There has been a common theme in Rusty Wright's process of filling out his first University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coaching staff.
Familiarity.
Wright officially filled the Mocs' final opening Tuesday with the hiring of Lorenzo Ward as the defensive coordinator. Ward, who was the interim head coach at Louisville last season, coached Wright when he played for the Mocs.
"I have known Coach Ward for a long time. and he is an outstanding addition to our program," Wright said. "He was on the staff when I played here and has coached at the highest levels throughout his career.
"Lorenzo has lots of knowledge and a wealth of experience. He's coached a lot of great football players. I've watched him succeed at a lot of different levels."
Ward worked with Wright and his staff during spring drills as a volunteer coach.
The Alabama graduate has 22 years of coaching experience, including in Chattanooga from 1994 to 1998. He has been a defensive coordinator for six years, including four under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina (2012-15), where he also was defensive backs coach for three seasons.
At South Carolina, Ward helped guide a unit that finished in the top 25 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense four times. In 2011 the Gamecocks ranked No. 3 in the country in total defense, allowing just 267.7 yards per game.
In Columbia he coached eight first-team All-Southeastern Conference selections and six All-Americans, including Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Clowney was one of 11 NFL draftees for the Gamecocks during Ward's tenure.
In addition to spending single seasons at Arkansas, Fresno State and the NFL's Oakland Raiders, Ward was instrumental in Virginia Tech's defensive success in seven seasons on Frank Beamer's staff beginning in 1999.
As the Hokies' secondary coach, Ward coached five all-conference defensive backs, including NFL first-round draft pick DeAngelo Hall. In 2005 the Hokies led the nation in total defense, giving up just 247.6 yards per game, and were second in pass efficiency defense and third in pass defense. The year prior they were fourth in the country in both pass defense and interceptions.
Led by Hall and another NFL draft pick, Willie Pile, the 2002 team led the nation with 24 interceptions.
Ward coached 12 other NFL defensive backs, including South Carolina star Stephon Gilmore and Louisville's Jaire Alexander.
"It's a blessing to be back here," Ward said at Tuesday's introductory news conference. "They lost a lot of great football players on defense. But, again, while volunteering this spring you could see how (the current players) bought into the coaching staff. That always gives you a chance to have success."
No. 19 for '19
The Mocs have gotten their first national ranking for 2019. HEROSports.com, in its annual preseason publication, has UTC ranked No. 19 in the Football Championship Subdivision for the coming season.
The Mocs return 17 starters and 50 letter winners from last season's 6-5 team and have added several transfers who are expected to contribute right away.
Also listed in the Hero Sports Preseason FCS Top 25 are UTC opponents No. 1 James Madison, No. 6 Jacksonville State, No. 8 Wofford, No. 15 Furman and No. 25 The Citadel. Three of those teams are part of the Mocs' home schedule: JMU'S Dukes on Sept. 21, the Paladins on Nov. 2 and the Bulldogs on Nov. 16.
Schaus to head SoCon
The Southern Conference has named Ohio University athletic director Jim Schaus its new commissioner, effective July 1. He will succeed John Iamarino, who announced his retirement in March after 13 years in the job.
"It is truly an honor to serve as the ninth commissioner in the storied history of the Southern Conference," Schaus said in a league release. "I believe that my varied career experiences in college athletics will assist me in this important leadership role for outstanding member institutions."
Schaus has been Ohio's AD for 11 years and has more than 30 years of experience in athletics administration, including time at Oregon, Cincinnati, Texas-El Paso and Northern Illinois.
Schaus also has experience in the NFL, having worked as an intern for the New England Patriots and as the director of marketing for the Washington Redskins, and served as a publicity assistant for the LPGA Tour.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.