Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
Maurice Linguist returned to his home state to serve as the Aggies' cornerbacks coach, Linguist is entering his second season in Aggieland.
A native of Mesquite, Texas, and a former standout defensive back at Baylor, Linguist came to Texas A&M after serving one season as defensive backs coach on P.J. Fleck’s staff at the University of Minnesota. He was promoted to assistant head coach at UM following the 2017 season.
A 12-year coaching veteran, Linguist coached at the Power 5 level for four years at Minnesota, Mississippi State, and Iowa State, and he also served stints at the University of Buffalo, James Madison, Valdosta State, and Baylor.
In his lone season with the Golden Gophers, Lindquist built a formidable defensive secondary despite being ravaged by injuries, which forced him to use 11 defensive backs. The Gophers ranked No. 11 nationally in passing defense (174.5 yards per game) and allowed only 16 passing touchdowns, which tied for No. 22 in the FBS.
Linguist arrived at Minnesota after spending one season at Mississippi State, where he coached the safeties. In 2016, he coached a quartet of talented players (Brandon Bryant, Kivon Coman, Mark McLaurin and Jamal Peters), who combined for seven of the Bulldogs’ 14 interceptions.
From 2014-15, Linguist was the defensive passing game coordinator at Iowa State. In 2015, he mentored freshman cornerback Brian Peavy, who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and was a finalist for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. In 2014, Linguist’s young unit picked off 10 passes as he tutored a pair of underclassmen to All-Big 12 recognition. Free safety Kamari Cotton-Moya was named the Big 12’s Defensive Freshman of the Year and sophomore cornerback Nigel Tribune was a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press. Cotton-Moya, a first-team freshman All-America pick by the FWAA, led the team in tackles.
Linguist was the defensive passing game coordinator at Buffalo from 2012-13. He was a key contributor to Buffalo’s 8-5 record, a second-place finish in the MAC East and an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013. The Bulls were solid on defense, especially in the secondary, as they ranked second in the MAC with 15 interceptions. Buffalo was also second in the league in scoring defense (24.4 ppg) and total defense (382.8 ypg).
One of Linguist’s star players was Najja Johnson, who earned first-team All-MAC honors at cornerback in 2013 after recording 38 career pass breakups, the second-best total in school history.
In Linguist’s first season at Buffalo (2012), his starting cornerbacks, Johnson and Cortney Lester, ranked first and second in the MAC in interceptions. The Bulls led the MAC in opponent pass completion percentage and ranked second in the conference in pass defense.
Prior to his stint at Buffalo, Linguist spent three years at James Madison, coaching the safeties, and helping the Dukes to an 8-4 regular season record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Series Playoffs. In addition, The Sports Network selected the James Madison 2012 recruiting class as the best in the nation (FCS).
Linguist also served as defensive backs and special teams coach at Valdosta (Ga.) State, helping the program to a 9-3 record and a No. 12 ranking in Division II in 2008. A native of Mesquite, Texas, Linguist began his coaching career at his alma mater Baylor University, tutoring strong safeties and rover backs as a graduate assistant in 2007.
As a senior at Baylor, he was the team’s defensive most valuable player as a strong safety, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and an academic All-Big 12 honoree. He started 24 of 42 career games for the Bears from 2003-06 and was a four-year letterwinner. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications (2006) and a master’s degree in health, human performance and recreation (2007) during his tenure at Baylor.
Linguist and his wife, Stacie, have one daughter, Maura.
The Linguist File
Birthdate April 1, 1984Hometown Dallas, Texas
Wife Stacie
Children Maura
Education
College Baylor, Bachelor’s - Communications (2006)
Master’s - Health, Human Performance and Recreation (2007)
Playing Experience
2003-06 Baylor (Safety)
Coaching Experience
2007 Baylor (Graduate Assistant / Safeties)
2008 Valdosta State (Defensive Backs / Special Teams)
2009-11 James Madison (Safeties)
2012 Buffalo (Defensive Backs)
2013 Buffalo (Defensive Backs / Defensive Passing Game Coordinator)
2014 Iowa State (Defensive Backs)
2015 Iowa State (Defensive Backs / Defensive Passing Game Coordinator)
2016 Mississippi State (Safeties)
2017 Minnesota (Defensive Backs)
2018- Texas A&M (Cornerbacks)
Bowl Games as a Coach
2008 Division II Second Round (Valdosta State)
2011 FCS Second Round (James Madison)
2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Buffalo)
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl (Mississippi State)
2018 Gator Bowl (Texas A&M)
