Tommy West Tommy West, the former Clemson head football coach who came to Memphis in 2000 as defensive coordinator, was hired as the Tigers' head coach on November 30, 2000. The move is proving to be very beneficial for the U of M football program as the popular coach is landing more and more outstanding recruits from the Mid-South area. In his first season in Memphis, West, who was serving as defensive coordinator, led the Tiger defensive unit to a fifth place national ranking in total defense and the nation's number one position in rushing defense in 2000. West, Memphis’ 21st head football coach, came to the Tigers with a reputation as a national recruiter and he has proved with his recruiting classes that the reputation was well deserved. But not only can the well-liked head coach pull in football players, he attracts coaches as well. During the winter of 2002, West was able to persuade former Mississippi State defensive coordiantor Joe Lee Dunn to return to the University of Memphis in the same capacity. Dunn is renowned nationally with his aggressive style of defensive play which fits West's style of play. Not to rest on his laurels, West spear-headed a recruiting class which landed several nationally ranked players. Included in the class of 2003 were such recognized defensive players Quinton McCrary of Columbus, MS, Quintin Williams and Jamaal Rufus of Memphis and Lee Hayes of Northeast Mississippi Community College. To top off the class of 2003, the staff inked the nation's number one junior college quarterback in Bobby Robison and an outstanding junior college punter in Brandon Roberson. The Tigers' 2002 recruiting class was ranked as the number one class in Conference USA by Tom Lemming and SuperPrep Football Magazine and one of the top fifty classes in the nation for 2002. West and his staff landed the state's top defensive prospect in Ridgeway High's Willie Henderson and Georgia's top quarterback prospect in Maurice Avery of McNair High in Atlanta. Two weeks after National Signing
Day, DeAngelo Williams, the number one running back in Arkansas inked with West and the U of M. West's first class of recruits at Memphis included 10 players from the Memphis area, a feat unheard of in past years at the U of M. The 2002 football squad showed marked improvement offensively with the new sprad offense. The team set numerous passing records including the most touchdown passes in a season with 24. Wade Smith, who West converted from tight end to offensive tackle, was a third round draft selection by the Miami Dolphins and Travis Anglin, who was moved from quarterback to wide receiver, was drafted by the Detroit Lions. The Tigers posted a 5-6 record during the 2001 season and came within a matter of seconds of receiving the school's first bowl bid in 30 years. Several bowl scouts were in attendance for the U of M's season finale and were prepared to extend an offer if the Tigers had won the game. The game played down to the final four seconds before the outcome was decided. West, who was inducted into the All-American Football Foundation Hall of Fame in April of 2002, came to the U of M campus in December of 1999 after spending five years with the Atlantic Coast Conference football power. He took over a Memphis defense that had been ranked 23rd in the nation in 1999 in total defense but had been unable to defend against the run. After allowing Mississippi State University just 127 total yards of total offense in the 2000 season opener, the Tigers found themselves ranked fourth in the nation in defense. A week later, Memphis limited Louisiana-Monroe to just 176 total yards and in doing so, climbed into second place in the NCAA rankings. The Tigers never relinquished their top 10 ranking throughout the season despite playing several nationally-ranked offenses. Memphis finished the 2000 campaign ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense and No. 1 in the nation in rushing defense. Memphis limited nine of its 11 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and no team rushed for more than 125 yards against the U of M in 2000. 33
MEMPHIS The Tigers had five players named to the AllConference USA first team defensive unit, which tied the C-USA record for the most players from one school ever named to a first team unit. Nose tackle Marcus Bell, defensive end Andre Arnold, linebacker Kamal Shakir, safety Idrees Bashir and corner Michael Stone all received first team All-C-USA honors in 2000. Freshman linebacker Coot Terry and corner Jason Brown were also named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team defensive unit. Prior to his arrival in Memphis, West's resume as a head coach included four bowl appearances, 12 road wins and four wins over Associated Press Top 25 teams while serving as head coach at Clemson. But in addition to his abilities as a head coach, West earned his reputation as a tireless recruiter while at Clemson. During his tenure at Clemson, West recruited the school's all-time leading rusher, Raymond Priester, the school's all-time leading passer, Nealon Greene and the school's all-time leading receiver, Rod Gardner. In addition to the offensive talent he landed for the Tigers, West had two linebackers named to AllAmerica teams and both were drafted into the NFL. Anthony Simmons was named to the 1996 and 1997 All-America teams and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. Keith Adams was an All-American in 1999 and 2000 and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. Gardner was a first round draft selection of the Washington Redskins. Not only did West recruits excel on the field, they also excelled in the classroom. Over the last two years, 1998-99 and 1999-2000, Clemson's football teams had a graduation rate of 75% which