It's a First for Georgia State Football - Signing Day

Georgia State’s burgeoning football program celebrated another important milestone Wednesday as head coach Bill Curry and his staff signed 26 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day.

These 26 student-athletes will enroll at Georgia State next fall and practice during a redshirt season in 2009 while preparing for the Panthers’ first season of competition in 2010. They will join Mark Hogan, Jr., who is already enrolled at Georgia State this semester in forming the Panthers’ first freshman class.

"Today is a landmark day for us," said Curry. "I’m sitting here with a list of ‘our players’ in front of me. This is fun.

"For us to be able bring in a class of this quality is something that we really feel good about. We’re not going to put these guys in the Hall of Fame just yet, but these are good football players who are good human beings and also good students.

"We’re off to a very good start in terms of the quality of our players. We have a lot of other things to do, but this is definitely a great start."

The group includes 14 players from the state of Georgia, as well as seven from Florida, four from South Carolina and one from Texas.

Highlighting the class are three members of the prestigious Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia Top 150 in quarterbacks Drew Little of Henry County High School and Kelton Hill of Lithia Springs High and defensive back Nathan Anthony of Columbia High.

The Panthers also inked several highly-regarded players from the state of Florida, such as running backs Travis Evans (Williston HS, Williston, Fla.) and Darris Hughes (Clewiston HS, Clewiston, Fla.), running back/wide receiver Parris Lee (Fletcher HS, Jacksonville, Fla.) and linebacker Robert Ferguson (Glades Central HS, Belle Glade, Fla.), and promising linemen such as Harrison Clottey from Grayson High School in the Atlanta area as well as Grant King (Spring Valley HS, Columbia, S.C.) and Ramell Davis (Calhoun County HS, St. Matthews, S.C.) from South Carolina.

"I wish I could tell you how hard our staff has worked," said Curry.

"The reception we have received from high school coaches, high school counselors and parents throughout the state of Georgia has been overwhelmingly positive. That’s been really gratifying. When we were able to get these young men and their families to come visit our campus, meet our faculty, meet our academic support people and so on, it was not hard at all to sell Georgia State.

"Georgia State football will be a success, and these guys have bought into the idea of being a part of the beginning."

Name School Hometown Position
Blake Wyatt Landmark Christian Fairburn, Ga. Safety
Drew Little Henry County McDonough, Ga. Quarterback
Allen McKay Marion County Buena Vista, Ga. Running Back
K.J. Morton Northside-Warner Robins Warner Robins, Ga. Defensive Back
Tyler Blackwell Cartersville Cartersville, Ga. Cornerback
Parker Stevens Taylor Houston, Texas Defensive Back
Fred Barnes Martin Luther King Jr. Ellenwood, Ga. Quarterback/Athlete
Sam Burkhalter Blessed Trinity Roswell, Ga. Running Back
Robert Ferguson Glades Central Belle Glade, Fla. Linebacker
Demetreious Shorter Crisp County Cordele, Ga. Defensive End
Jordan Giles Spring Valley Columbia, S.C. Wide Receiver
Eduardo Curry West Ashley Charleston, S.C. Defensive End
Rosevelt Watson Lake Worth Lake Worth, Fla. Running Back
Mark Hogan* Lincoln-Sudbury (Mass.) Matthews, N.C. Running Back
Karl Williams Eastside Covington, Ga. Defensive End
Kelton Hill Lithia Springs Douglasville, Ga. Quarterback
Harrison Clottey Grayson Loganville, Ga. Offensive Tackle/Guard
Parris Lee Fletcher Jacksonville, Fla. Running Back/ Wide Receiver
Darren McCray Spencer Columbus, Ga. Wide Receiver/Kick Returner
Nathan Anthony Columbia Conley, Ga. Running Back
Grant King Spring Valley Columbia, S.C. Offensive Tackle
Bo Schlechter Glades Day Wellington, Fla. Quarterback
Travis Evans Williston Williston, Fla. Running Back/Cornerback
Ramell Davis Calhoun County St. Matthews, S.C. Offensive Line
Justin Orr Camden County St. Mary's, Ga. Linebacker
Dan Williams Boone Orlando, Fla. Wide Receiver
Darris Hughes Clewiston Clewiston, Fla. Running Back/Cornerback

* * indicates currently enrolled

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Georgia State Football Coach Bill Curry Named Interim Athletics Director

Georgia State President Mark P. Becker today (Jan. 7) named head football coach Bill Curry interim athletics director while a national search begins for a leader to head the university’s collegiate sports program.

