Head Coach Tommy West

Head Coach Tommy West ....................................................... 20-23 Assistant Coaches.................................................................... 24-33 Football Support Staff ............................................................. 34-36 Tommy West came to Memphis in 2000 as the defensive coordinator and a year later became the Tigers’ 21st head football coach. In just seven seasons at the helm of the program, West has guided the U of M to four bowl game appearances in the last fi ve years and is one of just two coaches in Tiger football history to win seven or more games a season in three-plus years. West led his 2007 Tigers through various adversities which included a rare weather post- ponement of the Arkansas State game which forced Memphis to play three games in 11 days; injuries to key starters on defense, particularly at COACHING STAFF linebacker; and the tragic death of a teammate that occurred just 48 hours before Memphis was to face Marshall at home on ESPN2 for a 20 fi ve-game turnaround from the previous season by year’s end. This was evident in the latter Tuesday night C-USA match-up. ranked the Tigers as the fourth-most improved weeks of the season when Memphis narrowly And while the Tigers opened the year with a team in the nation for 2007. lost to UCF, 26-24, and then a week later stunned 1-3 record, it’s the way that the team closed out West led his 2007 squad to a 7-5 regular-sea- eventual league champion Houston with a solid the campaign that is sure to be remembered by son record and a 6-2 record in Conference USA, effort, forcing the Cougars into overtime and most. Memphis began its climb to bowl eligibility and the Tigers entered the New Orleans Bowl on ultimately losing by a fi eld goal. By the last with the emotionally-charged victory over Mar- a three-game winning streak. The six victories in game of the season, the Tigers were confi dent shall, which proved West’s squad would continue Conference USA action were the most ever for a and handed UTEP a 38-19 loss at the Sun Bowl to fi ght despite the circumstances. The Tigers Tiger team since Memphis began playing in the on its Senior Day. won six out of their last eight games en route to a league in 1996. In addition, the Tigers won all Following the 2006 season, the Tigers landed bid to the 2007 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. three of their games against C-USA West Divi- six players on the All-C-USA Team, and kicker Among the victories were league wins over Rice, sion foes and fi nished the season tied for second Matt Reagan, receiver Duke Calhoun and de- Tulane, Southern Miss, UAB and SMU. Memphis in the East Division with East Carolina. fensive lineman Greg Terrell were named to the defeated Southern Miss in Hattiesburg for the Five players were selected to the All-Confer- league’s All-Freshman Team. And, as in 2005, second-straight time, which was a fi rst for the ence USA Team, including offensive lineman four Tigers were invited to participate in senior program, and the Tigers snapped a seven-game Andy Smith, linebacker Jake Kasser and receiver post-season games, bringing the total to 15 series losing streak with the win over UAB. The Duke Calhoun. Additionally, offensive lineman participants since 2001. Dominik Riley and deep snapper Keenan West, who came to Memphis after serving as Bratcher were named to the league’s All-Fresh- head coach at Clemson for fi ve seasons, has led WEST’S BOWL man Team. the Tigers to a 33-29 record the last fi ve years PARTICIPATION The Dean of Conference USA football and guided the U of M to three-consecutive bowl coaches, West enters the 2008 season with a appearances (2003-05) for the fi rst time in school 41-44 record at Memphis and is one of just four history. His 41 career victories at Memphis ranks AS A PLAYER coaches in school history to secure four winning fourth all-time in the Tiger record book. 1972....................... Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl seasons while guiding a Tiger program for at The Gainesville, Ga., native helped snap a 1973.......................................... Gator Bowl least fi ve seasons. West has led Memphis to 32-year U of M bowl drought in 2003 when he 1974........................................ Liberty Bowl four winning seasons in seven years and joins led his squad to a 9-4 record, which included only Billy J. Murphy (1958-71) in having had a victory over North Texas in the New Orleans AS AN ASSISTANT COACH seven wins in at least four seasons. Murphy Bowl. The last time that the U of M had been 1985............................ Independence Bowl had seven or more wins in six of his 14 seasons. extended a bowl invitation was during the 1971 1986.......................................... Gator Bowl West ranks third all-time in winning percentage season when Memphis defeated San Jose State 1988..........................................Citrus Bowl among Tiger leaders who have coached at least in the Pasadena Bowl. 1989..........................................Citrus Bowl 60 games, and his squads have averaged eight The 2003 season was viewed by many as 1989.......................................... Gator Bowl wins a season in four of the last fi ve years. “magical,” and the bowl victory propelled Mem- 1990..........................................Sugar Bowl The Tiger offense paced the squad in 2007 phis into the spotlight and gave the Tiger faithful and fi nished the season ranked in the top 25 a renewed spirit and heightened expectations. AS A HEAD COACH nationally in several categories. Memphis West became just the fourth coach in school his- 1993.........................................Peach Bowl ranked 13th in passing offense, 23rd in total tory to claim nine wins in a single season, and for 1995.......................................... Gator Bowl offense, third in fumbles lost and 10th in sack his efforts, he was named the Coach of the Year 1996.........................................Peach Bowl denial. The Tiger defense also ranked 28th by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. 1997.........................................Peach Bowl nationally in fumbles recovered and 39th in West and his Tigers embarked on the 2004 2003.............................. New Orleans Bowl turnovers gained. season knowing the bar had been raised and, 2004........................................ GMAC Bowl Injuries plagued the Tigers in 2006 and after with a veteran quarterback and an All-American 2005...................................Motor City Bowl opening the season with a 1-3 record, West took running back, expectations were going to remain 2007.............................. New Orleans Bowl over the defense. While the defensive change high. The Tigers opened the 2004 campaign with proved more complicated than anticipated, a 5-1 record, marking the best start for a Mem- there was a marked improvement in the squad phis squad since 1967. During that time, West led another milestone for the program as the U of M of which were placed on the fi rst-team squad. WEST VS. ALL became bowl eligible with a win over Southern Williams was also named to several prestigious Miss. Memphis notched wins over East Carolina All-America teams and was a fi nalist for the 2005 OPPONENTS and USF on the road before ending the regular Doak Walker Award. season at 8-3. In addition, four Tiger seniors participated Akron .......................................................... 1-0 The eight wins marked the fi rst time since the in post-season all-star games, which is another Appalachian State ...................................... 1-1 1962 and 1963 seasons that Memphis had won tribute to West and his staff. Both Gostkowski Arkansas State ...........................................2-2 eight or more games in back-to-back seasons, and Williams were invited to play in the 2006 Army ........................................................... 2-0 while the consecutive bowl appearances were Senior Bowl, while Tim Goodwell participated Auburn ........................................................ 0-1 also a fi rst in the program’s history. West took in the All-American Classic and Maurice Avery Bowling Green State................................... 0-1 his Tigers to Mobile, Ala., for the GMAC Bowl competed in the Hula Bowl. Chattanooga ............................................... 4-0 and dropped a hard-fought decision to Bowling In the seven years since West has been the U Cincinnati .................................................... 1-3 Green. of M head coach, 55 Tigers have been placed on Citadel ........................................................ 0-1 West has also generated major excitement the All-Conference USA Team, including Williams in the city of Memphis for his Tigers. That was who was named the league’s Offensive Player of Duke ........................................................... 3-2 evident in 2004 when, despite the games being the Year for three-straight years. Also with West East Carolina ..............................................3-3 COACHING STAFF nationally-televised by ESPN, nearly 100,000 at the helm, nine Tigers have been drafted to play East Tennessee State ................................. 0-1 total fans turned out for the fi nal two home games in the NFL, including Williams and Gostkowski in Florida Atlantic ............................................0-1 of the season. The 52,384 fans that witnessed 2006 and defensive back Brandon McDonald in Florida State ...............................................0-5 Memphis drop a hard-fought 56-49 decision to 2007. Williams

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