Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Football
West, Tommy
Tommy West
- Title:
- Defensive Line
- Email:
- tommy.west@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 898-2926
Updated February 2023
Tommy West, who has over 40 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stints as a head coach at three different schools, is in his 10th year on Rick Stockstill’s staff after spending the 2012 campaign at Southern Miss as the team’s defensive coordinator. West was out of coaching in 2013 and was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB in 2011.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, defensive line, 2014-present
• Date Hired: Feb. 6, 2014
• Has coached 15 all-conference players
• The 2022 line came in with high expectations and they did not let anyone down. The group accounted for 49.0 TFLs, 25.0 sacks, 19 hurries, three interceptions and three blocked kicks. They also came up with four touchdowns with two on interceptions and one each on a blocked punt return and a reception on offense.
• Also in 2022, Jordan Ferguson earned First Team All-CUSA honors, the Hawai’i Bowl and Hula Bowl MVP honors, while Marley Cook and Zaylin Wood were honorable mention all-conference selections. Wood was also the Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week during the season.
• Defensive line played a huge role in 2021 as the Blue Raider defense led the nation in turnovers gained (32) and defensive touchdowns (6) while ranking 29th in tackles for loss. The defensive line accounted for 35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 43 hurries, three blocked kicks and two interceptions
• Helped MT finished tied for third in CUSA in turnovers forced in 2020
• In 2018, the line helped MT's defense reach national rankings of 40th in sacks, 12th in fourth-down conversion percentage, 29th in red zone defense and 20th in turnovers gained
• Unit played major role in team finishing 30th nationally in rush defense and 16th in tackles for loss in 2017
• Part of a defensive staff that coached 49 sacks, 133 TFLs and 71 QB hurries over the 2015-16 seasons
• Ranked fourth in the country in red zone defense in 2015 as defensive line collected 28 TFLs, 11.5 sacks and 21 hurries
• In 2014, the defensive line registered 35 TFLs and 20.5 sacks
• Recruiting Area: Georgia, Tennessee
At Memphis, defensive coordinator/linebackers (2000) head coach (2001-09), 2000-09
• Snapped a 32-year bowl drought and appeared in five bowls in six seasons (2003-08)
• Helped lead the Tigers to their first appearance in the AP Top 25
• 2003 started a three-year stretch where the Tigers won 24 games
• In 2003, West became just the fourth coach in school history to claim nine wins in a season. He went on to earn TSWA Coach of the Year honors
• Defensive unit ranked No. 1 in the nation in rush defense (72.7 yards per game) and fifth in total defense (275.3 yards per game) in 2000
At Clemson, linebackers (1983-89) head coach (1993-98), 1983-89/1993-98
• Led the Tigers to four bowl games in six seasons
• Compiled a 69-20-4 record and six AP Top 20 rankings as linebackers coach
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1979: Ole Miss (running backs)
• 1980-81: Appalachian State (wide receivers/tight ends)
• 1982: Clemson (wide receivers)
• 1983-89: Clemson (linebackers)
• 1990: Tennessee (running backs)
• 1991-92: South Carolina (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 1993: Chattanooga (head coach)
• 1993-98: Clemson (head coach)
• 2000: Memphis (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2001-09: Memphis (head coach)
• 2011: UAB (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2012: Southern Miss (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2014-present: Middle Tennessee (defensive line)
Personal
• Birthdate: July 31, 1954
• Hometown: Carrollton, Ga.
• Wife: Cyndie
• Children: Turner
Education
• High School: Gainesville (GA) HS, 1972
• College: Tennessee, B.S. in Health Education, 1976
Playing Experience (TE)
• Tennessee (1972-75)
• Lettered three years in football and two years in baseball
• Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976
Bowl Experience
• 1973: Gator Bowl (player)
• 1974: Liberty Bowl (player)
• 1975: Blue-Gray All-Star (player)
• 1985: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 1986: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 1987: Citrus Bowl (coach)
• 1988: Citrus Bowl (coach)
• 1989: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 1991: Sugar Bowl (coach)
• 1993: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 1995: Gator Bowl (head coach)
• 1996: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 1997: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 2003: New Orleans Bowl (head coach)
• 2004: GMAC Bowl (head coach)
• 2005: Motor City Bowl (head coach)
• 2007: New Orleans Bowl (head coach)
• 2008: St. Petersburg (head coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)
Tommy West, who has over 40 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stints as a head coach at three different schools, is in his 10th year on Rick Stockstill’s staff after spending the 2012 campaign at Southern Miss as the team’s defensive coordinator. West was out of coaching in 2013 and was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB in 2011.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, defensive line, 2014-present
• Date Hired: Feb. 6, 2014
• Has coached 15 all-conference players
• The 2022 line came in with high expectations and they did not let anyone down. The group accounted for 49.0 TFLs, 25.0 sacks, 19 hurries, three interceptions and three blocked kicks. They also came up with four touchdowns with two on interceptions and one each on a blocked punt return and a reception on offense.
