Pirates Add Tate to Coaching Staff
January 14, 2003 | Football
Tate will coach the Pirate defensive line.
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Prior to joining the Blue Raiders, he coached the defensive line at Southwest Texas that produced AP All-America tackle Clenton Ballard. He spent the 2000 season in a similar capacity at East Mississippi Community College. In 1998 and 1999, he was defensive line coach and also worked with special teams at Jacksonville State University. He also worked one season, 1997, at East Central Community College in Mississippi.
A 1997 graduate of Southern Miss, Tate was a two-year letterman at defensive end and tackle and helped the Golden Eagles to a Conference USA championship in 1996. He played both his 1995 and 1996 seasons under the direction of Thompson, then the Golden Eagles' defensive coordinator. Tate played his first two seasons of collegiate football at East Central Community College, earning All-America recognition. Tate also spent five years in the United States Army Airborne following high school and earned the Army Commendation Medal.
"Fred Tate is a great recruiter and tough defensive line coach who presents our program with many assets," Thompson said. "His background with the Misssissippi junior colleges, recruiting at Southwest Texas and Middle Tennessee, and experience of playing at Southern Miss and being familiar with Conference USA all make him a good fit for our staff."
The addition bring Thompson's coaching hires to seven, including graduate assistants. The ECU staff includes defensive coordinator Jerry Odom, running backs coach Jerry McManus, offensive line/assistant head coach J.B. Grimes, tight ends coach Steve Janski, defensive backs coach Matt Graves, graduate assistants Larry Shannon and Shep Campbell, and director of football operations Mike Ritchie.
