| Geep Wade |
|
 | Position:
Offensive Line Coach
|
| Alma Mater:
Chattanooga, 2002
|
|
|
Geep Wade, who played a pivotal role helping Middle Tennessee rank among the nation's leaders in both rushing and passing for the past three seasons, is in first year as offensive line coach at East Carolina after officially joining the Pirate staff on Jan. 5, 2016.
Wade recently concluded his tenure with the Blue Raiders with an appearance in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, capping a stellar 2015 offensive performance which included 5,946 total yards and school records for passing yardage and touchdowns. Last fall, his line paved the way for an aerial attack that ranked 15th nationally with an average of 311.7 yards per game, a year after his group opened holes for a unit that stood 30th among all FBS programs in rushing.
Three members of the Blue Raiders' offensive line - Jaylen Hunter (first team), Maurquice Shakir (honorable mention) and Chandler Brewer (freshman team) - were honored by Conference USA and gave quarterback Brent Stockstill ample time to produce a school-record 4,005 passing yards, which ranked 11th in the country. In addition, his crew was among the nation's toughest to penetrate, rating 15th in fewest tackles for loss allowed and 22nd in fewest sacks surrendered.
Led by all-conference linemen Isaiah Anderson and Darius Johnson in 2014, Middle Tennessee had four different players rush for more than 100 yards in a game, while quarterback Austin Grammer became the first quarterback in school history to throw for over 200 yards in each of his first seven games.
In 2013, Wade helped develop all-league performer Josh Walker while engineering a group that helped five different players eclipse the 100-yard rushing milestone in a contest. The unit also played an integral role for an offense that ranked 31st nationally in rushing and topped Conference USA in ground yards during MT's eight-game league schedule on the way to an Armed Forces Bowl showing against Navy.
In all, the Blue Raiders amassed over 5,000 yards of offense in each of Wade's three seasons at Middle Tennessee.
Wade made his way to Murfreesboro from Marshall where he coached the offensive line in 2012. His 2012 squad helped Marshall register 365.0 passing yards per game (first in FBS), 534.2 yards of total offense (sixth) and 40.9 points a game (seventh), all C-USA highs. His line also withstood the pounding of an FBS-high 90.6 plays per game that generated 24 rushing touchdowns. The offense also produced just over 20 plays of 10 yards or longer per game to lead the nation.
He spent two seasons leading the offensive line at alma mater Tennessee-Chattanooga, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. He returned to the sidelines for his second stint as an assistant coach at UTC after serving on the Mocs' staff in 2002 following his graduation.
Wade was in charge of the tackles and tight ends during the 2010 campaign, helping Chris Harr (OT) and Garrett Hughes (TE) to first team All-Southern Conference honors. The play of the offensive line allowed the Mocs to finish 11th among all FCS programs in total offense (430 ypg), while the unit threw for an average of 277 yards, second in the SoCon and eighth nationally.
Wade spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee-Martin, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2009. In 2008, the Skyhawks posted an 8-4 overall record, ranking fourth in the country in scoring offense (37.33).
In 2007, Wade and the Skyhawk offense ranked No. 1 in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense (433 ypg) and points scored per game (33.36). The team finished first in rushing offense (218.5 ypg) in the OVC, 12th in the nation.
Before coming to UT Martin in 2006 with head coach Jason Simpson, Wade was an offensive line coach at Western Carolina and Midwestern (Texas) State. He also enjoyed a stint at Tennessee where he was an offensive line graduate assistant for the Volunteers in 2004, the same year the team won the Southeastern Conference East Division title and the Cotton Bowl. In 2003, Wade coached the offensive line and served as the recruiting coordinator at Mars Hill College.
Wade was a team captain and an offensive lineman at UTC from 1999 to 2001, earning his bachelor's degree in business management in 2002.
He is married to the former Amy Howell of McKenzie, Tenn. The couple has two children - Emma Kate and Jackson.