• Also in 2022, Jordan Ferguson earned First Team All-CUSA honors, the Hawai’i Bowl and Hula Bowl MVP honors, while Marley Cook and Zaylin Wood were honorable mention all-conference selections. Wood was also the Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week during the season.
• Defensive line played a huge role in 2021 as the Blue Raider defense led the nation in turnovers gained (32) and defensive touchdowns (6) while ranking 29th in tackles for loss. The defensive line accounted for 35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 43 hurries, three blocked kicks and two interceptions
• Helped MT finished tied for third in CUSA in turnovers forced in 2020
• In 2018, the line helped MT's defense reach national rankings of 40th in sacks, 12th in fourth-down conversion percentage, 29th in red zone defense and 20th in turnovers gained
• Unit played major role in team finishing 30th nationally in rush defense and 16th in tackles for loss in 2017
• Part of a defensive staff that coached 49 sacks, 133 TFLs and 71 QB hurries over the 2015-16 seasons
• Ranked fourth in the country in red zone defense in 2015 as defensive line collected 28 TFLs, 11.5 sacks and 21 hurries
• In 2014, the defensive line registered 35 TFLs and 20.5 sacks
• Recruiting Area: Georgia, Tennessee
At Memphis, defensive coordinator/linebackers (2000) head coach (2001-09), 2000-09
• Snapped a 32-year bowl drought and appeared in five bowls in six seasons (2003-08)
• Helped lead the Tigers to their first appearance in the AP Top 25
• 2003 started a three-year stretch where the Tigers won 24 games
• In 2003, West became just the fourth coach in school history to claim nine wins in a season. He went on to earn TSWA Coach of the Year honors
• Defensive unit ranked No. 1 in the nation in rush defense (72.7 yards per game) and fifth in total defense (275.3 yards per game) in 2000
At Clemson, linebackers (1983-89) head coach (1993-98), 1983-89/1993-98
• Led the Tigers to four bowl games in six seasons
• Compiled a 69-20-4 record and six AP Top 20 rankings as linebackers coach
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1979: Ole Miss (running backs)
• 1980-81: Appalachian State (wide receivers/tight ends)
• 1982: Clemson (wide receivers)
• 1983-89: Clemson (linebackers)
• 1990: Tennessee (running backs)
• 1991-92: South Carolina (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 1993: Chattanooga (head coach)
• 1993-98: Clemson (head coach)
• 2000: Memphis (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2001-09: Memphis (head coach)
• 2011: UAB (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2012: Southern Miss (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
• 2014-present: Middle Tennessee (defensive line)
Personal
• Birthdate: July 31, 1954
• Hometown: Carrollton, Ga.
• Wife: Cyndie
• Children: Turner
Education
• High School: Gainesville (GA) HS, 1972
• College: Tennessee, B.S. in Health Education, 1976
Playing Experience (TE)
• Tennessee (1972-75)
• Lettered three years in football and two years in baseball
• Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976
Bowl Experience
• 1973: Gator Bowl (player)
• 1974: Liberty Bowl (player)
• 1975: Blue-Gray All-Star (player)
• 1985: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 1986: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 1987: Citrus Bowl (coach)
• 1988: Citrus Bowl (coach)
• 1989: Gator Bowl (coach)
• 1991: Sugar Bowl (coach)
• 1993: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 1995: Gator Bowl (head coach)
• 1996: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 1997: Peach Bowl (head coach)
• 2003: New Orleans Bowl (head coach)
• 2004: GMAC Bowl (head coach)
• 2005: Motor City Bowl (head coach)
• 2007: New Orleans Bowl (head coach)
• 2008: St. Petersburg (head coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)
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