“I’m pleased that Coach Curry is willing to serve in this crucial role at a very important time. I have every confidence that he will provide the essential leadership right now to our student-athletes, staff and athletic programs,” Becker said. “His experience in college athletics and his dedication to Georgia State makes him the best person to take the helm of our program.”

Parker Executive Search in Atlanta will conduct a national search for a permanent athletics director, and a university search committee will be named to assist in that effort.

Becker said the plan is to have a new athletics director in place by spring.

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Georgia State Purchases Land for Football Practice Complex in Atlanta

The Georgia State University Foundation has purchased a 3.8-acre plot of land in downtown Atlanta adjacent to the Georgia State campus for the purpose of constructing a practice and office complex for the Panthers’ new football program.

The plot is at 188 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, walking distance from current athletic facilities in the Georgia State Sports Arena. The land was purchased at a cost of approximately $6.6 million.

Plans for the complex include a 100-yard artificial turf field, a 50-yard natural grass field and a football building that would house coaches’ offices, locker room, weight room, meeting rooms, training room and equipment room. Initial plans call for an existing structure on the site to be incorporated into the facility.

Georgia State football, coached by Bill Curry, will begin play in 2010 at the Georgia Dome. However, the Panthers are recruiting student-athletes who will enroll and begin practice in 2009, and Georgia State hopes to begin construction on the fields as soon as possible so they can be utilized for practice next fall.

“This is another very important step forward for Georgia State football,” said Director of Athletics Mary McElroy. “We’re thrilled that the University was able to secure a piece of land that fits our needs and is located so close to campus. This complex will become a tremendous asset for Georgia State football.

“We are very grateful to the Georgia State University Foundation for assisting us with this project. We also want to thank Dr. Patton and the University administration for all the support as we build our football program and make Georgia State athletics the best that it can be."

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Curry Announces Football Staff Hirings

Georgia State head football coach Bill Curry has announced the first three members of his coaching staff with the hiring of John Bond as offensive coordinator, John Thompson as defensive coordinator and George Pugh as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator. That trio possesses a total of 71 years of college coaching experience, including 32 seasons as an offensive or defensive coordinator as well as five seasons as a collegiate head coach.

Mike Riddle, who played under Curry at the University of Kentucky, also joins the staff as director of football operations.

Bond, a 22-year coaching veteran, has spent the last 11 years as an offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, Northern Illinois, Army and Illinois State.

Thompson, the head coach at East Carolina in 2003-04, has been a defensive coordinator at Mississippi, where he served in 2007, as well as Florida, Arkansas, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State and was co-defensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Pugh was the wide receivers coach at Houston in 2007 and has also been an assistant coach at UAB, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh as well as the head coach at Alabama A&M (1989-91). He has strong ties to the Atlanta area after serving as the head coach at Columbia High School (1978) and Meadowcreek High School (2003-04).

“I was very pleasantly surprised to be able to attract three men with the experience and success of John Bond, John Thompson and George Pugh,” said Curry. “I covered all three while I was at ESPN, and I saw them coach and watched them work under pressure. I’m thrilled to be able to get those types of coaches to come to Georgia State and be excited about being here.

“And I’m very pleased to have someone as smart and as detailed as Mike Riddle to be our Director of Operations.”

Curry was named Georgia State’s first head coach on June 13. He and his staff will begin recruiting immediately to sign the Panthers’ first class in February 2009, and Georgia State will begin play in 2010 and will compete at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA.)

“We’ll spend much of this week working on organization and meeting with various departments in athletics and on campus,” said Curry. “And of course, we’ll begin to work on recruiting. We’re received many, many letters, emails and DVDs from prospective student-athletes and from high school coaches about prospects, and we’re going to evaluate every one of them.”

JOHN BOND
Offensive Coordinator

Hired as Georgia State’s first offensive coordinator, John Bond is a 22-year veteran of college coaching who has spent the last 11 seasons as a Division I offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, Northern Illinois, Army and Illinois State.

Bond spent the 2007 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia Tech, where his offense was led by all-Atlantic Coast Conference running back Tashard Choice, who led the ACC in rushing and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

He spent the previous three seasons coaching one of the nation’s most prolific rushing attacks as offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois (2004-06). All-America Garrett Wolfe led the nation in rushing in 2006 after ranking second as a junior and fifth as a sophomore. The third-round draft pick is now with the Chicago Bears.

