Coaching Candidate Emerges

by Trey Manning - Correspondent - Tue Feb 21 19:57:50 GMT-04:00 2006

Almost one week ago, Clemson defensive line Marion Hobby took a similar position with the New Orleans Saints. The coaching search has been relatively quiet since Hobby departed. Tiger Source learned Tuesday afternoon that Memphis linebackers' coach Chris Rumph is an emerging candidate.

Here is a little about Rumph:

Chris Rumph is entering his third season on the Tiger football staff, and works as the squad's linebackers coach. Rumph joined the Tigers in June of 2003, and worked with defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn on developing a defensive unit that was the ninth-best defense in the nation that season.

In 2003, Rumph led a unit that included veteran players such as Coot Terry and Greg Harper. Harper ranked third on the squad in tackles in 2003, while Terry, an All-Conference USA selection, ranked fourth. The two combined for 187 tackles during the 2003 campaign. While Harper and Terry dominated play on the field and received most of the playing time, Rumph spent time developing younger players such as Tim Goodwell, Quinton McCrary, Carson Hunter, Sheldon Taylor and Cato Mott. All lettered during the 2003 season and helped Memphis to a New Orleans Bowl victory.

In 2004, Goodwell led the team in tackles with 106 stops, and also totaled three fumble recoveries. Goodwell, Carlton Baker and McCrary were three of the top four tacklers in 2004, accounting for 284 of the team's total tackles. Rumph's linebackers also logged 10 of the team's 23 sacks in 2004, and Greg Hinds was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

Rumph joined the Tigers after coaching at South Carolina State in 2002. While at SCSU, he worked with the Bulldog corners and safeties. He had previously served as the head football coach at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, S.C., from 1997-2001. In addition to his duties as head coach, he also served as offensive coordinator and quarterback/running backs coach at Calhoun County.

A native of St. Matthews, S.C., Rumph worked as a graduate assistant coach at the University of South Carolina in the spring of 1997 prior to being named the head coach at CCHS. He assisted the linebacker coach and helped prepare and coordinate recruiting weekends.

Rumph was a four-year football letterman for the University of South Carolina from 1990-94. He first appeared as a redshirt freshman at outside linebacker and was credited with 16 tackles and one quarterback sack for the season. During the 1992 campaign, Rumph played in nine contests at outside linebacker as a sophomore and registered 32 tackles. His lone start came against in-state rival Clemson.

As a junior, Rumph logged 41 tackles as a part-time starter. He started the Georgia and Clemson games and turned in stellar efforts against East Carolina and Mississippi State. Rumph caused two fumbles and recovered one in the East Carolina contest, and was credited with six tackles, one quarterback sack and a pass breakup against the Bulldogs.

In his final year of collegiate eligibility, Rumph ranked as the Gamecocks' ninth-leading tackler with a career-high 52 total stops in his 11 games played. He was the starter in 10 contests that season and registered three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, four tackles for lost yardage and six quarterback sacks in helping his team receive a bid to the Carquest Bowl. The Gamecocks recorded their first ever bowl victory in the 1995 Carquest Bowl.

Rumph, 33, received his bachelor of science degree in retail management from South Carolina in 1994. He and his wife, Kila, have one son, Christopher.

This bio information was taken from the University of Memphis athletic site.