Reggie Herring

Reggie Herring
Personal information
Born:	July 3, 1959 (age 65); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Titusville (FL) Astronaut
College:	Florida State
Career history
As a coach:
	Oklahoma State (1981); Graduate assistant; Oklahoma State (1982–1985); Linebackers coach; Auburn (1986–1991); Linebackers coach; TCU (1992–1993); Defensive coordinator; Clemson (1994–1996); Linebackers coach; Clemson (1997–2001); Defensive Coordinator; Houston Texans (2002–2003); Linebackers coach; NC State (2004); Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach; Arkansas (2005–2007); Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach; Dallas Cowboys (2008–2010); Linebackers coach; Houston Texans (2011–2013); Linebackers coach; Chicago Bears (2014); Linebackers coach; Denver Broncos (2015–2021); Linebackers coach;
Career highlights and awards
	Super Bowl Champion (50); Second-team All-American (1980);
Head coaching record
Postseason:	Bowl games: 0–1 (.000)

Reginald Wayne Herring (born July 3, 1959) is an American football coach and former player and most recently the linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). A former linebacker at Florida State University, he began his coaching career in 1981. He has now coached for 36 years across college and the NFL. Herring arrived in Denver to coach linebackers in 2015 after previous stops in the league with Chicago (2014), Houston (2002–03, ’11-13) and Dallas (2008–10). Herring has coached nine linebackers who have made Pro Bowl appearances during their careers, including outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware (9), Mario Williams (4), and Connor Barwin (1), and inside linebackers Zach Thomas (7), Keith Brooking (5), Lance Briggs (7), Brian Cushing (1), Sean Lee (2) and DeMeco Ryans (2).^[1] Herring also served as the interim head football coach for the University of Arkansas in the 2008 Cotton Bowl Classic.

College career

Herring played at Florida State University from 1978 to 1980, earning his bachelor's degree in criminology. As a player, he was a three-year starting linebacker, leading the team in tackles for three consecutive years. His 452 total tackles in his career ranks him third all-time for tackles in Florida State history and his 170 tackles during his 1980 senior season also ranks him third on the single-season tackle list. During his career with the Florida State Seminoles, he played in two Orange Bowls and one Tangerine Bowl, serving as team captain for the 1980 team that made it to the Orange Bowl. His final two years at FSU, the Seminoles finished 11–1 and 10–2 and ranked in the top 10 in the final AP poll. In 1989, Herring was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame.

Coaching career

Early career

Herring first served as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma State University in 1981 under head coach Jimmy Johnson. After one year, Johnson promoted Herring to coach OSU's linebackers, a position that he would hold until 1985. During this time, Herring worked with quarterbacks coach Houston Nutt, under whom Herring would later serve as defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas. In 1986, Herring left OSU to coach linebackers at Auburn University under head coach Pat Dye. At Auburn, Herring helped lead the Tigers to three consecutive SEC titles from 1987 to 1989.

In 1992, Herring was offered his first defensive coordinator position, though he continued to coach linebackers, at Texas Christian University. After two years at TCU, Herring left to coach linebackers at Clemson University. Herring was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Tigers for the 1997 season, and held that position through the 2001 season. The Tigers made six bowl appearances during that stretch as seven of Herring's linebackers were selected in the NFL Draft. In 2002, Herring accepted a position in the NFL with the Houston Texans to coach linebackers, after having been on the job as defensive coordinator at Ole Miss for less than a month.^[2]^[3] Although Herring only held the Texans position for two years, he coached the 2003 league-leader in tackles, Jamie Sharper. In 2004, Herring left the NFL to become defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Carolina State University. In his first year at North Carolina State, the Wolfpack defense led the nation in total defense after ranking 89th in that category the year prior.

Arkansas

In 2005, Herring left North Carolina State for a defensive coordinator position with Houston Nutt at the University of Arkansas. At Arkansas, Herring improved the Razorback defense in almost every statistical category. In the 2006 season, Herring led a defense ranked 44th out of 119 Division I-A FBS teams.^[4] For his performance in the 2006 season, Herring was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually the nation's top assistant coach in college football.

