Tony Pierce is in his second season at Gardner-Webb Universityas the program’s defensive coordinator, and will also coachthe safeties for the Runnin’ Bulldogs in 2012.
In his first season, Gardner-Webb’s defense paced the BigSouth Conference in both sacks and tackles for loss, with defensivelinemen Matt Goods and Preston Pemasa each earning first-teamAll-League honors. GWU ranked in the top-10 nationally in tacklesfor loss as well, pushing near the top of those statisticalrankings early in the season and keeping the pressure on.
The well-respected, experienced Pierce has over 25 yearsof coaching experience under his belt, including 20 in collegefootball. His experience in the Football Bowl Subdivision includestime at BCS programs Georgia, Wake Forest, West Virginia andPittsburgh – and he has served as an NFL intern coach withthe Arizona Cardinals.
His postseason experience is extensive, having coached onstaffs for teams in the CarQuest Bowl, Insight.com Bowl and MusicCity Bowl – as well as a pair of SWAC championship games.
Pierce spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the FootballChampionship Subdivision, coaching in 2010 at Valparaiso and in2009 at Tennessee State. During his time at Tennessee State, Piercecoached running backs and served as the Tigers’ special teamscoordinator, helping that squad to a win over No. 13 EasternIllinois in the season finale.
Pierce’s reputation as a strong defensivecoordinator was cemented during an ultra-successful tenure atAlabama State, where he served for six seasons. His final defensefinished ranked No. 19 nationally in 2008, allowing only 301.9yards per game. Alabama State also finished ranked No. 12nationally in fewest first downs allowed, No. 14 in tackles forloss, No. 15 in red zone defense, No. 26 in third down conversiondefense and No. 29 against the run.
In 2006, Pierce’s defense allowed only 276.2 yardsper game and led the SWAC with an opponents’ third downconversion percentage of just 29.2 percent – which rankedseventh in the nation that season.
Pierce was named America Football Coaches Association(AFCA) Division I-AA Assistant Football Coach of the Year in 2004,a season that his defense helped Alabama State to a 10-2 record anda win over Southern in the SWAC Championship Game. The Hornetsranked ninth nationally against the run (103.0 ypg) 17th in scoringdefense (19.0 ppg) and 25th in sacks per game (1.33). Alabama Stateregistered 76 tackles for loss that season as well.
Alabama State’s defense forced 34 turnovers in 12games, which ranked No. 7 among I-AA schools and helped the Hornetsrank No. 6 in turnover margin.
His defensive unit also ranked 13th nationally in rushingdefense in 2003, as Alabama State won eight games duringPierce’s first season with the program.
Pierce coached running backs at the University of Georgiafrom 2001-2002 and served one season as co-defensive coordinatorand secondary coach at Wake Forest under current IndianapolisColts’ head coach Jim Caldwell in 2000. He spent threeseasons as an assistant coach at West Virginia (1997-1999),coaching the Mountaineers’ running backs from 1997-1998 andcoaching the secondary in 1999. One of his running backs inMorgantown, Amos Zereoue, was a two-time All-America selection andNFL draft pick.
Pierce has also served as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh(1995-96), Delaware State (1994), Bucknell (1990-1992) and St.Peter’s (1986-1987). He was head coach at Division IIIOberlin College from 1992-1993. He earned a bachelor’s degreein physical education from Gettysburg (Pa.) College in 1983, wherehe was a standout defensive back – setting a school-recordwith 16 career interceptions.
He graduated with a master’s degree in physicaleducation, with a concentration in coaching and sports educationfrom Montclair State in 1989. After his playing career atGettysburg, Pierce signed a contract with the Philadelphia Stars ofthe USFL in 1984.
The Newark, N.J., native and his wife, Michelle, havethree children – Christian, Jordan and Alanna. Christian is agraduate of West Point and Jordan signed to play football at AirForce in 2011.
