January 04, 2008
Reggie Herring has been named the new Texas A&M defensive coordinator, Aggie head coach Mike Sherman announced on Friday.
"Reggie has accumulated invaluable experience throughout his career at the college and pro level," Sherman said. "His defenses as a coordinator have demonstrated aggressiveness, as well as tough, physical play. I have been attracted to his ability to prepare for multiple schemes, as well as personnel groups to adjust to the variety of offensive looks you find in college football."
"He has a great reputation as a coordinator, as well as a recruiter," Sherman added. "While talking to Mario Williams at the Texans, Mario said Reggie was one of the best coaches he ever had at North Carolina State when their defense was ranked #1 in the country. I am excited to have Reggie on board to lead the defense."
Herring just completed his 25th season on the collegiate level and his 27th overall. He spent two seasons (2002-03) in Texas as the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans and head coach Dom Capers. Linebacker Jamie Sharper led the NFL in tackles with 164 stops in 2003.
"This is a tremendous honor and privilege to have the opportunity to coach here at Texas A&M with Mike Sherman," Herring said. "I am excited to be in Aggieland where there is a great football tradition. On the defensive side of the football, there is an awesome responsibility to restore the pride of that unit because of the great Wrecking Crew defenses of the past."
Herring comes to Texas A&M from the University of Arkansas where he served as defensive coordinator the past three seasons. He served as the interim head coach for the Razorbacks in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.
During his time in Fayetteville, Herring and the Hogs won the 2006 Southeastern Conference Western Division and played in two bowl games, the Cotton and the Citrus.
In 2006, Herring was named as one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach. He was also named the Master Coach Survey National Defensive Coordinator of the Week following Arkansas' 31-14 victory over Tennessee that same season.
Before going to Arkansas, Herring was the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State in 2004. The Wolfpack defense led the country in total defense allowing only 221.36 yards per game after ranking #89 the previous season. North Carolina State also led the country in pass efficiency defense (91.77), was second in total pass defense (119), 13th in rushing defense (102.36) and 25th in scoring defense (19.82).
Before Herring spent the two years in the NFL (2002-03) with the Texans, he was with Tommy Bowden and Tommy West at Clemson for eight years. From 1994-2001, he served as the linebackers coach and in 1997, he added the title of defensive coordinator. In 2000, he coached Butkus Award finalist Keith Adams who ended the year as the NCAA's leading tackler. Herring was part of seven bowl teams at Clemson, four in the Peach Bowl, two in the Gator and one in the Humanitarian.
Herring's first coordinator experience came at TCU under head coach Pat Sullivan in 1992 and 1993.
Herring coached linebackers under head coach Pat Dye at Auburn from 1986-91. During those six years, the Tigers won three SEC Championships and made five bowl appearances including two trips to the Sugar Bowl and one each to the Citrus, Peach and Hall of Fame bowls.
Herring began his coaching career in 1981 as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State under head coach Jimmy Johnson. Johnson promoted Herring to a full-time position coaching linebackers in 1982. He remained on the staff of Johnson and Pat Jones through the 1985 season. The Cowboys made four bowl trips during that time, two to the Peach and one each to the Independence and the Bluebonnet.
A Florida State Hall of Fame selection in 1989, Herring was a three-year starting linebacker for head coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State from 1978-80. He led the Seminoles in tackles all three years and is still the third-leading tackler in FSU history. He played in three bowl games, the Tangerine and the Orange as a junior and senior. The final two seasons the Seminoles finished in the Top 10 posting records of 11-1 in 1979 and 10-2 in 1980. Herring was a team captain his senior season.
Herring, 48, is married to the former Lisa Ward of Griffin, Georgia. The couple has a daughter, Caroline, and a son, Adam, who is a freshman linebacker at Auburn.
- 2008-present: Texas A&M (def. coordinator)
- 2005-07: Arkansas (interim head coach/def. coordinator/linebackers)
- 2004: North Carolina State (def. coordinator/linebackers)
- 2002-03: Houston Texans (linebackers)
- 1997-2001: Clemson (def. coordinator/linebackers)
- 1994-96: Clemson (linebackers)
- 1992-93: TCU (def. coordinator/linebackers)
- 1986-91: Auburn (linebackers)
- 1982-85: Oklahoma State (linebackers)
- 1981: Oklahoma State (graduate assistant)
PERSONAL:
- Born: July 3, 1959
- Married: His wife's name is Lisa
- Children: Caroline, Adam
COACHING CAREER: