Assistant Coaches
CLAY HELTON RUNNING BACKS
THE HELTON FILE Personal Born: Houston, TX Birthdate: 6-24-72 College: Houston (1994) Athletics: 4 year football letterman at quarterback (Auburn 1991-92) & (Houston, 1993-94) Wife: Angela Children: Reid & Aubrey
Coaching Experience Univ. of Memphis (2000-present) Univ. of Houston (1997-99) Duke University (1995-96) Clay Helton, who coached the University of Houston Cougar running backs for three seasons (1997-99), is entering his third year as a member of the staff at The University of Memphis. He will again coach the Tiger running backs. Helton was responsible for the rapid development of Tiger senior tailback Dante Brown in 2001. Brown, a junior college transfer, rushed for over 900 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. A late arrival in the Tiger camp, Helton spent numerous hours working with Brown to prepare him for the opening game of the 2001 season. Brown responded to Helton's tutelage by rushing for the fourth highest single season total in school history (902 yards) and setting a new Memphis record for rushing touchdowns in a game with four against Houston. His 11 rushing touchdowns tied for the second highest total by a Tiger back in UM football annals. Helton has been responsible for the development of several young running backs over the past
three years, including Jeff "Sugar" Sanders, Darche' Epting, Aaron Meadows and Jeremiah Bonds, all of whom saw regular playing time for the Tigers in the fall of 2000. He will add depth to his backfield this fall with the addition of prep All-American running back DeAngelo Williams of Wynne, Arkansas and LSU transfer Derron Parquet. Helton, the son of former University of Houston head coach Kim Helton, served as the Cougar’s running backs coach for three years, 1997-99. He was responsible in 1997 for the development of All-Conference USA performer Ketric Sanford, who combined with Vaughn Innis to rush for over 1,200 yards. In 1998, Sanford placed second among all CUSA backs in all-purpose yards with 1,530 and rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. A native of Sugarland, Texas, Helton played quarterback for Houston in 1993 and 1994, after transferring from Auburn University. While playing for the Auburn Tigers in 1991, Helton received All-Academic Southeastern Conference honors. He was voted one of Houston's team captains in 1994. Following graduation from Houston, Helton entered the coaching profession as a member of Fred Goldsmith's staff at Duke University. He worked as a graduate assistant for Duke in 1995 and was hired as the Blue Devil's running backs coach in 1996. While in Durham, North Carolina, H e l t o n helped to developed a Duke running game that featured Laymarr Marshall, who tallied 13 touchdowns on the season, t h e seco n d 27
THE HELTON FAMILY
highest single season total in school history. Helton earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and interdisciplinary science from Houston in 1994. He and his wife, Angela, have two children, son Reid, and daughter Aubrey.