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Tommy Tuberville

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Thomas Hawley Tuberville (born September 18, 1954) is an American college football coach and current head coach of the Auburn University football team. Tuberville was the 2004 recipient of the Walter Camp and Paul Bryant Coach of the Year awards for Auburn's 13–0 perfect season. He earned his 100th career win on October 6, 2007 in a 35–7 victory over Vanderbilt. He is also the only coach in Auburn history to beat in-state rival the University of Alabama six consecutive times.

Playing career

A native of Camden, Arkansas, Tommy Tuberville played football in high school and lettered as a free safety at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas where he played from 1972-1976.

Coaching career

Early career

Tuberville was an assistant coach at Arkansas State University. He then went through the ranks at the University of Miami, beginning as graduate assistant and ending as defensive coordinator in 1993 and winning the national championship. In 1994, Tuberville replaced Bob Davie as defensive coordinator under R. C. Slocum at Texas A&M University. The Aggies went 10-0-1 that season.

Ole Miss

Tuberville got his first collegiate head coaching job at the University of Mississippi. He took over a Rebel team under severe NCAA scholarship sanctions and was named the AP SEC Coach of the Year in 1997. During his tenure, he acquired the nickname "The Mississippi Gambler" for his aggressive play calling, particularly on 4th down.

Auburn

He left Ole Miss following the 1998 regular season to take the head coaching job at Auburn University. During his tenure at Auburn, Tuberville has guided the Tigers to the top of the SEC standings, leading the Tigers to an SEC Championship and the Western Division title in 2004. Under his direction, the Tigers have made eight consecutive bowl appearances including five New Year's Day bowl berths.

The Auburn Tigers were a perfect 13-0 in 2004 including the SEC title and a win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Coach Tuberville received Coach of the Year awards from the AP, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

In 2005, despite losing the entire starting backfield from the unbeaten 2004 team to the first round of the NFL draft, Coach Tuberville led Auburn to a 9-3 record, finishing the regular season with victories over rivals Georgia and Alabama.

Under Tuberville, Auburn has a winning record against its three biggest rivals, LSU (5-4), Georgia (5-4), and Alabama (7-2). He has led Auburn to 6 straight victories over in-state rival Alabama, the longest win streak in this rivalry since 1982, which was the year Auburn broke Alabama's 9 year streak.

Tuberville has also established himself as one of the best big game coaches in college football, winning 9 of their last 11 games against Top 10 opponents (since the start of the 2004 season). In 2006, his Tigers recorded victories over two Top 5 teams who later played in BCS bowls, including eventual BCS Champion Florida. Tuberville has a 5-1 career record versus Top 5 teams, including 3 wins versus Florida.

Tuberville has coached 19 players who were selected in the NFL draft, including four first round picks in 2004, with several others signing as free agents. He has coached 8 All-Americans and a Thorpe Award winner (Carlos Rogers). Thirty-four players under Tuberville have been named to All-SEC (First Team). Eighteen players have been named All-SEC freshman. His players have been named SEC player of the week 46 times. He has also had 2 SEC players of the year and one SEC Championship game MVP.

Head coaching record

*Ole Miss was on probation in 1995 and 1996

Personal and community

Tuberville is married to the former Suzanne Fette of Guilford, Indiana. They are the parents of two sons, Tucker and Troy.

Tuberville contributes time and resources to organizations within the Auburn community including Storybook Farm , an equestrian-based program offering free therapeutic care to children with debilitating illnesses and those suffering from bereavement. Additionally, he hosts charity golf tournaments for Camp ASCAA, the Girls and Boys Club of Montgomery, the Auburn University Marching Band, and the Alabama Sheriff's Youth Ranch.

References

External links



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Last updated on Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 20:54:21 PDT (GMT -0700)
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