On November 26, 2007, after Houston Nutt was forced to resign, Herring was announced as the interim coach of the Razorbacks for the Cotton Bowl Classic.^[5] The 24th-ranked Razorbacks lost the game 38–7 to 7th-ranked Missouri. He had said about the Capital One Bowl that his team needed to "...punch Mickey Mouse in the mouth."

Texas A&M

On January 4, 2008, Herring was named the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M by head coach Mike Sherman.^[6] Herring took part in the Aggies' 2008 recruiting, and resigned after National Signing Day to return to the NFL and become the linebackers coach at the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys

Herring was hired by the Dallas Cowboys on February 8, 2008. He worked as the team's linebacker position coach under head coach Wade Phillips. With the help of his tutelage, the Cowboys led the NFL in quarterback sacks (59) during the 2008 season.^[7] As linebackers coach for Dallas from 2008 to 2010, Herring helped outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware deliver the most productive three-season stretch of his career.^[8]

Houston Texans

Herring joined new Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in January 2011. Herring coached in his second stint with the Texans from 2011 to 2013. He was part of a staff that helped turn the league's 30th-ranked defensive unit into a group that ranked fourth overall (308.8 ypg) during his three years with the club.^[9]

Chicago Bears

Herring joined Marc Trestman's coaching staff as Chicago Bears linebackers coach on January 22, 2014.^[10] However, he was released by the team on January 20, 2015.^[11]

Denver Broncos

Herring joined Gary Kubiak's coaching staff as Denver Broncos linebackers coach on January 26, 2015. Herring helped Denver's defensive transition to a 3-4 alignment in 2015. On February 7, 2016, Herring was part of the Broncos coaching staff that won Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.^[12] Coaching Denver's inside linebackers for the last three seasons, Herring helped lead a defense that allowed a league-low 296.4 yards per game during that span.^[13]

Personal life

Herring is married to the former Lisa Ward of Griffin, Georgia. The couple has a daughter, Caroline, and a son, Adam, who is a former linebacker on the Auburn football team and now coaches at University of Texas at Austin.^[14]

Head coaching record


Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Arkansas Razorbacks (Southeastern Conference) (2007)
2007	Arkansas	0–1^{[n 1]}	^{[n 1]}	^{[n 1]}	L Cotton
Arkansas:		0–1
Total:		0–1

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Houston Nutt coached the first 12 games of the season and resigned before the Cotton Bowl.

References

^ Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.
^ "Ole Miss hires Clemson's Herring as defensive coordinator".
^ "Texans Transactions - Houston Texans". www.houstontexans.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007.
^ Ranking Summary
^ Statement from Arkansas Interim Head Coach Reggie Herring – University of Arkansas Athletics
^ "Herring Named Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator". Texas A&M Athletic Department. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
^ "2008 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.
^ Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.
^ Wright, Michael C. (January 22, 2014). "Chicago Bears fill coaching vacancies". ESPN. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
^ Wright, Michael C. (January 20, 2015). "Bears announce more coaching hires". ESPN. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
^ "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
^ Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.
^ "2007 Roster". Auburn University. Retrieved January 5, 2008.

[2007season-15] Houston Nutt coached the first 12 games of the season and resigned before the Cotton Bowl.

[1] Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.

[2] "Ole Miss hires Clemson's Herring as defensive coordinator".

[3] "Texans Transactions - Houston Texans". www.houstontexans.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007.

[4] Ranking Summary

[5] Statement from Arkansas Interim Head Coach Reggie Herring – University of Arkansas Athletics

[6] "Herring Named Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator". Texas A&M Athletic Department. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.

[7] "2008 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

[8] Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.

[9] Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.

[10] Wright, Michael C. (January 22, 2014). "Chicago Bears fill coaching vacancies". ESPN. Retrieved January 22, 2014.

[11] Wright, Michael C. (January 20, 2015). "Bears announce more coaching hires". ESPN. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

[12] "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.

[13] Schubert, Erich. "Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). denverbroncos.com.

[AU2007-14] "2007 Roster". Auburn University. Retrieved January 5, 2008.