Bond helped Northern Illinois to two Mid-American Conference Western Division titles and two bowl games, highlighted by a 9-4 record in 2004, when the Huskies ranked 11th in the nation in rushing, 14th in scoring and 14th in total offense.

“When I was with ESPN, I covered some of John’s games at Northern Illinois, and I saw an offense that was so well conceived,” said Georgia State head coach Bill Curry. “No matter what the defense did, the offense had an answer, and it wasn’t just Garrett Wolfe running the ball all over the place.”

Before going to Northern Illinois, Bond served four seasons (2000-03) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Army, where he fashioned a wide-open offense that broke 35 school records.

Bond’s first full-time coaching position was at Southwest Missouri State, where he served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 1986-90. The Bears won two conference titles and reached the NCAA I-AA playoffs twice, advancing to the quarterfinals in 1989.

He served as quarterbacks coach at UTEP from 1991-93 and then as quarterback coach and passing game coordinator at Delta Sate in 1994-95.

From there, Bond moved to a four-year stint at Illinois State, serving as wide receivers coach in 1996 before he was elevated to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for his final three years (1997-99). The Redbirds ranked in the top 10 in the nation in scoring his final two years. In 1999, Illinois State reached the NCAA I-AA national semifinals, and Bond was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year award.

His coaching background also includes two seasons as a student assistant (1983-84) and one year as a graduate assistant (1985) at his alma mater, Arkansas, where he worked under Lou Holtz and Ken Hatfield.

A native of Rogers, Ark., Bond was an all-state quarterback for his father, Gary Bond, at Rogers High School. The elder Bond is a member of the state’s high school federation Hall of Fame, and John was inducted into the Rogers High Hall of Fame.

Bond, 45, who played one season at Arkansas before a career-ending injury, earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1985.

He is married to the former Jennifer Wilder and has two daughters, MacKenzie and Mallory, and one son, Brody.

JOHN THOMPSON
Defensive Coordinator

John Thompson brings 24 years of college coaching experience, including 21 seasons as a defensive coordinator, to his position as Georgia State’s first defensive coordinator. He also served two years as the head coach at East Carolina.

Thompson previously worked one season with Panthers’ head coach Bill Curry as linebackers coach at Alabama in 1987.

Recognized as a top defensive mind, Thompson has worked as a defensive coordinator or co-coordinator at Southeastern Conference schools Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina, as well as at Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State.

As a defensive coordinator, Thompson has seen more than 40 of his defensive players drafted by, or sign with, National Football League teams. Forty of his defenders earned all-conference honors, five were named all-America, and one, former Northwestern State linebacker Gary Reasons, has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“John was with us at Alabama as a very young coach but an outstanding one, and we have stayed in touch through the years,” said Curry. “He has coached at all those places because people have sought him out to be their defensive coordinator after they couldn’t move the ball on him. He finds a way to convey a defensive that is simple to our players but utterly confusing to the opposing offense. We’re going to need to that, especially early on.”

Thompson spent the 2007 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ole Miss. That followed a one-year stint as the athletics director at his alma mater, the University of Central Arkansas, which he guided in its move to NCAA Division I. He served as co-defensive coordinator at South Carolina in 2005.

As the head coach at East Carolina in 2003-04, he coached three first-team all-conference players and seven all-freshman selections.

Thompson was the defensive coordinator at Florida in 2002, when the Gators’ pass defense was ranked seventh in the nation, allowing just 162.4 yards per game. He also spent two years at Arkansas, serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2000 and then defensive coordinator in 2001. In 2000, the Razorbacks were second in the nation in pass defense while leading the SEC in pass defense and total defense. The following year, Thompson helped lead Arkansas to the 2002 Cotton Bowl.

Thompson’s first position as a defensive coordinator came at Northwestern State, where he served from 1983-86, and again from 1988-89 after spending the 1987 season at Alabama.

In 1990, he became the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech for two seasons before moving to Southern Miss as defensive coordinator in 1992. He was given additional responsibility as assistant head coach in 1993. In Thompson’s seven seasons at Southern Miss (1992-98), the Golden Eagles won or shared two Conference USA titles, twice ranked among the top 25 nationally in scoring defense and made two bowl appearances.

In one season at Memphis in 1999, his Tiger defense ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense and 20th in total defense.

