tried to make the Cadets a passing team. And Louisiana-Monroe is no Oklahoma or Virginia Tech.
I'm glad he has come back, but I want a mega-staff here.
You may be right -- I might have given in to wonderful memories of ECU circa the early '90s. And if you are right, that forces this question: What hire has Holtz made that has been any damn good?
I like bringing Shankweiler back. His offensive line philosophy lends itself well to Holtz offensive (past) schemes. He can recruit, knows the area, and has been around the block a time or two.
Thompson not a bad pick given his past success in helping to build one hell of a defense at Carolina back when they climbed to No. 5 in the nation.
Petty...don't like it.
Junior...saw my earlier post.
I am very curious as to what is brewing in terms of DC and OC...the two biggest hires. I also want to see a great special teams coach come in.
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