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[n 1]

v t e Houston Texans 2002 inaugural season roster
3 Kris Brown 7 Chad Stanley 8 David Carr 11 Mike Quinn 12 Tony Banks 20 James Allen 23 Kevin Williams 24 Eric Brown 26 Matt Stevens 28 Pat Dennis 30 Jason Simmons 31 Aaron Glenn 32 Jonathan Wells 33 Jason Bell 36 Chris Carter 38 Demarcus Faggins 40 Ed Stansbury 41 Ramon Walker 42 Marcus Coleman 43 Kenny Wright 44 Moran Norris 47 Jarrod Baxter 51 Jimmy McClain 52 Kailee Wong 54 Troy Evans 55 Jamie Sharper 56 Jay Foreman 58 Jason Lamar 59 Keith Mitchell 61 Fred Weary 65 Ryan Schau 66 Char-ron Dorsey 69 Chester Pitts 70 DeMingo Graham 71 Tony Boselli 74 Ryan Young 75 Jimmy Herndon 76 Steve McKinney 78 Cameron Spikes 79 Chad Overhauser 80 Sean McDermott 81 Atnaf Harris 82 Billy Miller 83 Rod Rutledge 83 Frank Murphy 84 Jermaine Lewis 85 Corey Bradford 86 Jabar Gaffney 87 JaJuan Dawson 88 Avion Black 89 Jabari Holloway 91 Seth Payne 92 Corey Sears 93 Erik Flowers 94 Charles Hill 95 Jerry DeLoach 96 Gary Walker 98 Jeff Posey -- Howard Green
Head coach: Dom Capers
Assistant coaches: Kippy Brown Vic Fangio Jedd Fisch Todd Grantham Reggie Herring Jon Hoke Joe Marciano Chris Palmer Greg Roman Brian Stewart

v t e Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 champions
4 Britton Colquitt 8 Brandon McManus 10 Emmanuel Sanders 11 Jordan Norwood 12 Andre Caldwell 13 Trevor Siemian 14 Cody Latimer 15 Kyle Williams 16 Bennie Fowler 17 Brock Osweiler 18 Peyton Manning 20 Josh Bush 21 Aqib Talib 22 C. J. Anderson 23 Ronnie Hillman 25 Chris Harris Jr. 26 Darian Stewart 29 Bradley Roby 30 David Bruton 31 Omar Bolden 32 Ryan Murphy 33 Shiloh Keo 35 Kapri Bibbs 36 Kayvon Webster 37 Lorenzo Doss 39 Taurean Nixon 40 Juwan Thompson 43 T. J. Ward 46 Aaron Brewer 48 Shaquil Barrett 50 Zaire Anderson 51 Todd Davis 52 Corey Nelson 53 James Ferentz 54 Brandon Marshall 55 Lerentee McCray 56 Shane Ray 58 Von Miller (MVP) 59 Danny Trevathan 61 Matt Paradis 62 Dillon Day 65 Louis Vasquez 66 Kyle Roberts 67 Sam Brenner 68 Ryan Harris 69 Evan Mathis 70 Robert Myers 73 Max Garcia 74 Ty Sambrailo 75 Cameron Jefferson 76 Tyler Polumbus 78 Ryan Clady 79 Michael Schofield 80 Vernon Davis 81 Owen Daniels 82 Jeff Heuerman 84 Nick Kasa 85 Virgil Green 87 Jordan Taylor 88 Demaryius Thomas 90 Antonio Smith 91 Kenny Anunike 92 Sylvester Williams 94 DeMarcus Ware 95 Derek Wolfe 96 Vance Walker 97 Malik Jackson 98 Darius Kilgo 99 George Uko
Head coach: Gary Kubiak
Coaches: Clancy Barone Chris Beake Samson Brown Brian Callahan Tony Coaxum James Cregg Joe DeCamillis Rick Dennison Mike Eubanks Chris Gould Reggie Herring Greg Knapp Bill Kollar Anthony Lomando Dennis Love Marc Lubick Fred Pagac Brian Pariani Wade Phillips Phil Rauscher Luke Richesson Eric Studesville Tyke Tolbert Joe Woods
Owner: Pat Bowlen