Denson Named USF Running Backs Coach

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: JAN. 12, 2015

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Denson Named USF Running Backs Coach

Native Of South Florida Is Notre Dame’s Career Rushing Leader

TAMPA, JAN. 12, 2015– The all-time leading rusher for one of the most storied programs in college football history is returning to his native Florida to lead the Bulls’ running backs. University of South Florida Head Coach Willie Taggart announced Monday the addition of Autry Denson as USF running backs coach.

A native of South Florida who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1999 NFL Draft and started two seasons for the Miami Dolphins, Denson set the all-time rushing record at Notre Dame logging 4,318 yards and 43 touchdowns in a career that twice saw him named team MVP for the Irish.

“Autry was incredibly accomplished as a player and has competed and achieved at the highest level,” Taggart said. “We’re excited to have him join our program and work with our players. We welcome Autry and his family back to Florida, and his wife, Elaine, back to USF.”

Denson, who completed his professional playing career following the 2004 season, will be making his fourth stop on his coaching career. He comes to USF after spending the 2014 season as running backs coach at Miami University (Ohio).

Denson served as head coach at Pope John Paul II High School (2010) in Boca Raton, Fla. before moving to the college ranks as running backs coach at Bethune-Cookman University (2011-13).

Denson helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and trip to the NCAA playoffs in 2013 as B-CU’s running backs posted 2,179 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns and a 5.4 yards per carry average.

Denson helped produce his first 1,000-yard rusher in 2012 as junior Isidore Jackson ran for 1,069 yards, becoming the first Wildcats back to eclipse 1,000 yards since 1997. Jackson finished second in the league in rushing, marking the highest finish for a B-CU back in more than 10 years.

B-CU’s rushing attack totaled 2,928 yards and posted 28 of the team’s 43 touchdowns as four players ran for more than 400 yards. B-CU led the league and finished 10th nationally rushing for 244.42 yards per game.

The B-CU running backs combined for 2,058 yards in 2011, leading an offensive ground attack that finished fifth in the NCAA Division I FCS rankings with 259.3 yards per game. Jackson earned All-MEAC first team honors after rushing for 866 yards and seven touchdowns.

Denson also participated in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaches Internship Program, where he reunited with Tony Dungy, who had drafted him out of Notre Dame. Denson worked with the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins, in addition to working a summer football camp with Urban Meyer, one of his former position coaches at Notre Dame.

Denson began his coaching career when he formed a youth program called POISE (Perseverance, Opportunity, Intelligence, Sacrifice and Effort). He worked with teenage athletes in education, on the field, and in bible study. The organization led to the creation of the Run for Your Goal Youth Flag Football League, for which Denson is the commissioner. RFYG provides a safe place for the youth of South Florida to learn the game of football.

Denson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He saw starts at running back and extensive special teams duty as a kick returner for the Miami Dolphins during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, before going on to play for the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. He later played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, where he finished eighth in the league running for 772 yards and nine touchdowns.

Denson was a standout at Notre Dame where he set the career rushing record with 4,318 yards and 43 touchdowns. His spectacular college career included earning MVP honors at the 1999 Gator Bowl, after running for 130 yards and scoring three touchdowns, and being named team MVP for the Fighting Irish in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Denson owns three of the Top 10 rushing seasons in Notre Dame history running for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1997, 1,179 yards in 1996 and 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1998. He averaged 95.5 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry over his career.

Denson logged three-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons playing two years under Lou Holtz and two under Bob Davie at Notre Dame. The Irish played in the Fiesta (1995), Orange (1996), Independence (1997) and Gator (1999) bowls during his career. He posted a program record 23 career 100-yard rushing games before graduating with a degree in business in 1999. No Irish running back has since come within 1,000 yards of his career rushing mark.

A South Florida native and graduate of Nova High in Davie, Fla. (just north of Miami), Denson set the Broward County rushing record while playing for Coach Willie Dodaro. In 1995, he was named Player of the Year by the Miami Herald as well as Offensive Player of the Year by the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.

He and his wife, Elaine, have four children, Ashley, Autry III, Elijah and Asia. Elaine is a graduate of USF.

USF returns 14 starters (6 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Taggart’s third season at the helm. The Bulls will return their top five tacklers (9 the top 12 overall) and players that accounted for 73 percent of the team’s tackles in 2014. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing and passing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.

The USF Football program completed its 18th season and 15th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.

Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.

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[DELdaBull]

I think this is a good hire.

[hm101]

I'm done thinking we make good hires. I want to SEE it

[nobullaboutit]

I'm done thinking we make good hires. I want to SEE it

+1

[smazza]

yawn

[Hem]

Meh

[Skingraft]

[GaUSFBull]

 

I'm done thinking we make good hires. I want to SEE it

+1

 

 

+2