Football
- Title:
- Defensive Tackles
Thomas [quote]Rock[quote] Roggeman, who joined the East Carolina staff on Dec. 17, 2004, is in his fifth season on the Pirate staff and third as the program[apos]s defensive tackles coach.
During his debut campaign in `05, in which he handled linebacking play, Roggeman directed a corps that featured three of the Pirates[apos] top four tacklers in Chris Moore (1st/96), Richard Koonce (4th/53) and Josh Chilsom (4th/53). In addition, his hard-hitting and blitzing crew accounted for a combined 30.5 tackles for lost yardage and eight sacks.
A year later, his focus centered more on the play of ECU[apos]s outside linebacking unit and his leadership produced a trio of All-Conference USA performers in Quentin Cotton, Pierre Bell and rookie Van Eskridge. Cotton and Bell stood as the second and third-leading tacklers with 68 and 66 stops, respectively, while Eskridge finished fifth on the unit with 60 hits and earned selection to the C-USA All-Freshman squad.
In 2007, Roggeman tutored a total of three Conference USA honors-winning performers during his initial year coaching his new assignment, including Khalif Mitchell, Jay Ross and true rookie Linval Joseph - who was chosen to the league[apos]s all-freshman squad. Joseph finished his inaugural season among the Pirates[apos] top 10 tacklers with 40 stops, which also included a position-best 8.5 hits behind the line of scrimmage.
The 2008 campaign resulted in another stellar year for Roggeman[apos]s inside presence as both Ross and Joseph each earned All-Conference USA honors for the second straight time. The duo opened a combined 23 of 28 contests, booked 17.5 tackles for lost yardage and posted seven sacks. Ross, who was a staple in ECU[apos]s front line with 14 starts, netted 9.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, turned in a unit second-best 5.0 sacks and topped the team with a pair of fumble recoveries. Joseph bounced back from back surgery and added 8.0 tackles for lost yardage and 2.5 quarterback drops.
Prior to his appointment at ECU, Roggeman served as defensive line coach at Alabama State for three seasons beginning in 2002. He helped lead the Hornets to a 10-2 record and a Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2004 and also played a key role in the performance of one of the top defenses on the entire NCAA Division I-AA level - earning top 10 national ranks in turnover margin (6th/+1.17), turnovers forced (7th/34), fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (7th/9) and rushing defense (9th/103.0 ypg.).
From 1998 to 2001, Roggeman worked at SWAC-member Alabama A&M, handling the Bulldogs[apos] defensive line during the first two years before earning a promotion from head coach Ron Cooper to defensive coordinator prior to the 2000 season, a move which netted unprecedented results.
He built and guided one of the top defensive units on all levels of college football history in 2000, topping I-AA nationally in rushing defense (39.7 ypg/NCAA record), fewest yards per carry (1.3 ypc), fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (5) and sacks (60 for -365 yards). In addition, the Bulldogs stood eighth nationally in total defense (275.6 ypg).
Roggeman enhanced his reputation as a noted run-stopper the following season, as Alabama A&M finished third nationally in rushing defense (80.8 ypg) and fourth in fewest yards per carry (2.4 ypc).
Roggeman also worked on Cooper[apos]s staff at Eastern Michigan (1993-94), where he served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, and at Louisville (1995-97).
During his three-year tenure with the Cardinals, Roggeman helped mold a defensive unit which led the nation in turnovers forced (45/1995) and earned other top 10 Division I-A statistical standings in turnover ratio (2nd/1995), scoring defense (6th/1995), total defense (4th/1996), rushing defense (4th/1996) and pass efficiency defense (9th/1996).
Roggeman began his full-time coaching career as a defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Murray State in 1987 before moving to Nevada-Las Vegas three years later to handle the Rebels[apos] defensive line efforts.
He earned a bachelor[apos]s degree in history from Notre Dame in 1985 after playing on Fighting Irish squads which competed in the 1983 Liberty Bowl and 1984 Aloha Bowl. Roggeman was cited as a 1984 Monogram winner before accepting a two-year position as a graduate assistant under head coaches Gerry Faust and Lou Holtz.
Roggeman, 46, was a Parade All-America selection as a linebacker at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz., while also earning membership into the National Honor Society. His father, Thomas Sr., is an Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee after an illustrious coaching career at the high school and collegiate level.