A native of Forrest City, Ark., Thompson began as a high school coach in 1977 while pursuing his bachelor’s degree at UCA. He continued to coach prep football until moving to the college ranks in 1982 as a graduate assistant at Arkansas.

A high school quarterback, Thompson was inducted into the Forrest City High School Hall of Fame in 2006. His playing career also includes two seasons as a defensive back at Central Arkansas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from UCA in 1978.

Thompson and his wife, Charleen, have two sons, Cabe and Hays.

GEORGE PUGH
Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Veteran assistant coach George Pugh joins Georgia State’s first football staff as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator. He will also coach receivers.

In addition to 25 years in college coaching, Pugh has strong ties to the Atlanta area after serving as the head coach at Columbia High School (1978) and Meadowcreek High School (2003-04). As a college coach, he has recruited the Atlanta area throughout his career.

“George is an outstanding recruiter because is highly respected by the high school coaches, he has a remarkable personality and he shows an uncanny knack of knowing where the players are,” said Georgia State head coach Bill Curry. “He knows how to find, sign and develop talent, especially if they are wide receivers.”

Pugh also has head coaching experience, directing the Alabama A&M program from 1989-91. In his three seasons, the Bulldogs posted a 19-10 record, winning three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and reaching the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1991.

In 2007, Pugh served as receivers coach at the University of Houston, helping the Cougars reach the Texas Bowl and coaching Donnie Avery, who was selected in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2008 National Football League draft by the St. Louis Rams.

Prior to that, Pugh served two seasons (2005-06) at UAB. That was his second tour of duty with the Blazers, where he also worked from 1995-2000, both times working under head coach Watson Brown. In his first UAB stint, Pugh helped the Blazers in their transition to NCAA Division I-A.

He worked as an assistant coach at Arkansas in 2001-02.

Pugh began his coaching career in 1976 as an assistant coach at Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga., where he served one season as an assistant coach and one year as head coach. He then moved to the college ranks, serving as receivers coach at UT-Chattanooga (1978-79) and then New Mexico (1980).

He then spent one season at Pittsburgh, helping the Panthers reach the 1982 Sugar Bowl, before a seven-year stint at Texas A&M (1982-88). The Aggies won three Southwest Conference titles and played in three Cotton Bowls during his time there.

Pugh also coached high school football in Alabama at Selma High School (1992-93) and Luverne High School (1994).

A four-year letterwinner as a tight end, Pugh played at Alabama under head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. During his four years (1972-75), the Crimson Tide lost just one game, highlighted by a national championship in 1973. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from Alabama in 1976.

Pugh is married to the former Lelettrice Hines. The couple has three daughters, Stephanie, April and Brittany, and three sons, Marcus, Michael George and Joshua.

MIKE RIDDLE
Director of Football Operations

Mike Riddle has been named Georgia State’s Director of Football of Operations on head coach Bill Curry’s first staff.

Riddle, who played under Curry at Kentucky, comes to Georgia State from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., where he served as line coach in 2007 before being elevated to offensive coordinator.

He previously spent four seasons at Indiana, serving as a graduate assistant and offensive quality control assistant.

Before going to Indiana, Riddle coached three seasons of high school football, working with the offensive line at Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio (2000) and Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky. (2001-02).

Riddle joined the Kentucky program as a walk-on and lettered four years (1995-98). He was honored as the Wildcats’ Scout Team Player of the Year in 1996 and earned a scholarship for his final season (1998).

“Mike was walk-on for us at Kentucky, and I’ve always thought walk-on football players are some of the finest human beings because it’s so hard to do,” said Curry. “They come to practice and work hard every day, and they may never get to play but they hit the snot out of the starters. Mike Riddle was one of those guys, and now I’m very pleased to have someone as smart and detailed as Mike on our staff.”

Riddle earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Kentucky in 1999 and added a master’s in secondary education in 2000.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Riddle is married to the former Brandee Lampley, and the couple has one son, Landon.

Bill Curry Named Head Football Coach

Bill Curry, a name synonymous with class and integrity in the coaching profession, has accepted the challenge of building Georgia State University football as the program’s first head coach.

The Atlanta native and former head coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky was introduced by Georgia State President Carl Patton and Director of Athletics Mary McElroy in a Thursday afternoon press conference at the Georgia State Sports Arena, eight weeks after the football program was officially launched on April 17.

Curry, who agreed to a five-year contract, is charged with the task of developing and directing the football program in every area in preparation for Georgia State’s first season in the fall of 2010.

