Amory Native Will Hall Joins Memphis Coaching Staff

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WCBI/Memphis Athletics) – Memphis head coach Mike Norvell has announced an impressive trio of new assistant coaches, in addition to a number of staff changes for the 2018 season.

Keith Patterson and TJ Rushing will immediately fill the spots recently vacated by Dan Lanning and Marcus Woodson and Will Hall will also join the coaching staff as associate head coach and tight ends coach when the new NCAA rule allowing a 10^th assistant coach goes into effect on Jan. 9.

Patterson will coach the Memphis linebackers starting in 2018 and brings a wealth of experience to the Tigers as the former defensive coordinator at Arizona State, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Tulsa. Coaching linebackers and defensive special teams at Arizona State in 2017, Patterson tutored the Pac-12’s leading tackler, linebacker Christian Sam, who finished with 127 total stops (10.6 per game).

Sam, along with fellow linebacker DJ Calhoun, both earned All-Pac-12 nods for their efforts this season. Calhoun was fourth in the Pac-12 in averaging 5.1 solo tackles per game and seventh with 7.8 tackles per game following the regular season.

“I am extremely excited about the addition of Coach Keith Patterson into our program, as I believe he is one of the great teachers in college football. Coach Patterson and I have worked together for the majority of my coaching career and his passion and energy will be contagious throughout the program. Keith brings tremendous experience and knowledge to our staff, not only from a schematic perspective but also as a recruiter. He has great relationships throughout the region, especially in his home state of Oklahoma where he played and coached at every level. Keith, Melissa and their family are a great fit for our program in every aspect and the city of Memphis will enjoy having them part of the community,” Norvell said.

As the Sun Devils’ defensive coordinator in 2015, Patterson’s defensive unit averaged 3.54 sacks per game, a total that ranked first in all of the FBS. Arizona State also posted 111 tackles for loss in 2015, with an average of 8.5 tackles per loss per game that ranked third nationally and first in the Pac-12.

Prior to his time at Arizona State, Patterson spent two seasons at West Virginia University, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2013 and as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2012.

In 2011 Patterson served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Pittsburgh and prior to that was at the University of Tulsa from 2003-10.

Rushing, a former Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts, will coach the Tigers defensive backs in 2018. He has spent three of the last four seasons on the coaching staff at Arizona State after a seven-year professional football career.

“I feel that we were able to hit a home run being able to bring TJ and Taylor Rushing to Memphis to become a part of the Tiger Football Family. TJ is one of the brightest young defensive minds in the nation, who in a short time has created a reputation as a wonderful developer of defensive backs. TJ not only brings great perspective as a coach but also is able to rely on personal experience from time as an All-Pac-12 performer at Stanford and his NFL career, which included a Super Bowl Championship,” said Norvell.

Last season, in Rushing’s first as the Sun Devils’ defensive backs coach, he tutored freshman All-American corner Chase Lucas. Lucas recorded 53 tackles and led the Sun Devils with two interceptions and seven pass break-ups.

Hall spent the 2017 season as the offensive coordinator for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, where six offensive players received all-conference honors. The Cajuns ranked among the best in the nation in red zone offense and turnovers lost, with just 16.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring Coach Will Hall into our Tiger Football Program. Coach Hall is an incredible leader of men with a relentless work ethic, who has achieved tremendous success throughout his entire career at every level. Will brings a dynamic offensive mind, which teamed with the current offensive staff establishes what I feel is one of the top staffs in the country. Growing up in Amory, Miss. and playing at an All-American level at both Northwest Mississippi as well as North Alabama, Will has deep rooted relationships throughout Mississippi and the MidSouth. He will assist in continuing the high level of success bringing top-level student-athletes here to Memphis,” Norvell said.

Prior to UL Lafayette, Hall posted a 56-20 record in six seasons as head coach between West Alabama and West Georgia. From 2013-16, Hall led West Georgia to a 31-9 record, the first Gulf South Conference title since 2000 and a pair of NCAA Division II semifinal appearances. Prior to his stint at UWG, Hall was the head coach at West Alabama where he posted a 25-11 record and led the Tigers to a pair of playoff appearances.

Hall also enjoyed successful stints on the coaching staff at Arkansas-Monticello, Southwest Baptist, Henderson State, and Presbyterian. Hall played two seasons at nearby Northwest Mississippi Community College from 1999-2000 where he was a two-time NJCAA Football All-American.

In addition to the three new staff additions, Norvell announced a reorganization of his staff.

“One of the best things that we have been able to accomplish is keeping the staff that we have in place here to lead our student-athletes. I am grateful for each of them and it has been a joy watching the development of our football team as well as our coaches, which has allowed us to compete at the highest level throughout the 2017 season. I am excited about being able to reorganize our staff, to ensure a continued progression and effective distribution of duties to allow us to achieve at the highest level,” Norvell said.