NC State appears to have filled out its offensive coaching staff for next season, announcing that John Garrison has been hired to replace Dwayne Ledford as the Wolfpack’s offensive line coach.
Garrison was Florida Atlantic’s offensive line coach/run game coordinator last season, helping FAU rush for 241.8 yards per contest, 14th best in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) while averaging 5.1 yards per carry (25th) and allowing only 14 sacks in 12 games, an average of 1.2 a contest that was tied for 15th in the FBS.
"I'm excited that John Garrison is going to join our football family," said NC State coach Dave Doeren. "I've known him for a long time and respect him as a coach and as a person. He was a great player at Nebraska and has established himself as a great coach and recruiter. I know he will be a strong addition to our staff."
Prior to his stop at FAU, Garrison was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at UNLV for three years after four seasons at Nebraska, the last two coaching the offensive line.He was named one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters for the class of 2014. Ledford recruited the western part of North Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he picks up that region.
"My family and I are thrilled to join the Wolfpack family at NC State as a part of Coach Doeren's staff," Garrison said. "It's a privilege to represent this great university and to work for a great coach. Big things are happening at NC State, and I cannot wait to get started."
Garrison, who is from Blue Spring, Mo., was a four-year letterman for then head coach Frank Solich at Nebraska (1999-to-2002), earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior and senior. Garrison was Nebraska's starting long snapper as a freshman in 1999, helping the Huskers to a 12-1 record and Big 12 title. He was a backup center and guard, and handled long snapping duties in 2000.
Garrison moved into the lineup as the starting center in 2001 and helped Nebraska to an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game, while quarterback Eric Crouch won the Heisman Trophy. Garrison was elected by his teammates as one of three co-captains his senior season.
Garrison will join Kurt Roper as newcomers on the offensive staff. Roper replaced quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz, who became the head coach at Appalachian State. Ledford left to take the offensive coordinator position at Louisville.
Running backs coach Des Kitchings and receivers coach George McDonald were promoted to take over as co-offensive coordinators.
Drinkwitz appears set to hire NC State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Ted Roof as Appalachian State’s new defensive coordinator after Monday’s Gator Bowl against Texas A&M in Jacksonville, Fla.
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