"Our mission is to educate young people on and off the field while building a first-class program that makes our University proud, and who better to instill those ideals into the fabric of Georgia State football than Bill Curry?" said McElroy.

"From the moment that we first spoke with Bill about Georgia State, you could see and feel how genuinely excited he was about this challenge. And make no mistake, it is quite a challenge to start a program from scratch, but we know we have the person who will do everything the right way while building a rock-solid foundation for Georgia State football."

Curry brings 17 years of experience as a head coach in the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference--including Coach of the Year awards in both leagues--as well as an All-Pro playing career in the National Football League, and, most recently, national notoriety as a college football analyst for ESPN.

In the NFL, he participated in three Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls as he played for two of the most highly-regarded coaches in professional sports history in Vince Lombardi and Don Shula, while his college coach, Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd, is an icon in Southern football annals.

After concluding his 10-year playing career as a center for the Green Bay Packers (1965-66), Baltimore Colts (1967-72), Houston Oilers (1973) and Los Angeles Rams (1974), Curry entered the coaching ranks as offensive line coach at Georgia Tech in 1976. He then spent three years as an NFL assistant with the Packers (1977-79) before returning to his alma mater as head coach in 1980.

Curry took over a Georgia Tech program in transition, moving from independent status to the Atlantic Coast Conference while badly in need of facilities upgrades. His first two seasons were highlighted by a stunning 3-3 tie against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame in 1980, in which the Yellow Jackets’ quarterback was a freshman walk-on named Ken Whisenhunt, who is now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and a 24-21 victory at fourth-ranked Alabama the following year.

By recruiting talents such as all-America defensive end and future NFL star Pat Swilling, all-America offensive lineman John Davis, record-setting tailback Robert Lavette, and all-ACC linebacker Ted Roof, Curry’s teams also scored a pair of victories over nationally-ranked Georgia teams as well as a win over 13th-ranked Clemson that snapped a 20-game ACC winning streak.

Curry’s rebuilding efforts culminated in 1985, when he led Tech to a 9-2-1 season for the school’s highest win total in two decades and its first bowl victory in 13 years, defeating heavily-favored Michigan State in the All-American Bowl. For his efforts, he was named ACC Coach of the Year.

Curry compiled a record of 20-11-3 over his final three seasons at Georgia Tech before moving to Alabama in 1987. He posted a three-year record of 26-10 with the Crimson Tide, capped by the 1989 SEC title and Sugar Bowl berth.

In addition to being selected SEC Coach of the Year in 1989, Curry received the national coaching accolade named for his beloved mentor, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award.

Curry then spent seven seasons at Kentucky (1990-96), highlighted by a berth in the 1993 Peach Bowl. At the time, that marked the Wildcats’ fourth bowl berth in 40 years.

Through every stop, Curry has carried an indelible reputation for integrity and class, and he has been guided by the ideal that the education and well-being of the student-athlete is paramount. In 2007, he was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award, which honors someone "whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football."

His passion for mentoring young people is evident in his most recent position as the Director of Leadership Baylor at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"I met Bill Curry several years ago and found out for myself that he was everything people said he was: thoughtful, analytical and honest," said Patton. "You can imagine how thrilled I am that the search committee brought his name forward out of a terrific group of candidates. With a stellar background in both college and pro football, Bill is the perfect person to launch football at Georgia State. I’m reserving my 50-yard line tickets for the kickoff in the Dome."

Dr. Rankin Cooter, chairman of the Georgia State Athletic Association Board of Trustees, added, "Coach Curry has a national reputation for integrity and excellence both on and off the field. He provides instant credibility and sends a statement to the Atlanta community, the State of Georgia, and the Colonial Athletic Association that we are serious about athletics and football at Georgia State University. Athletic Director Mary McElroy and President Carl Patton are to be commended for their vision, effort, leadership, and commitment to a quality Georgia State athletics program for our student body and our student-athletes."

Curry attended College Park High School in the Atlanta area before going on to Georgia Tech, where he earned his B.S. degree in Industrial Management in 1965. He is married to the former Carolyn Newton of Atlanta, a graduate of Agnes Scott College who earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Georgia State. Bill and Carolyn have two children and four grandchildren.

Curry will officially begin his duties July 1, at which time he will hire a partial staff of up to four assistant coaches, a director of football operations and an administrative assistant. The staff will begin recruiting immediately in order to sign Georgia State’s first recruiting class in February 2009.